Taste of South Korea

  Hello, night hikers and panoramic view chasers! It’s Bitna. In our last moonlight escape, we walked through the golden-lit royal paths and captured the glowing crystal beauty of the Grand Greenhouse at Changgyeonggung Palace . Today, we are heading up into the hills to experience an entirely different kind of Seoul nightlife. We are trading the flat riverside paths for a historic ridge that offers the most nostalgic, romantic, and breathtaking view of the city skyline. Welcome to Naksan Park (낙산공원) and Ihwa Mural Village (이화벽화마을) ! Named "Naksan" because its humped shape resembles the back of a camel ( Nakta ), this hill is home to a beautifully preserved section of the Seoul City Wall (한양도성) built in 1396. While Gangnam and Hong대 blink with flashy neon signs, Naksan offers a warm, analog golden glow that has made it a legendary filming location for countless K-dramas and the ultimate hidden date spot for local university students. Let's find out how to catch this mag...

  Hello, night stroll lovers and history romantics! It’s Bitna.  In our last twilight escape, we caught a breathtaking 360-degree sunset floating right in the middle of the Han River at Nodeul Island . Today, we are leaving the modern river behind to step into a completely different kind of evening romance—a nighttime time-travel journey into the royal world of the Joseon Dynasty. Welcome to the Changgyeonggung Palace Night Tour (창경궁 야간개장) ! While Seoul has several grand palaces, Changgyeonggung holds a very special place in Bitna's heart for night exploration . Unlike Gyeongbokgung Palace, which requires a highly competitive and stressful online ticket reservation for its night openings, Changgyeonggung is permanently open after dark! For just about $1 USD, you can walk through royal gates under the soft glow of traditional lanterns and moonlit shadow trees. Let's explore the highlights of this magical palace after the sun goes down! 🏮 Walking the Royal Paths Under Lantern L...

  Hello, dreamers and indie culture lovers! It’s Bitna.  In our last cultural escape, we immersed ourselves in the grand, sophisticated world of classical music and breathtaking dancing fountains at the Seoul Arts Center . Today, we are heading back toward the center of the Han River, but we aren't going to a crowded riverside park. Instead, we are stepping onto a magical, oval-shaped island floating right in the middle of the grand 한강대교 (Hangang Bridge). Welcome to Nodeul Island (노들섬) ! For decades, Nodeul Island was an abandoned, forgotten patch of sand and wild grass that millions of commuters simply passed by every day on the bus. But in recent years, the city transformed it into a stunning, eco-friendly cultural and arts complex. It has rapidly become a favorite hidden oasis for Seoul's Gen-Z, offering a perfect blend of green lawns, independent bookstores, live music halls, and the most spectacular, uninterrupted sunset views in the entire city. Let's find out how to ...