Taste of South Korea

 If you're planning a trip to South Korea beyond Seoul, Jeonju deserves a spot on your itinerary. Just about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Seoul by KTX, this city is home to one of the most atmospheric places in the entire country — Jeonju Hanok Village . With nearly 700 traditional Korean houses (hanok) clustered together in the heart of the city, it's the largest traditional hanok settlement in Korea, and walking through it feels like stepping straight into the Joseon Dynasty. In this post, I'll introduce three must-see spots in and around the village: Hanok Village itself , Gyeonggijeon Shrine , and Jeondong Catholic Church — a combination that shows off Korea's traditional and modern history side by side. 1. Jeonju Hanok Village — The Heart of the City Jeonju Hanok Village is the starting point for almost every visit to the city. Unlike folk villages built purely for tourism, this is a living neighborhood — people actually live in many of these hanok, running c...

  Hello, night-view chasers, luxury dreamers, and ocean romantics! It’s Bitna.  In our last record-breaking indoor adventure, we shopped on a truly global scale and melted all our travel fatigue inside the premium hot spring waters of [ Shinsegae Centum City ] . Today, we are moving just a few minutes down the road toward the glittering shores of Haeundae to experience the absolute pinnacle of Busan's nightlife. Get ready to witness a dazzling, multi-million-dollar skyline that rivals Manhattan or Hong Kong, and then step onto a sleek catamaran to cruise right into the neon lights. Welcome to The Bay 101 (더베이101) and the famous Haeundae Yacht Tour (요트 투어) ! Perched beautifully on the edge of the modern harbor right next to Dongbaekseom Island, this high-end yacht club and dining complex is the ultimate hotspot for catching the true, sophisticated energy of modern Busan. Let's find out how to unlock this glowing cyberpunk nightscape! The Cyberpunk Mirror: The Famous Water Refl...

  Hello, shopping enthusiasts, luxury hunters, and wellness seekers! It’s Bitna.  In our last thrilling hill climb, we rode the crimson toy train up the steep mountain cliffs and caught the nostalgic sky views at [ Choryang Ibagu-gil & The 168 Monorail ] . Today, we are taking a dramatic turn from Busan's rustic old-world history to dive straight into the absolute peak of modern architecture and high-end retail. Get ready to wrap your head around a shopping complex so massive that it literally rewrote the record books. Welcome to Shinsegae Centum City (신세계백화점 센텀시티) ! Officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest department store complex on earth, this architectural marvel spans over 293,905 square meters (3.16 million square feet). But calling this place a "mall" doesn't do it justice. It is a futuristic entertainment matrix containing an indoor ice rink, a multi-story movie theater, a driving range, and a world-class hot spring resort. Let’s...

  Hello, hillside adventurers, retro lovers, and panoramic view chasers! It’s Bitna. In our last historic harbor tour, we witnessed the emotional tears of wartime history and watched Korea's only drawbridge rise into the clouds at [ Yeongdo Bridge ] . Today, we are heading right behind Busan Station to experience the absolute definition of Busan's unique local soul. Get ready to climb an incredibly steep hillside village inside a tiny, toy-like crimson train. Welcome to Choryang Ibagu-gil (초량이바구길) and the famous 168 Stairs Monorail (168계단 모노레일) ! The dialect word Ibagu translates literally to "story" in the local Busan accent. True to its name, this winding, hillside path is packed with the moving stories of the Korean War refugees who carved their homes out of the steep mountainside. Let's lift the lid on this thrilling, nostalgic, and cinematic open-air neighborhood!  Riding the Toy Matrix: The 168 Stairs Monorail For decades, the absolute ultimate test of st...