This list was obtained from Chris in South Korea and it is my goal to attempt at least 90% of these things during my time in Korea. The (x) denotes completion.
- Seeing the sunrise from one of Gangwon-do’s east coast beaches.
- Try on an Andong-style wooden mask and learn part of the dance behind it.
- Spend the night in a jimjilbang (day spa / sauna). (x)
- Stay out in Hongdae or Itaewon all night and catch the ‘subway of shame’ home the next morning. (x)
- Get a tan on Haeundae beach in Busan. (x)
- Bargain for clothes at Namdaemun or Dongdaemun. (x)
- Go to Lotte World on a rainy / snowy day. (x)
- Count the number of people watching DMB TV on the subway.
- Take in a drag show on Homo Hill, and smile at the ladies of Hooker Hill.
- Visit the Loveland sex museum on Jeju island. (x)
- Try the collagen face masks from Face Shop.
- Become proficient in the art of chopsticks. (x)
- Watch the largest waterfall bridge performance at Banpo Han River Park.
- Become pleasantly confused by a Korean drama. (x)
- Get off at a random subway stop and explore the local area.
- Find a small town and enjoy being the only foreigner around. (x)
- Learn to stomach Korean beer. (x) – Hite! Cass!
- Raise funds for a Korean charity by acting, dancing, singing, or otherwise being silly. (x) – Sang in Namdaemun [alone!]
- Enjoy the 300 km/h speed of the KTX train. (x)
- Dress up as something crazy for Halloween in Hongdae.
- Enjoy the ‘Family Mart bar’ – er, the chairs and tables outside most convenience stores.
- Buy the Pororo socks… for your niece or younger sister, of course.
- Eat some dried squid and a hot dog at a baseball game.
- Go skiing at one of the dozen ski resorts around the country. (x)
- Get muddy at the Boryeong Mud Festival! (x)
- DVD bang. Private movie screening. Like a drive-in theater without the car. ‘Nuff said. (x)
- Play with the fancy technology around Yongsan Electronics Market or one of the Techno Marts.
- Mix yogurt and soju. See what happens.
- Eat some beondegi (silkworm pupae)!
- Meander around the phallic statues in Penis Park (warning: NSFW) (Gangwon-do)
- Learn some Korean! (x)
- Watch the mayor of Seoul ring the big bell at Jonggak on New Year’s Day.
- Drink makgeolli (rice wine) and eat pajeon (green onion pancake) on a rainy day. (x)
- Push yourself across the ice on a sseolmae (wooden sled).
- Take a bike ride along the Han river. (x)
- Use your connections to get on one of the American military bases. (x)
- Enjoy a Westernized Korean wedding. (x)
- Pitch a tent in a park and seek out some fresh air.
- Buy some fish at the Noryangjin fish market, then have them cut up or cooked up in a nearby restaurant.
- Say saranghae (I love you) to a special someone, whether they’re Korean or not.
- Appreciate the air-conditioning on the subway in the middle of July. (x)
- Learn how to dance from a Korean instructor. (x) – STREETS Dance Academy, Cheongju
- See NANTA or another non-verbal, high-energy performance. (x)
- People-watch at Garosu-gil over a cup of coffee.
- Get up to a moktok (a wooden instrument used in Buddhist temples) at 3:30am for a Korean Buddhist templestay.
- Sleep on a circular bed (they’re found in some love motels).
- Try a soju/coke/beer cocktail.
- Munch on some bosintang (dog meat soup) or some live octopus. (x) – Dog NO, Octopus YES
- Appreciate the spiciness of a good kimchi jjigae. (x)
- Walk around with a toothbrush, brushing your teeth as you go.
- Try your best to converse with a Korean taxi driver. (x)
- Give up your subway seat to a person with a cane. Trust me on this one.
- Try the Korean version of ‘forest therapy’ in either Damyang or Anmyeon-do.
- Swim in the East Sea and the West Sea. (x) – Does dancing in the water count?