South Korea

[Civilization Phrase III]

I'm going at the end of April from Japan. I think with a stamp for return to Japan, that's all I need...?

And has anyone been there to offer suggestions or tips? I'm only there for 3 days though.

[RandomPasserby]

Don't try any rioting there, no matter what anyone tells you about homemade flamethrowers.

[Civilization Phrase III]

Bump

Double Bump

[jindojim]

Wtf, I'm going at that same exact time and duration too :D

Though I'm going there mainly to see friends. Check out the areas around Apgujeong Station and Dongdaemun Station, if I remember correctly. There's also a place to go buy cheap stuff in a flea-market kinda place near Aajang...I think. Kinda forgot, heh.

[Civilization Phrase III]

28-30? XD

I have two friends in South Korea, but I don't think I'll see 'em.

[TommyA]

I WAS going to be going at the same time, BUT they screwed up my name on the ticket and now all the tix are ridiculously priced!

[jindojim]

Yep, I'll be there from the 28th-30th.

I'll be on the lookout for a young 외인 in Seoul :P

[Civilization Phrase III]

Yep, I'll be there from the 28th-30th.

I'll be on the lookout for a young 외인 in Seoul :P
That's really kind of scary ;<

Please don't stalk me.

[xinster]

my friends tell me that the HS social life there is after school- go to bathrooms to switch from school uniform to clubbing clothes, attach cigarette to mouth/back of ear, go clubbing. almost every day.

[Civilization Phrase III]

And I'm sure that they also all get cars from their parents when they can drive, and all look like supermodels.

Because South Korea is the coolest place on earth.

[ohmiyask]

*ap gu jung dong - if you want to spend loads and loads and loads of money on brand names (which you could do in japan) or if you want to see korean celebrities.

*myung dong - it has every single food category known to man and just about all the restaurants are open 24hours. this is where ALL the japanese people stay including the japanese stars.

*dong dae moon - night market. there's about 4, 17 story buildings that open from 10am-4am. it's a night market, it's cheap the quality sucks but the clothes are great.

*hong dae - if you want to drink, have someone to speak in english, get laid because you are a foreigner, go clubbing.


those are the best places. dont go anywhere else. :)

[羽之助]

Hooker Hill. Great for used bookshops and whores.

Seriously though, what nationality are you? I assume you don't need a visa to enter South Korea? And do you have your re-entry permit for Japan, should it be necessary?

[Civilization Phrase III]

I'm American.

For just three days, no visa I believe...and yeah, got the re-entry permit awhile ago. I've already used one once before to take a trip to Singapore.

[andrewt]

hmm, i needed a visa to enter Korea for the times that i went...

maybe it's because i was there on business? would be something to be sure of.

[Civilization Phrase III]

It was really really fun. But Koreans seemed very rude and pushy to me in Seoul, even more so than Tokyo's residents.

How was your trip Jindojim?

I stayed in the Grand Hyatt and it had almost all English channels. That was fun.

[悲しいパンダ]

(If possible) You better have some vids when you go, man.

[japanat]

When I went to Pusan, it felt like I was meeting the Japanese' country cousins: pushy, impolite, noisy, genuine and fun as hell to be around!

As an American tourist, you didn't need any advance visa before last summer; but with the tightening of the US visa rules, you should check with the embassy web page real quick to see if that's changed. Be prepared to have your luggage searched when you come back to Japan, though - that's almost guaranteed...

[Civilization Phrase III]

Eh...I'm an American. I didn't need anything but my passport. Nothing was searched.

Maybe they just don't like you.

[悲しいパンダ]

When I went to Pusan, it felt like I was meeting the Japanese' country cousins: pushy, impolite, noisy, genuine and fun as hell to be around!

As an American tourist, you didn't need any advance visa before last summer; but with the tightening of the US visa rules, you should check with the embassy web page real quick to see if that's changed. Be prepared to have your luggage searched when you come back to Japan, though - that's almost guaranteed...
Dude, a friend of mines always gets his luggages checked everytime he goes out of the states. He's Egyptian by the way.

[Civilization Phrase III]

They were checking two middle Eastern men's luggage on my trip to South Korea at the airport.

[daidokoro]

Is it possible for an American to go to North Korea, or should I just not waste my time trying?

[jindojim]

It was really really fun. But Koreans seemed very rude and pushy to me in Seoul, even more so than Tokyo's residents.

How was your trip Jindojim?

I stayed in the Grand Hyatt and it had almost all English channels. That was fun.

I had a good time, although the trip was too short. It took a day to transition from speaking Japanese to Korean (when I tried to speak the 1st day, I asked for what was the equivalent of 'two people' instead of　'two pieces'), but I was able to speak in Korean enough to haggle in Dongdaemun and pick up a cool jacket.

Let's see...I ate a lot of great Korean food. I met friends I hadn't seen since graduation and met my friend who recently got of the Korean army. Drank about two bottles of soju on my last night out, even though I had to catch the flight back the next morning.

Oh, and there are plenty of Krispy Kreme stores, so I ate there too. Without the frickin wait, like at the Shinjuku store.

I didn't do much real sightseeing, so I'd like to do more of that if I can go back again.

[ミュー]

Is it possible for an American to go to North Korea, or should I just not waste my time trying?
Go visit Kim Jong Il... I hear he's quite rather ronry ;)

[ak24]

Oh, and there are plenty of Krispy Kreme stores, so I ate there too. Without the frickin wait, like at the Shinjuku store.


I was in a department store near 고속버스터미널 during the winter of 2006, and I was shocked that Krispy Kreme went global. Hahaha. :boggled:

Korea was so freakin' cold!

[Civilization Phrase III]

I had a good time, although the trip was too short. It took a day to transition from speaking Japanese to Korean (when I tried to speak the 1st day, I asked for what was the equivalent of 'two people' instead of　'two pieces'), but I was able to speak in Korean enough to haggle in Dongdaemun and pick up a cool jacket.

Let's see...I ate a lot of great Korean food. I met friends I hadn't seen since graduation and met my friend who recently got of the Korean army. Drank about two bottles of soju on my last night out, even though I had to catch the flight back the next morning.

Oh, and there are plenty of Krispy Kreme stores, so I ate there too. Without the frickin wait, like at the Shinjuku store.

I didn't do much real sightseeing, so I'd like to do more of that if I can go back again.
I got to eat Burger King <333333

Kimchi was really gross. Actually, I found most of the Korean food to be untasteful. Japan is much better IMO.

[羽之助]

Is it possible for an American to go to North Korea, or should I just not waste my time trying?

http://www.koryogroup.com/images/banner1.jpg

http://www.koryogroup.com/

Sure! As an American, you get to pay extra though.


Kimchi was really gross. Actually, I found most of the Korean food to be untasteful. Japan is much better IMO.

Blasphemy. I'll see you get the rack for that.

[gentlemanandscholar]

http://www.koryogroup.com/images/banner1.jpg

http://www.koryogroup.com/

Sure! As an American, you get to pay extra though.

Can't wait to go on that!

And whoever said Japanese food is better than Korean, and didn't(gasp!) like kimchi, needs to have their tongue removed and nose cut off. You aren't using them correctly. :karate:

[Civilization Phrase III]

Kimchi was decently, but people, let's not be overly enthusiastic about Asian cuisine.

OMG!?!?! YOU DON'T LIKE SPOCK FROM SEASON TWO OF STAR TREK?!?! YOU NEED YOUR EYES REMOVED!

That's what you would sound like as a Star Trek fan. Everyone has different tastes, just don't force your nerdy Wapanese-ness on all of us.

[gentlemanandscholar]

Kimchi was decently, but people, let's not be overly enthusiastic about Asian cuisine.

OMG!?!?! YOU DON'T LIKE SPOCK FROM SEASON TWO OF STAR TREK?!?! YOU NEED YOUR EYES REMOVED!

That's what you would sound like as a Star Trek fan. Everyone has different tastes, just don't force your nerdy Wapanese-ness on all of us.

That would be Worean-ness, fool.
Also, congratulations on having horrible reading comprehension skills. I was kidding around.

[Civilization Phrase III]

I wasn't completely serious in my reply.

But, if you really think that kimchi is the best thing in the world, there is something wrong. I don't mind it all that much, but thinking about it fermenting for all those months makes me not want to eat it. Oh, and the whole cabbages make me think of brains.

[jindojim]

I hope you weren't entirely serious in your reply to me. Saying Japan is way better...is pretty much the best way to make any Korean hate you, including myself :D

What did you eat in Korea then? Kimchi isn't the only Korean food... I don't love it because, let's be honest, it's kinda smelly. But, it does taste good. Way better than Japanese oshinko anyway.

And Korean food on a whole is much better than Japanese food, end of discussion.

Btw, I made a list of 10 things comparing Seoul and Tokyo:

Things I prefer in Seoul over Tokyo:

1) Cheap transportation
2) Awesome food
3) Way more of my former college buddies that I can meet up with
4) I can understand a lot more of what's being said around me
5) Amazingly cheap soju and generally cheap alcohol
6) Cheap clothes
7) Relatively simple subway system
8) Wider streets
9) No threats of earthquakes
10) Driving on the right side of the road, as opposed to the left

Things I prefer in Tokyo over Seoul

1) Better monetary system (too many won/dollar and the biggest bill is only equivalent to a $10 bill)
2) Better looking money (the new Korean won looks like Monopoly money. I thought I was getting back play money when I exchanged my yen for won
3) You NEVER find a bar in Tokyo that plays fuckin ballad music. At one of the bars I went to in Seoul, they were playing ballads, and it was very very annoying.
4) More convenient public transportation
5) Trains arrive exactly on time. Seoul doesn't seem to have a timetable for their trains on display, so I never knew when the train was coming.
6) Better Japanese food (duh)
7) Tokyo gets the real Disneyland, as compared to Seoul's Lotteworld.
8) Clubs are better.
9) No eating, drinking, or talking on phones on the trains. In other words, trains are much cleaner.
10) Random people usually don't make you walk with them if you happen to be going to the same destination.

[羽之助]

But, if you really think that kimchi is the best thing in the world, there is something wrong. I don't mind it all that much, but thinking about it fermenting for all those months makes me not want to eat it. Oh, and the whole cabbages make me think of brains.

But, if you really think that wine is the best thing in the world, there is something wrong. I don't mind it all that much, but thinking about it fermenting for all those months makes me not want to drink it. Oh, and the whole grapes make me think of eyeballs.

Let's hear it for objectiveness.

[Civilization Phrase III]

In Seoul everyone's so pushy. I didn't find it that positive.

Overall, Korea was amazing, and I loved visiting a new culture. It was very cool.

EDIT: Wine comparison was good. But kimchi looks less appetizing than that specific alcoholic drink, and if you say it isn't...I dunno. You're crazy?

[jindojim]

Just don't say you'd rather eat natto than kimchi just because it's Japanese.

That's a clear sign of Nippon ass-kissing.

[羽之助]

Hmm, natto-kimchi-maki?

Yum!

[gentlemanandscholar]

But, if you really think that kimchi is the best thing in the world, there is something wrong. I don't mind it all that much, but thinking about it fermenting for all those months makes me not want to eat it. Oh, and the whole cabbages make me think of brains.

I'm obsessed with kimchi actually, but that is my cross and I'm willing to bear it.

In Seoul everyone's so pushy. I didn't find it that positive.

Overall, Korea was amazing, and I loved visiting a new culture. It was very cool.

EDIT: Wine comparison was good. But kimchi looks less appetizing than that specific alcoholic drink, and if you say it isn't...I dunno. You're crazy?
Actually my brother says that wine smells like a soiled baby's diaper. So really to each his own!

[ak24]

http://p-paradigm.com/plog/attach/1/828486.JPG
http://pds1.egloos.com/pds/1/200512/12/09/c0034409_10583823.jpg
http://park.org/Korea/ThemePavilions/kimchi/06.jpg
http://apple.chol.com/userimgs/d/dskenjo/34eb2c4fcf.jpg
http://story.isloco.com/attach/1/1077784756.jpg
http://www.nmindplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/ramyuon.jpg

YUM!!! I love all those and I'm glad they have all that where I live. :frypan:

And, :clap: at what JindoJim said.

Also, I'd like to add... Korean drivers are the worst I have ever seen. I've never really been on the road in Japan, so I have no clue on this one.

P.S: Does anyone know how to resize these pictures?

[Civilization Phrase III]

Just don't say you'd rather eat natto than kimchi just because it's Japanese.

That's a clear sign of Nippon ass-kissing.
Fine, agreed. I can eat kimchi...but not natto.

[羽之助]

a bunch of pictures

Is that last one just instant Nong Shim Ramyun with an egg thrown in?

[ak24]

Is that last one just instant Nong Shim Ramyun with an egg thrown in?

No clue, but probably!

[gentlemanandscholar]

Is that last one just instant Nong Shim Ramyun with an egg thrown in?

Is it pathetic that it still looks better than anything I'm about to eat today?

[laggedreaction]

I hope you weren't entirely serious in your reply to me. Saying Japan is way better...is pretty much the best way to make any Korean hate you, including myself :D

Too bad it's so freaking true. Ugh, I can thing of many asian countries I'd rather be in than the ROK.

Btw, I made a list of 10 things comparing Seoul and Tokyo:

Things I prefer in Seoul over Tokyo:

1) Cheap transportation

--Just watch out for the scam taxis. Got in one of those and it was 27000 won going from the Myeongdong area to Seodaemon. That's not it. Once we got there the driver pulled out a sign saying that from 11pm to 4 am that was the price we had to pay each passenger. WTF? Over $60 USD for like 2 km. Freaking ridiculous. You'd never find shit like that in Japan.

2) Awesome food

Just avoid the garbage in Dongdaemon. Not only do they try to rip off tourists, the food stands are incredibly bad by all measures.

6) Cheap clothes

In cost and especially quality. lol, my girlfriend pointed out that it was fairly easy to distinguish between Koreans and Japanese just by looking at their shoes.

7) Relatively simple subway system

That's a pain in the ass because Koreans won't convert the ticket vending machines to accept the newer 1000 won notes.

10) Driving on the right side of the road, as opposed to the left

Too bad Koreans are worse drivers though...

9) No eating, drinking, or talking on phones on the trains. In other words, trains are much cleaner.

Yeah that was pretty disgusting. What really pissed me off was all the Koreans standing in doorways, talking on their mobiles and just ignoring anyone who wanted to go through.

[jindojim]

Eh, I never said Korea is perfect. Especially towards non-Koreans. Though I'm sorry you got such a crappy experience out of Korea.

My main point with that post was to point out that both cities have their good and bad points. Note: CITIES.

To generalize experiences in Tokyo and Seoul and apply them to the rest of the country doesn't always work...