Been to Korea Before? Here’s Why You’ll Want to Go Back Again! 🇰🇷✈️ For many travelers, one trip to Korea is never enough. Maybe you've just returned and are already planning your next visit—or perhaps you're wondering, what else can I do in Korea if I’ve been there before? In this special feature, our Kawan Wahida Asrani shares her personal experiences of returning to Seoul time and time again. From café-hopping at Instagrammable spots to discovering hidden art spaces, picturesque libraries, and scenic nature escapes, she takes us on a journey through the city's must-visit locations—both familiar favorites and new discoveries. Whether you’re looking to revisit meaningful places or explore Seoul in a whole new way, Wahida’s insights will inspire your next trip! 💙 👉 Read on for her top recommendations! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I’m sure some readers of this article are returning travellers to Korea, am I right? Perhaps some of you have just returned and are already planning your next trip back to Korea. There must be something that makes you want to go back. But some might wonder: what else is there to do in Korea if you’ve already been there at least once? Well, I’d like to share my own experiences and what I normally do (whether it’s revisiting favourite spots or discovering new places) whenever I feel like going back. Please note that this is just my perspective based on my journeys in Seoul (and a little bit of its outskirts). There are, of course, many other areas outside Seoul that you can explore; Busan, Gyeongju, Jeju and Gwangju, to name a few, whether you’re a first-timer or a returning visitor. Café-hunting: A must-do mission in Seoul I love visiting cafés in Seoul. There are so many themed cafés as well as cute and chic spots that you simply must visit whenever you’re in the city. Throughout Korea, there are countless cool cafés where you can order at least a cup of Americano and a croissant while soaking in the cosy ambiance (and, of course, snapping some photos too!). I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of viral cafés on social media, promoted not only by Malaysian travellers and local influencers but by Koreans as well. Relaxing at Soha Salt Pond Cafe, one of the famous spots in Ikseon-dong I love visiting those popular spots too, but I also enjoy stopping by cafés with beautiful exterior concepts while strolling along the streets. If you’re unsure which café to visit first, I recommend starting with Ikseon-dong. This area is home to many great cafés, most of which feature modern Hanok-inspired designs. My favourites in Ikseon-dong are Soha Salt Pond (known for its famous salted bread, alongside the viral Jayeondo salt bread nearby) and Nakwon, a railway-themed café! However, as this is a popular tourist spot, you can expect queues at most of the cafés here. But don’t worry, since you’re already there, queuing can be a fun experience, allowing you to soak in the stunning atmosphere of Ikseon-dong. Another spot that truly amazed me is the Nuldam Space Café, located in several areas around Seoul. The one I visited was near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Besides savouring your favourite drinks and cakes, you can also purchase a postcard for about 6,000 won, which comes with an envelope. You can write a message to your future self (or to anyone you like), seal it with a wax stamp, and slot the envelope into a dated box of your choice, ideally for delivery a year later. Don’t forget to include your address! Write to your future self at Nuldam Space Cafe, which is something fun to do while enjoying your drink Being artsy! Coming from someone who’s not into art, I still want to recommend visiting an art museum in Seoul. As a frequent traveler, I will try my best to explore new places whenever I’m in the city, which is how I ended up visiting one after Googling other places to check out. What I can say is that this activity is worth it! Try to visit an art museum at least once, whether you're a returning visitor or a first-timer to Korea. I was fascinated by the concept of the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art when I visited last year. It steps away from the traditional style of art museums, blending traditional and contemporary elements. You can still find a collection of Korean cultural artifacts alongside modern works. What I loved most were the impressive lighting, cool figures and sculptures, and the 3-D objects displayed there. Entrance is free for the traditional art collection, but it costs around 18,000 won to visit all other exhibition areas. I can honestly say it’s worth paying, even if you're not an art lover. Other option include visiting the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul. If you're more interested in historical Korean arts and culture, you can visit the National Museum of Korea (the exterior view is stunning, making it a great photo spot too!). The lighting can be one of the interesting elements at Leeum Samsung Museum of Art if you want to capture unique photos Act like a bookworm I’m sure those who have been to Seoul or are planning to go soon have Starfield Library on their list of attractions due to its Instagrammable spots. Since not many of us can read Hangul and most of the books are in Korean, we’re definitely there just to soak in the vibes and take some nice photos. Starfield Library also has another stunning branch in Suwon. After about 1.5 hours on the subway (or even faster with KTX trains), you’ll be amazed by the bigger and beautiful library inside. So, if you’ve already visited the one at COEX Mall, try checking out the larger branch in Starfield Suwon next time you’re in Seoul. For fans of Hotel Del Luna , have you heard of Seoul Book Bogo, which was used as one of its filming locations? While it’s not as big as Starfield Library, I love the arched-style bookshelves inside. The space was actually transformed from an old warehouse into a bookstore, library, and cultural space, with most of the books being second-hand or old. Do visit this spot for a different kind of ‘library vibe,’ but remember to keep your voice down, as there are people reading inside. ( left picture - writer at the Suwon Starfield Library; right picture - interior view of Seoul Book Bogo ) Another favourite spot of mine is Kyobo Bookstore. I always visit this bookstore whenever I’m in Seoul, as I often find cute stationery to bring back as souvenirs to Malaysia. For those who have been to Korea many times, this bookstore could be the perfect spot to discover nice souvenirs, such as adult colouring books, pens, notebooks, and sticky notes. I usually buy a yearly diary there whenever I visit the city at the end of the year, as they offer many cute diaries and planners. There are several outlets in Korea, and the largest one is near Gwanghwamun Gate, so make sure to visit it next time you’re in Seoul. Back to nature You’ve likely visited all the popular tourist spots with a 'nature' element, such as Namsan Park, Nami Island, Han River, Seoul Forest, and Haneul Park. These places are often included in any list of must-see attractions for visitors. Personally, I enjoy revisiting a few parks, particularly during different seasons, to experience the unique atmosphere each one offers. A few of my favorite 'back-to-nature' spots that I love to return to include the stunning waterfall view at Café Pokpo in Seodaemun and the scenic Haneul Park. While the waterfall at Café Pokpo is artificial, the ambiance is incredibly relaxing, especially if you're craving a break from the city’s hustle. For those looking to explore even more beautiful scenery, I suggest taking the subway to Hongje Station and then walking along the Hongje Stream trail for about 20 minutes. It’s a beautiful path. However, if walking isn’t your thing, you can easily take a bus after exiting the subway station. Cafe Pokpo is another great spot for those who love scenic views like this waterfall while sipping their favourite drink As for Haneul Park, I’ve visited both in spring and autumn, and each season offered its own beautiful views. However, I especially enjoyed watching the silver grass in autumn while sipping hot chocolate and eating odeng outside a convenience store at the park's entrance, where I could enjoy a magnificent view of the park. At this point, I’m not really going there to take many photos as I prefer just to relax and unwind in the area. Those first timers, you can make it a challenge by climbing more than 200 steps of wooden stairs to reach the top of Haneul Park, because one thing for sure is, the view from the stairs while climbing is awesome. I tried climbing the stairs once, so enough of the experience as I need more 'pit-stops' for sure at this age. But worry not, for those who can't do so, there's a shuttle provided for around 3,000 won for a round-trip. A simple activity that you can do is buy a coffee and odeng at the convenience mart and enjoy the magnificent view of Haneul Park Revisit to rekindle the memories I believe every returning visitor to Korea has their own favourite spots they love to revisit, as well as trying new experiences or exploring different places. There are many things I would like to share in this article because, as I mentioned in my first piece, every place in Seoul holds a special spot in my heart. As much as I would like to write more about this, I will save it for another article, where I will focus on my experiences exploring random places in Seoul by stopping at various subway stations or bus stops, which I plan to continue on my next trip. Maybe it’s time for you to start planning your next trip to Korea as well! This time, consider a relaxing journey by exploring new spots and revisiting familiar ones during a different season. Whether it’s revisiting places that bring back wonderful memories, discovering new destinations, or trying new activities, these experiences can be incredibly healing. Annyeong! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *As a passionate returning visitor to Korea, the writer is keen to experience village life, something she has seen in many K-dramas and K-variety shows. She’s also still working on learning Korean so she can converse with locals if she ever gets the chance to visit a village on a short holiday (although she’s been learning on and off for years, she hopes to make progress soon!). *Kawan-Kawan, if you'd like to share your own Korea travel stories, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email at [email protected].

🎬📅 K-Drama Lovers, This One’s for You! 📅🎬 Annyeong, K-Drama fans! 💖 Get ready to bring your favorite dramas into 2025 with our exclusive K-Drama Calendar giveaway! 🎁✨ 📅 Redemption starts: 17 February 2025 – while stocks last! 📍 Where? Korea Plaza 🔹 How to Redeem? 1️⃣ Follow @KTO_Malaysia on Instagram/ @KTOMalaysia on Facebook 2️⃣ Comment your favorite 2024 K-Drama below 3️⃣ Tag two friends who love K-Dramas too! 4️⃣ Share this post on your Instagram Story/Facebook 📌 Show proof to our staff at Korea Plaza & scan the QR code to complete the redemption. If your IG Story has expired, no worries—just show it from your Story Archive! Hurry—limited calendars available! ⏳💨 Terms and Conditions 1. The 'K-Drama Calendar Giveaway' (the “Giveaway”) will start on 17 February 2025, and will continue until stock lasts. 2. The Organiser reserves the right to amend the contest period at any time without prior notice. 3. Korea Tourism Organization Malaysia (the “Organiser”) reserves the right to disqualify any Participants without notice at any point of the Contest or after should he/she be found to have not fulfilled the prerequisites of the Contest prior to participation. 4. To participate in the Giveaway, participants (the “Participants”) must be residing in Malaysia during the contest period. 5. To enter the Giveaway on Instagram, participants must follow us (@KTO_Malaysia), comment on their favorite 2024 K-Drama in the comment section of the giveaway post, tag two friends in the comment, and share the Giveaway post on their Instagram Story. Meanwhile, to enter the Giveaway on Facebook, participants must follow us (@KTOMalaysia), comment on their favorite 2024 K-Drama in the comment section of the giveaway post, tag two friends in the comment and share the Giveaway post on their Facebook. 6. Each participant may submit multiple entries. However, each participant is only entitled to redeem one calendar. 7. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify, at its sole and absolute discretion, the eligibility of any participant and/or revoke or forfeit any prizes at any stage of the Contest if: •entries submitted are incomplete or fail to fulfill any of the Terms and Conditions stipulated herein • there is a violation any applicable laws or regulations. • for any reason whatsoever the Organiser have reason to believe that a participant has attempted to undermine the operation of the Contest in any way whatsoever, including but not limited to fraud, cheating or deception. 8. Calendars must be redeemed at Korea Plaza, Ground Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur. Redemption hours between 10 AM to 7 PM on weekdays, excluding public holidays. For any updates on operating hours, winners should refer to KTO Malaysia's official Instagram page (@KTO_Malaysia). The redemption period begins on 17 February 2025. 9. Upon redemption, participants must show proof of completing all the required steps to our Korea Plaza staff. If the Instagram Story showcasing the completion of steps has expired, participants must provide proof via their Instagram Story Archive. Participants are required to scan a QR code at the redemption counter to fill in the K-Drama Calendar Redemption Form, which will serve as our record of redemption. 10. The Organisers will not be held responsible for the loss or damage of the prizes. 11. Prizes are strictly non-negotiable, non-transferable, non-exchangeable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available. 12. By participating in the 'K-Drama Calendar Giveaway', participants agree to grant the Korea Tourism Organization Malaysia (the "Organiser") the right to use their Instagram or Facebook username and any related content for promotional purposes. 13. The Organiser, shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered (including but not limited to loss of opportunities and any indirect or consequential losses) or personal injury suffered or sustained by any participant in connection with or arising from participation in the Contest. 14. The Terms and Conditions of the Contest shall be construed, governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Malaysia. 15. The Organiser may, with or without prior notice, terminate any of the rights granted by these Terms and Conditions. Any changes are effective immediately upon posting to Organiser's website and release of notice of the such change. 16. The Organiser reserves the right to substitute the prize with another of equivalent value if circumstances beyond our control make it necessary to do so. 17. The Organiser reserves the right to cancel, suspend or amend the rules and prizes of the contest without prior notice. Any changes will be posted either on the Organiser’s Website or in the Terms and Conditions.