Cover Cliffside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan, South Korea, where golden Buddhas glow above the East Sea and faith collides with the elements (Photo: Pexels / Dmitry Voronov)
Cliffside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan, South Korea, where golden Buddhas glow above the East Sea and faith collides with the elements (Photo: Pexels / Dmitry Voronov)
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From ginseng chicken to cliffside temples and bustling markets, here are some of the best ways to explore South Korea
In this second instalment of Pocket List, a series in which our Tatler Best co-jury heads share five essential recommendations from their region. Think of it as a compact guide—personal, insider and rooted in local flavour.
This time, we turn to Julia Lee, Tatler Best co-jury head for South Korea. A distinguished food editor with a global perspective, she highlights five ways to experience the country. From steaming bowls of chicken soup in Seoul to markets that hum with energy just outside the capital, keep reading for how best to explore the region.
In case you missed it: 5 ways to experience Malaysia by Tatler Best co-jury head Katelyn Tan
Above Tatler Best co-jury head for South Korea, Julia Lee, shares her Pocket List of five essential experiences across the region
Tatler Best co-jury head for South Korea, Julia Lee, shares her Pocket List of five essential experiences across the region
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Eat samgyetang at Tosokchon, Seoul
Above Eat ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon, a Seoul classic beside Gyeongbokgung Palace
Eat ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon, a Seoul classic beside Gyeongbokgung Palace
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Few dishes capture Korean comfort like a steaming bowl of samgyetang, a traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup made from a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, garlic and jujubes, then simmered in a broth.
At Tosokchon, beside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the broth is rich, the chicken tender, and the hanok setting turns a simple meal into something ritualistic. It is hearty, grounding, and always restorative, whether in the heat of summer or the chill of winter.
See also: A food lover’s guide to Seoul, South Korea
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Address: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Taste hairtail soup in Jeju
Above Taste galchi-guk, Jeju’s restorative hairtail soup, at Negeori in Seogwipo
Taste galchi-guk, Jeju’s restorative hairtail soup, at Negeori in Seogwipo
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In Seogwipo, Negeori Restaurant serves galchi-guk, a clear, spicy hairtail soup that tastes of the sea itself. Simmered with pumpkin, napa cabbage and chilli, it’s sharp and cleansing, the kind of dish that locals eat at breakfast and visitors remember long after. This is Jeju in a bowl—honest, briny and deeply local.
Negeori
Address: 20, Seomun-ro 29beon-gil, Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korea
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan
Above Visit Haedong Yonggungsa, Busan’s dramatic seaside temple on the East Sea
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa, Busan’s dramatic seaside temple on the East Sea
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Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the East Sea, Haedong Yonggungsa is one of Korea’s most striking temples. Arriving at sunrise, the pagodas glow against the horizon while waves crash below, creating an experience that feels suspended between sea and spirit. It is a rare fusion of faith and landscape, unforgettable in its setting.
Haedong Yonggungsa
Address: 86, Yonggung-gil, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea
Slow down at Museum SAN, Wonju
Above Slow down at Museum SAN, where galleries, courtyards and water gardens create a rare balance of art and silence
Slow down at Museum SAN, where galleries, courtyards and water gardens create a rare balance of art and silence
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Designed by Tadao Ando, Museum SAN (Space, Art, Nature)is a dialogue between nature, architecture and silence. Minimalist concrete walls open onto courtyards, water gardens shimmer with light, and James Turrell’s installations transform sky into a living canvas. Each step demands attention, reminding visitors that stillness can be the greatest luxury.
Museum SAN
Address: 260, Oak valley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju, Gangwon 26357, South Korea
Immerse yourself in Ganghwa Market, Incheon
Above Immerse yourself in the colour and chaos of Ganghwa Market, where Korea’s food culture comes alive
Above Try bandeng-i hoe, fresh herring slices wrapped with kimchi, ginseng and perilla leaves, best with a cup of makgeolli
Immerse yourself in the colour and chaos of Ganghwa Market, where Korea’s food culture comes alive
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Just an hour from Seoul, Ganghwa Pungmul Market brims with noise, colour and flavour. Narrow aisles overflow with produce and seafood, but the highlight is bandeng-i hoe (fresh herring slices) wrapped in perilla leaves with kimchi, ssamjang (a savoury dipping sauce) and raw ginseng, washed down with makgeolli (Korean fermented rice alcohol). It’s chaotic, delicious and gloriously unfiltered, a true taste of Korea’s living food culture.
Ganghwa Pungmul Market
Address: 17-9 Jungang-ro, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, South Korea
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