If you’re planning an adventurous escape to Seoul you’ll likely have exploring historic Bukchon, tasting a pojangmacha, and riding the Gyro Drop on your itinerary.
These are all great choices, and you’ll have a blast. If you’re looking for further inspiration, though, here’s a list of rather unusual activities you can experience in Seoul.
ENJOY* AN AJUMMA SCRUB DOWN
I’ve heard that an ajumma massage is akin to having a small woman scour your skin with a cheese grater before hosing your remaining layers of flesh with a garden hose.
*Okay, so technically “enjoy” was the wrong verb to use here.
WEAR HIS AND HERS OUTFITS
In Korea a couple’s date night is elevated to new realms of sweetness quite unlike anywhere else in the world.
Dress your loved one in an outfit identical to your own, even down to your underwear (yes men will sport lacy pink panties one night a week in the name of love), and head out for one of Korea’s many couple-themed meals.
TAKE PART IN A MUD WRESTLING FESTIVAL
Koreans are crazy about cosmetics, so it’s fitting that a local cosmetics company would conceive a festival to promote the region’s therapeutic mud.
Popular with locals, visitors, and expats alike, the Boryeong Mud Festival is worth taking a day trip from Seoul. This is a great way to celebrate summer in Korea.
SAMPLE THE KOREAN DESSERTS AT A LUXURY HOTEL
Famed for its string of notable guests like Bill Gates, President George Bush, and Michael Jackson, The Shilla Seoul is one of the best hotels in the city. It also boasts some of the best patbingsoo in Korea.
Patbingsoo or 팥빙수 is a medley of shaved ice combined with condensed milk, ice cream, small rice cakes, and sweetened red beans.
PLAY DONG CHIM
I’ll assume that you’ve never felt the overwhelming desire to clasp your hands together and attempt to insert your index and middle finger into another’s anal region? Well, gird your loins whilst in Korea because both children and adults alike may catch you unaware with a swift poke and a cry of “Ddong chim!” or “poop needle.”
Okay, so maybe the impromptu rectal poking is something to leave to the locals? I’m just letting you know it’s an option.
PARTY GANGNAM STYLE
Party hard in Gangnam, the affluent Seoul neighbourhood that rose to fame in Psy’s Gangnam Style song, and have some fun with the wealthy Seoulites that frequent this part of the city.
Koreans know how to live large and are said to consume twice as much alcohol as Russians, so prepare to get messy. Contemplating heading into Gangnam during your stay in Seoul? Here’s a handy guide to surviving the madness.
VISIT THE WORLD’S ONLY KIMCHI MUSEUM
Did you know that there are 187 different varieties of kimchi? Fear not, Seoul has a museum solely dedicated to the Korean staple. Here you can explore the varied ripeness levels and sample water kimchi, cucumber kimchi, and radish kimchi varieties.
Whether you plan to partake in these unusual activities or observe them from the safety of the well-trodden tourist trail, I assure you that your stay in Seoul will offer plenty of opportunity for adventure.
Featured image via CC Flickr by Byoung Wook
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Have we convinced you to try some unusual activities in Seoul?
