City: Seoul, South Korea
Currency: Korean Won (Around 1100KRW=1 US Dollar)
City Overview:
I've been here for about two months now, and I feel like I have a good grasp of the culture and city. Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, and very much it's economic, political, and cultural center. It's a huge city of more than 10,000,000 people with a lot to do. Some parts of the city seem like it came out of a sci-fi movie, yet others parts, mostly on the outskirts, are very rural. There are both foreigners and native Koreans that live and work here. Both are pretty open to meeting foreigners under the right circumstances. Will touch on this later.
You'll most likely fly into Incheon International, which is located in the western-most part of the city.
Girls:
If you like asian girls, this is your heaven. I haven't seen this concentration of sexy and feminine asian girls ever in my life. They are different than their Korean-American counterparts. They are more feminine, less career-oriented, and are not huge overacheivers. However, most are very educated, but at the same time can be very immature. They also love to cook for their men. The downside is that some can be very traditional and you'll run into virgins once in a while. Also, some girls don't shave their pubes. I would venture to say that most don't. But it's okay. You can talk them into it pretty easily.
The attractive ones range from thin to curvy with great asses and decent sized tits. Real curvy, not US curvy. In public, you'll see them fashionably dressed and wearing heels.
Touristy Stuff:
Lotte World: It's a small indoor Disney Land type place in the middle of Seoul. Worth Seeing. Good date option.
Everland: Amusement Park that is good for taking a date to if the weather is nice.
Dongdaemoon History and Culture Park and Fashion Market: It is a stop on the 5 line of the metro system. It's worth it to go there and shop, as you'll find some great clothes for decent prices. Most Korean men probably dress better than you if you're coming from the US. I had to completely update my wardrobe when I got here. You can shop at the huge shopping centers during the day, but you can buy cool stuff at much cheaper prices on the street under the little yellow tents that are set up. You can buy off-brand stuff and imitation name brand on the street, but go there around 10:30 PM as they only start setting up around 10. Remember to haggle and ask for a lower price. They start high.
Bike Ride: On the way east side of the city, there is a bike trail leading from Seoul to Busan. There are little government bike service centers that rent bikes for free as long as you have a picture ID. I used my US driver's license. The sights are beautiful and there are little restaurants on the side of the bike trail that serve delicious food. Just ask people how to get to the HanNam River bike trail.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1339365
Other than those things, I think the activities mentioned in this article from Time magazine will fill up your time pretty well.
http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguid...51,00.html
Lodging:
Hotels can be very expensive. I'm not sure how much exactly, since I'm staying with family. I would suggest looking for apartments here. Itaewon, Hongdae, Apgujeong, and Sinchon are great areas to stay as they are close to places with hot girls and you'll be taking taxis at night.
http://www.sublet.com/city_rentals/seoul_rentals.asp
Day game spots:
Sinchon, Hongdae, Apgujeong, and Itaewon have lots of hot girls just walking around and sitting at cafes. Bookstores, shopping, they are just itching to get opened. Hongdae, Sinchon, and Ewha Women's University can all be reached on the 5 line of the metro. Probably the best areas for daygame and they are all right next to each other.
Nightlife spots:
The best places are Hongdae and Itaewon. The best date spots are in Apgujeong. I can't really recommend specific venues, since it's all a blur to me, but if you can't find a decent party in a club or bar walking around those areas you have to be blind. Go to Itaewon if you're looking for an easier hookup. Go to Hongdae if you're looking for a higher concentration of hotter girls. Girls go to Itaewon to hook up with foreigners. There are also international students and english teachers. Some can be very hot.
Other than regular bars and clubs, there are things called booking clubs, which is a bar where you and a bunch of other guys sit at a table and order bottles. The waiter brings girls over and you can talk and exchange numbers. These are girls that want to meet guys and want boyfriends, not prostitutes. It's a little foreign to me, but Koreans say it's because most people meet potential partners through friends and intermediaries, so this is sort of like the speed-dating version. Also, it can get expensive. Bottles can cost hundreds of dollars. I was on a budget, so I never went, but have spoken to guys who do and they tell me it's worth the coin, but three hundred bucks on a bottle isn't gonna break the bank for these guys.
Nightlife can get expensive and the metro system shuts down around 12:30 so taxis are your only option at night. But they are relatively inexpensive. A 30-40 minute cab ride on the freeway was like 30 bucks. They go by distance, not time. If you're staying in one of the neighborhoods I mentioned you won't pay nearly as much. I live about as far east as you can get in Seoul, about an hour to an hour and a half by metro from Sinchon and Hongdae.
Ease of approaching:
Easy if you know how. Don't come on too strong. You must come in under the radar during day game. At first, some girls would get surprised/frightened by me just tapping them on the shoulder. In night venues, offering a drink works well, as does just being fun and high energy. Speak english like you expect that she understands you, even if she doesn't. It'll keep her on her toes. Be polite. Being overly alpha (too loud, too inconsiderate, too douchey) can be taken as you being uneducated and class-less. Being an asshole can get you blown out. I've never once been blown out for being polite. The most important thing to remember is to be nice, yet lead the interaction and maintain control of the frame. Tell her where you are going next and just pull her along. If you come off as weak, these girls can be manipulative, from what I've heard. They will shower you with complements but use you for dinners and never fuck you, so don't be that guy. Also, once you fuck them, they can become pretty attached and annoying. Just tell them you understand, but you come from a different culture.
I've also seen average looking guys with very attractive girls doing very beta things such as holding her purse for her, that would get him laughed at in the US, but I think it might be normal here.
Closing:
Motels or DVD rooms are close by all nightlife areas. They were a lifeline for me, since I'm staying with relatives.
Language barriers:
Can be high outside of the areas I mentioned above. Most Koreans speak at least a little english, but even some university students are not conversational, although the vast majority of them are and love to practice english.
Prices:
Expect to pay NYC prices on everything except Korean food and taxis.
Logistics:
Public transport and walking are great before midnight. Buses and the metro system are both clean, on time, and efficient. But after midnight, they shut down and you have to take cabs. There are little electronic kiosks that you can purchase transport cards from. You also charge them on these kiosks. Trips are about $1.25 each way.
Pros:
Korean girls, Korean food, great shopping, vibrant city, logistics and public transport are easy to learn as most things are also written and announced in english on the public transport system. Great nightlife.
Cons:
Korean guys can turn into huge haters and try to cockblock. They get jealous easily. Korean people can be xenophobic as well.
Without an "in" or a "niche" it can be tough to have an optimal time. Whatever you're into, look for a club or a group on the internet before you arrive. Email them saying you're looking to participate in their group. Whether it be martial arts, music, art, whatever. If you have that "in", they will most likely be very hospitable and want to get to know you, introduce you around, etc.
Final Thoughts:
Seoul is an amazing city with great girls, great food, and great nightlife. It can get pricey, though. Especially the nightlife. Korean society has a very clean image, as in very traditional, but also has a dark underbelly. But that also has a good side and bad side to it. The bad side is that people here can be racist and xenophobic, but if you come from an english speaking country it nullifies it somewhat. The good side is that even though korean society seems traditional, once you crack through, you can fuck as much as you want. Just don't look at these girls as too innocent, or you might get fucked over.
Hope this helped. Any questions, post them below and I'll do my best to answer. For those with anything to add, feel free.
Currency: Korean Won (Around 1100KRW=1 US Dollar)
City Overview:
I've been here for about two months now, and I feel like I have a good grasp of the culture and city. Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, and very much it's economic, political, and cultural center. It's a huge city of more than 10,000,000 people with a lot to do. Some parts of the city seem like it came out of a sci-fi movie, yet others parts, mostly on the outskirts, are very rural. There are both foreigners and native Koreans that live and work here. Both are pretty open to meeting foreigners under the right circumstances. Will touch on this later.
You'll most likely fly into Incheon International, which is located in the western-most part of the city.
Girls:
If you like asian girls, this is your heaven. I haven't seen this concentration of sexy and feminine asian girls ever in my life. They are different than their Korean-American counterparts. They are more feminine, less career-oriented, and are not huge overacheivers. However, most are very educated, but at the same time can be very immature. They also love to cook for their men. The downside is that some can be very traditional and you'll run into virgins once in a while. Also, some girls don't shave their pubes. I would venture to say that most don't. But it's okay. You can talk them into it pretty easily.
The attractive ones range from thin to curvy with great asses and decent sized tits. Real curvy, not US curvy. In public, you'll see them fashionably dressed and wearing heels.
Touristy Stuff:
Lotte World: It's a small indoor Disney Land type place in the middle of Seoul. Worth Seeing. Good date option.
Everland: Amusement Park that is good for taking a date to if the weather is nice.
Dongdaemoon History and Culture Park and Fashion Market: It is a stop on the 5 line of the metro system. It's worth it to go there and shop, as you'll find some great clothes for decent prices. Most Korean men probably dress better than you if you're coming from the US. I had to completely update my wardrobe when I got here. You can shop at the huge shopping centers during the day, but you can buy cool stuff at much cheaper prices on the street under the little yellow tents that are set up. You can buy off-brand stuff and imitation name brand on the street, but go there around 10:30 PM as they only start setting up around 10. Remember to haggle and ask for a lower price. They start high.
Bike Ride: On the way east side of the city, there is a bike trail leading from Seoul to Busan. There are little government bike service centers that rent bikes for free as long as you have a picture ID. I used my US driver's license. The sights are beautiful and there are little restaurants on the side of the bike trail that serve delicious food. Just ask people how to get to the HanNam River bike trail.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1339365
Other than those things, I think the activities mentioned in this article from Time magazine will fill up your time pretty well.
http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguid...51,00.html
Lodging:
Hotels can be very expensive. I'm not sure how much exactly, since I'm staying with family. I would suggest looking for apartments here. Itaewon, Hongdae, Apgujeong, and Sinchon are great areas to stay as they are close to places with hot girls and you'll be taking taxis at night.
http://www.sublet.com/city_rentals/seoul_rentals.asp
Day game spots:
Sinchon, Hongdae, Apgujeong, and Itaewon have lots of hot girls just walking around and sitting at cafes. Bookstores, shopping, they are just itching to get opened. Hongdae, Sinchon, and Ewha Women's University can all be reached on the 5 line of the metro. Probably the best areas for daygame and they are all right next to each other.
Nightlife spots:
The best places are Hongdae and Itaewon. The best date spots are in Apgujeong. I can't really recommend specific venues, since it's all a blur to me, but if you can't find a decent party in a club or bar walking around those areas you have to be blind. Go to Itaewon if you're looking for an easier hookup. Go to Hongdae if you're looking for a higher concentration of hotter girls. Girls go to Itaewon to hook up with foreigners. There are also international students and english teachers. Some can be very hot.
Other than regular bars and clubs, there are things called booking clubs, which is a bar where you and a bunch of other guys sit at a table and order bottles. The waiter brings girls over and you can talk and exchange numbers. These are girls that want to meet guys and want boyfriends, not prostitutes. It's a little foreign to me, but Koreans say it's because most people meet potential partners through friends and intermediaries, so this is sort of like the speed-dating version. Also, it can get expensive. Bottles can cost hundreds of dollars. I was on a budget, so I never went, but have spoken to guys who do and they tell me it's worth the coin, but three hundred bucks on a bottle isn't gonna break the bank for these guys.
Nightlife can get expensive and the metro system shuts down around 12:30 so taxis are your only option at night. But they are relatively inexpensive. A 30-40 minute cab ride on the freeway was like 30 bucks. They go by distance, not time. If you're staying in one of the neighborhoods I mentioned you won't pay nearly as much. I live about as far east as you can get in Seoul, about an hour to an hour and a half by metro from Sinchon and Hongdae.
Ease of approaching:
Easy if you know how. Don't come on too strong. You must come in under the radar during day game. At first, some girls would get surprised/frightened by me just tapping them on the shoulder. In night venues, offering a drink works well, as does just being fun and high energy. Speak english like you expect that she understands you, even if she doesn't. It'll keep her on her toes. Be polite. Being overly alpha (too loud, too inconsiderate, too douchey) can be taken as you being uneducated and class-less. Being an asshole can get you blown out. I've never once been blown out for being polite. The most important thing to remember is to be nice, yet lead the interaction and maintain control of the frame. Tell her where you are going next and just pull her along. If you come off as weak, these girls can be manipulative, from what I've heard. They will shower you with complements but use you for dinners and never fuck you, so don't be that guy. Also, once you fuck them, they can become pretty attached and annoying. Just tell them you understand, but you come from a different culture.
I've also seen average looking guys with very attractive girls doing very beta things such as holding her purse for her, that would get him laughed at in the US, but I think it might be normal here.
Closing:
Motels or DVD rooms are close by all nightlife areas. They were a lifeline for me, since I'm staying with relatives.
Language barriers:
Can be high outside of the areas I mentioned above. Most Koreans speak at least a little english, but even some university students are not conversational, although the vast majority of them are and love to practice english.
Prices:
Expect to pay NYC prices on everything except Korean food and taxis.
Logistics:
Public transport and walking are great before midnight. Buses and the metro system are both clean, on time, and efficient. But after midnight, they shut down and you have to take cabs. There are little electronic kiosks that you can purchase transport cards from. You also charge them on these kiosks. Trips are about $1.25 each way.
Pros:
Korean girls, Korean food, great shopping, vibrant city, logistics and public transport are easy to learn as most things are also written and announced in english on the public transport system. Great nightlife.
Cons:
Korean guys can turn into huge haters and try to cockblock. They get jealous easily. Korean people can be xenophobic as well.
Without an "in" or a "niche" it can be tough to have an optimal time. Whatever you're into, look for a club or a group on the internet before you arrive. Email them saying you're looking to participate in their group. Whether it be martial arts, music, art, whatever. If you have that "in", they will most likely be very hospitable and want to get to know you, introduce you around, etc.
Final Thoughts:
Seoul is an amazing city with great girls, great food, and great nightlife. It can get pricey, though. Especially the nightlife. Korean society has a very clean image, as in very traditional, but also has a dark underbelly. But that also has a good side and bad side to it. The bad side is that people here can be racist and xenophobic, but if you come from an english speaking country it nullifies it somewhat. The good side is that even though korean society seems traditional, once you crack through, you can fuck as much as you want. Just don't look at these girls as too innocent, or you might get fucked over.
Hope this helped. Any questions, post them below and I'll do my best to answer. For those with anything to add, feel free.
