By: Miriam Bribiesca
Here’s something the algorithm won’t tell you: South Korea is basically a paradise for college students. It has cheap food that slaps, neighborhoods built around university culture, a nightlife that genuinely doesn’t get going until most cities are already asleep and ZERO judgment about what time you roll in. Seoul basically operates on student time, and we are definitely not complaining.
So if you have your eyes set on your next adventure, why not consider South Korea? There is so much for you to see, and do! We’ll tell you all about that in this article.
Okay so first things first, if you only have one night and you need to know where to go, the answer is Hongdae. It’s built around Hongik University, which basically means the whole neighborhood exists to serve college students having a good time. There are Indie boutiques, live performers doing their thing on street corners, vintage shops, basement clubs that don’t open until midnight, and SO much more. Korean students come here to hang out and have fun, and you’ll fit right in faster than you’d expect because at the end of the day we are all just trying to have fun!
Now while you’re in that area, don’t miss out on also visiting Sinchon and Edae, they’re right next door and honestly just as good. Sinchon is where you find the street food tents that are basically a rite of passage. There you’ll find all the classics like spicy tteokbokki, crispy hotteok, and skewers of everything imaginable! Of course, all eaten standing up on the sidewalk like a true local.
Now Edae neighborhood has a different energy, it is a little more aesthetic and café heavy, with some of the best Korean fried chicken you’ll ever have in your life (you’re welcome!). Fair warning though, the shopping there is genuinely dangerous for your debit card as it is known as one of THE shopping districts in Korea.
And finally there’s Itaewon. This one’s the WILD CARD. It is more international, more multilingual, more of everything. Itaewon is where you go when you want the whole world in one neighborhood. It’s giving NYC, which means bars get creative, and the late night food options get weird in the best fusion way possible.
Now that we are talking about food, one of the biggest things people get wrong about Seoul is thinking the food is just part of the night out. But that’s not true in the slightest. Food IS the night out!
When you’re there, you’re not just grabbing a quick bite between bars similar to what you do in the States. You’re on a legitimate mission at 11 p.m. to find the best spicy stir fried chicken in Hongdae like it’s a quest. Or you’re at the convenience store having some of the best food you’ve ever tried because convenient stores in Korea are on a completely different level.
In fact you can cook Kimbap, instant ramen, enjoy their amazing hot snacks, decent soju, and so much more all for under five dollars. So make sure not to skip it.
Social Norms That Actually Matter
Like many cities, Seoul will welcome you with open arms, but it pays to know a few things to know before you go so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb:
- Drinking culture is huge, but so is respect. When sharing drinks with people older than you, always pour for them first and receive your glass with two hands. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way.
- Quiet on the subway, seriously! Seoul’s metro is remarkably hushed. Phone calls, loud music without headphones, and rowdy behavior are genuinely frowned upon, and people will stare and categorize you as a rude tourist.
- Tipping is not a thing. Don’t do it! It can come across as awkward or even rude in traditional settings so just keep that extra change and use it to support another business.
- When to wear shoes matters. If you’re invited to someone’s home or enter certain traditional spaces, shoes must come off. Wear socks you’re proud of or be prepared to walk barefoot.
- K-pop fans, be cool. While we are all about celebrating K pop, don’t reduce every Korean person you meet to their proximity to an idol. People appreciate when you engage with the whole culture. And there is SO much more to experience in Korea!
While none of these are dealbreakers, they’re just the difference between being a tourist and a welcomed guest. Let’s just say we are all about being the latter.
If you needed any more convincing, a night out in Seoul is cheaper than most American cities, more delicious than anywhere you’ve probably been, and genuinely unlike anything else on the planet. The neighborhoods are made for young people. The food is built for late nights. And the memories are bound to be obnoxiously good.
A night out in Seoul is the kind of experience that makes every other night out feel a little smaller by comparison (no shade). You will have better food, better energy, and a price tag that actually respects your bank account. Now the only move left is to stop thinking about it and start planning it!
So if you’re a college student looking to make that flight happen without destroying your bank account, then ScholarTrip has your back. We specialize in finding the kind of flight deals that are actually built for students, because we know college students deserve support to make these trips a reality. So make sure to always check our ever changing flight deals.
Your future Seoul will thank you (see what we did there?!).
