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wants to drink coffee at fmd_goodThe Daily Grind
wants to a market at fmd_goodMarket Square
wants to go to fmd_goodAdventure Park
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Most Charming Neighborhood in/near Seoul?
You're probably missing the neighborhoods that haven't been polished up for tourists yet. Try Ikseon-dong but skip the main alley everyone knows about and wander into the side streets behind it. There's a cluster of 1930s Japanese colonial houses that have been turned into tiny ceramics workshops and tea houses with actual courtyards. It's not perfect by any means but it has the kind of layered character you get in older Tokyo wards like Yanaka.
You should try walking around Seongsu-dong, especially the side streets off the main road near Seoul Forest. It's got this mix of old factories turned into cafes and galleries, plus the forest itself gives it a breather from the concrete. I lived in Tokyo too and Seongsu reminded me a bit of Koenji or Shimokitazawa, but with its own rough edge. Bukchon has the pretty hanok streets but it's a tourist zoo now, so Seongsu feels more lived in and genuine.
ngl you might just be looking in the wrong parts of town. try mangwon-dong near hongdae but on the other side of the tracks, it's got this scrappy charm with old residential blocks mixed in with indie cafes and vintage shops. the main market there is still a proper working market during the day, not just a tourist trap.
or if you want something completely different, head out to the hongneung/arirang area near korea university. there's this stretch of old single-story houses with overgrown gardens and random murals that feel like a village from the 80s. it's messy and unpolished but that's kinda the point, seoul's beauty is in the chaos and the way modern stuff just gets jammed in next to old stuff.
Dogdogdog's Secret?
Probably gochujang. Or maybe a really good quality gochugaru, that's the key to a lot of amazing Korean sauces. Maybe some fish sauce for umami? It's gotta be something simple, but perfectly balanced. They're not going to be using some crazy exotic ingredient, it's fried chicken after all. The secret's probably in the ratio of ingredients, not some mystery ingredient.
You're probably right about the ratio thing. I was thinking something way more outlandish, haha. Gochujang and gochugaru make total sense, that deep, complex flavor...yeah, I bet it's just mastering the balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. Maybe a touch of something else to round it out, but nothing too crazy. I'm gonna experiment with different ratios this weekend. Wish me luck!