Traveling to Seoul on Chuseok?

yeah the split trip idea makes sense. landing at 5am you can totally grab a quick breakfast at a 24hr place like a gimbap cheonguk near hongdae or jongno, they're everywhere and dirt cheap. then just wander around for a few hours before heading back to the airport. the AREX all stop train is fine too and only like 1,500 won more than the express if u miss the timing, runs every 6 mins or so

for taipei you'll have way more food options open during their normal days. chuseok in seoul is fine for a morning but after lunch most places start shutting down until the next day. the palaces are open but the real charm is in the alley markets and those are mostly closed. i'd do seoul on the 15th morning then fly out that afternoon, come back after the 17th when things pick up again

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly i'd say stick around for a bit on the 15th. landing at 5am means you can drop bags at a jimjilbang near myeongdong or hongdae for like 15,000 won and just crash for a few hours. then wander around gyeongbokgung area around 9am when it opens - it'll be dead quiet, feels almost surreal compared to normal chaos

for getting to the airport on chuseok day, the AREX express train from seoul station is your best bet. trains run every 30 mins and they're never full heading out of the city that morning. takes about 43 mins to incheon

one thing nobody mentioned is that convenience stores and most cafes in tourist zones stay open during chuseok. you wont starve. also namsan cable car is usually running and way less crowded than normal weekends. i'd def do seoul first then taipei, you get a nice contrast that way

arrow_drop_up 3 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

imo you should just go to taipei first and come back after chuseok. the 15th is the day before the actual holiday so you'll still get some of that quiet city vibe in the morning but you wont be stuck dealing with the full shutdown on the 16th. landing at 5am you can hit gwangjang market for early breakfast it opens at like 7 and the mayak gimbap stalls are already going

the AREX nonstop to seoul station is only 9,500 won and takes 43 mins. way easier than a taxi at that hour. if you're only staying one night just book a cheap guesthouse in jongno or insadong so you're close to the palaces and can walk everywhere

the real move is coming back after chuseok ends on the 17th or 18th. everything reopens and you get the normal seoul experience without the holiday weirdness. plus taipei is amazing and you'll prob want more than just a few days there anyway

arrow_drop_up 1 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

the whispering thing is real but its not about the sauce lol. that guy runs a 2am handoff with the chicken supplier, they drop off fresh birds from a farm near Chuncheon three times a week instead of using the frozen stuff most hongdae spots rely on. thats why the texture hits different, not the sauce itself. if u go back ask for the neck & wing combo off menu, its cheaper & honestly the best cut they do

arrow_drop_up 24 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

the thing nobody mentions is that Dogdogdog's sauce gets its body from cheong, the Korean rice syrup, not sugar. thats why it coats the wing so thick and stays glossy instead of going sticky. i asked a guy who worked there and he said they also add a splash of maesil (plum) extract at the end off the heat. that fruity tang under the garlic is what you're tasting. go on a weekday before 6, weekends the wait hits 40 min easy.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the "secret sauce" thing is prob just marketing. every fried chicken place in Seoul has a version of that story. the real difference at Dogdogdog is they double fry in rice bran oil and toss the wings in the sauce twice, once right out of the fryer and again after a 30 sec rest. thats where the crunch comes from, not some mystery ingredient. if u wanna taste the actual base, order the banban half plain half spicy and dip the plain one in the spicy sauce yourself.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply