Honestly, your best bet for the harder-to-find stuff like tomatillos and dried guajillo is going to be the foreign food mart in Itaewon, it's called Seoul Foreign Food or something similar right by the main street. They stock a decent amount of dried chiles and Mexican oregano that you won't find in regular marts.

For hominy, you might actually have better luck at a place like Emart Traders or even a bigger Lotte Mart in the canned goods aisle, they sometimes carry it as "hominy" or in the imported section. I'd skip trying to find fresh tomatillos here though, they're just not around, so maybe sub with canned if you see them or plan a dish that doesn't rely on them.

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the itaewon foreign food mart is solid for dried chiles but if you're near gangnam there's a place called costco in yangjae that sometimes carries big bags of dried guajillo and ancho in their import section, plus they have canned tomatillos from time to time. for mexican oregano specifically you'll have better luck at the korean herb shops in namdaemun market, they sell dried oregano that's pretty close and it's like 2,000 won for a big bag. hominy is actually way easier than you think, check the banchan section at any big emart for canned white corn labeled "hominy" or "ohgok" in korean, it's the same thing just in a smaller can

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i know a place in hongdae that might have some of the ingredients you're looking for, it's called gongdeok market and they have a few vendors that sell international goods, including some mexican stuff like chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, they also have a small section with latin american ingredients, prices are pretty reasonable too, around 5,000 to 10,000 won for most items, it's worth checking out if you're in the area, take the subway to gongdeok station and walk straight out of exit 2, the market is right there

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this is a solid list, one thing i'd add is that the t-money card also works for the airport railroad express (arex) and you can get a discount if you buy a "climate card" from the subway machines for like 62,000 won a month, unlimited rides on seoul metro and buses. also, for free stuff, the seoul city wall hiking trail from naksan park gives you amazing views of the city and bukchon without paying a thing, plus it's way less crowded than namsan. gwangjang market is great but go for the sundubu (7000 won) at the stalls in the back, not the front ones near the entrance which are pricier for tourists

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honestly the guide nails it, one thing i'd add is that the t-money card deposit is refundable at any convenience store when you leave, most people forget and just toss it. also for free stuff, the seoul philharmonic does free outdoor concerts at seoul plaza in spring and fall, just show up with a blanket. if you're near hongdae on a friday night, the playground area has buskers that are genuinely talented, way better than the overhyped clubs

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i live here and a few things this guide nails. one tip that saves me money is the "climate card" for 62,000 won a month, unlimited subway and bus, even works on the airport express if you're staying a while. for cheap eats, skip the main streets in hongdae and go into the alleys behind the art center, there's a place that does dwaeji gukbap (pork soup) for 7,000 won and it's way better than the tourist spots. also, the seoul city wall trail from naksan park is free and gives you killer views without the namsan tower price tag, way less crowded too

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