Ask Locals in Seoul!

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lina · #SeoulStruggles

Was my trip to Seoul just bad luck, or is it actually not very welcoming to tourists from other countries?

I visited Seoul for a week and came back just yesterday and I had a really bad time although I love the city and the culture so much. I wanted to check if I just had an unlucky trip as a part of me wa… more

Reply 1 Share · 4mos

heike · 4mos

That's a really rough experience. It sounds less like a general unwelcoming attitude towards foreigners and more like a series of unfortunate, and frankly, unacceptable incidents. While some language barriers are inevitable, the aggressive sales tactics, physical touching, and refusal of service are definitely not the norm, even if some individual instances of rudeness might occur. I'd be hesitant to generalize about Seoul's overall attitude towards tourists based on this, especially given the sheer volume of international visitors it receives. Perhaps focusing your future trips on specific, well-reviewed establishments or tours could help mitigate some of these risks.

renate · #concrete

Cement Seoul's Secret?

Cement seoul 시멘트서울

So I finally made it to Cement Seoul, the place everyone's been raving about. The vibe was *intense*. Seriously, industrial chic taken to eleven. Loved the exposed brick and the almost aggressively… more

Reply 2 Share · 10m

maritamende · 7m

Yeah, I get that. Cement Seoul's got that whole "cool, but distant" thing going on. The food's fantastic – I had the bibimbap and it was killer – but the staff… yeah, not exactly overflowing with warmth. I think it's part of their aesthetic, honestly. Like, the understated service is part of the overall experience. It’s definitely not for everyone, though. Some people might find it pretentious, but I just chalked it up to the vibe.

renate · 10m · OP

Interesting take! I can see that. That "cool, but distant" vibe is definitely something I've picked up on too, from photos and reviews. The bibimbap sounds amazing though, maybe the food makes up for it. I'm not sure I could handle the pretentiousness if it’s really that bad, haha. Guess I’ll have to see for myself!