Spontaneity in Seoul: From Rock Themed Bungeoppang Cafes to Ear Piercings in Hongdae

Having a list of destinations to visit in Seoul is always great to keep in the back of your mind, but I will say that some of the best experiences that I’ve had have been through the things that I have discovered unintentionally. 

I will always remember this one night my friends and I were craving bungeoppang (pastry shaped like fish filled with red bean, cream, etc) and when looking for a shop on Naver Maps, we happened to find a place called Chulbujang Bungeoppang. Chulbujang Bungeoppang is a small shop nestled in the Donggyo Dong neighborhood. When you walk in, you’ll immediately hear the sounds of nostalgic rock music, playing all the classics from U2 to Bon Jovi. The decorations are also all represented of the rock scene from the 70s and 80s, with leather jackets and vinyls of their greatest hits. There is one man that runs the shop and he will make you the most crispiest-on-the-outside-but-soft-on-the-inside bungeoppang you will ever have! 

Next up is an arcade, G-Plex, in everyone’s favorite neighborhood, Sinchon! I’ve always walked by this place when wandering around Sinchon, but it was only recently when I went into it for the first time, and I really wish I did sooner. Just as a warning, I can guarantee that you will be spending a lot of time (and money) on the floor dedicated to claw machines filled with the cutest stuffed animals. As you make your way upstairs, you’ll find all the classic arcade games such as air hockey and racing games, as well as a mini karaoke room (only 500 won for two songs)! G-Plex is a great place to go to with your friends if you’re looking for a chill night out.

Another thing that I highly recommend doing while in Korea is to get piercings! They’re incredibly cheap and most shops in Seoul use needles for their piercings. In my time here in Seoul, I’ve gotten five new piercings- two on each lobe and one helix on my left ear. In total, these piercings amounted to 61000 won which is around 44 dollars. This is still kind of crazy to me as two lobe piercings in Los Angeles cost 80 dollars, so I knew that I had to take the opportunity to get piercings while I was here. All the piercings I’ve accumulated throughout my time here have been in Lovedot Piercing and Stella Piercing which can be found in Hongdae’s shopping district, which I think are the perfect locations to go to conclude a good shopping day. 

While you’re in Seoul, I can guarantee that you will always find something cool to explore or do. Be spontaneous and keep an open mind when traveling around Seoul, you never know what you might find