Hi, I’m WY. I’m a Korean who genuinely loves showing my country to the world. I grew up in Daegu, have called Seoul home for over a decade, and spent years working at global tech companies, and along the way I realised how differently visitors experience Korea than we locals do — and how often the good stuff gets lost in translation.
SeoulKnows is my attempt to fix that. I actually go, I actually stay, and I write it down honestly — I pay my own way and nothing here is sponsored. As a local, I try to catch the things guidebooks miss.
It’s not just for travellers. If you’re a foreigner living in Korea, I hope this helps you understand the place a little better too. I cover Seoul, Busan, and the spots across the country that are genuinely worth the trip.
Why SeoulKnows Exists
I’ve spent years moving between Seoul, Busan, Jeju, and overseas trips. Along the way, I noticed a pattern: my non-Korean friends consistently asked me the same questions before visiting.
“Which Haeundae hotel is actually worth the price?”
“Is Signiel really better than the Westin?”
“Where do locals actually eat in Seoul?”
“Can you really get by with just one transit card?”
These questions all had detailed answers — in Korean. The Naver blog ecosystem has thousands of meticulous reviews. But English-language Korea travel content was mostly one of two things: ① surface-level “10 things to do in Seoul” listicles written by people who visited once, or ② hotel and tourism board marketing dressed up as travel writing.
SeoulKnows is what I wished existed: honest, local-perspective English content about Korea — written by someone who actually lives here, stays at these hotels, eats at these restaurants, and uses these transit systems every week.
What You’ll Find Here
- Hotel reviews — focused on properties I’ve actually stayed in. Signiel Busan, L7 Haeundae, The Westin Josun Busan, Shilla Jeju, Paraspara Seoul (now ANTO), and more. Real pricing, real photos, real opinions — including what’s not great.
- Tips & Guides — practical info foreigners actually need: airport transit, choosing a hotel neighborhood, what to know about Korean wedding customs, family travel with infants, and more.
- Restaurants (coming soon) — real local favorites, not tourist-trap recommendations.
- Neighborhoods (coming soon) — Haeundae vs Seomyeon vs Gwangalli, Gangnam vs Hannam vs Yeonnam — comparison guides for choosing where to stay.
How I Write Reviews
- Personal stays only — Every hotel review is based on a stay I (or my family) actually took. No press trips. No paid placements masquerading as reviews.
- Photos are mine — Real rooms I slept in, real food I ate, real views I saw. No stock images.
- Honest about weaknesses — Every review names what I didn’t love. A perfect hotel doesn’t exist. If I say it’s worth booking, I mean it.