You all know how much I love talking about the places where I have been. And also telling you what you should not do some places (like Barcelona). Because I know that many people liked that post, I decided to start a monthly series entittled “Things you should not do in… Because I want you to have a broader and expert view, these will be a series of collaborations from truly experts in the destination. The first one of these is going to be on Things not to do in Seoul, by the lovely Brit from The Life of Brit. I hope you enjoy it!
Here you have the main 12 things you should not do in Seoul
Do Not Worry About Safety
Over the past few years, the world has seen a lot of changes in the relationship between North and South Korea. While tensions have always been high between the two, the media in recent years has really exaggerated the severity of these tensions. It’s made people worried about visiting Seoul. As an expat who has lived through it, I can tell you assuredly that worrying about safety is something not to do in Seoul. This is one of the safest countries I’ve ever lived in!
Do Not Visit In the Winter
Korean winter can be brutally cold and the landscape becomes very grey and lifeless. If you can’t stand the cold, visiting in winter is definitely something not to do in Seoul. The temperatures can get well below 32° F / 0°C. To see the country at its most beautiful, I recommend avoiding December – February months if possible!
Do Not Visit in the Peak Summer
Korea enjoys all four seasons. With that said, I also recommend that visiting the country in the peak summer months is another important thing not to do in Seoul. It gets extremely hot and humid here, and some days you step outside and are instantly drenched in sweat. The peak months I recommend avoiding are July – August. Last year the temperatures were well above 90° F / 33° C and some days the humidity was above 90%, making wandering the city misearble.
Do Not Join a Cult
Not to scare you, but there is actually a cult in Seoul that specifically targets foreigners and tricks them into ‘joining’ their ceremonies. The rumors are that a pair of friendly locals will approach travelers to strike up a conversation. They will then invite you to a traditional Korean ceremony to try on a hanbok (traditional Korean dress) and it goes on from there. From what I’ve heard from others, it’s not dangerous and pretty harmless, but just a scam and waste of time. So definitely be cautious – joining a cult is a big thing not to do in Seoul!! Although it may make for a funny story 😉
Do Not Wear Your Shoes Indoors
Wearing shoes inside people’s private homes, temples and some restaurants is a big no-no. In Korean culture, it’s extremely rude to wear your shoes inside these designated ‘no shoe’ areas. There should be provided slippers for you to wear instead. This is actually not only something not to do in Seoul, but really a rule for all of Korea if you plan on traveling to other places in the country.
Do Not Forget Your Korean Manners
Korean culture has a lot of different manners and social etiquettes that are vastly different from what many other countries follow. Come prepared and learn the most common rules to avoid offending any locals.
– Use two hands when you accept or receive something from another person.
– When greeting another person, especially an elder, bow and use the formal form of Korean language to be the most respectful.
– At the table, pour your elder’s drink before your own and be sure to use two hands.
– Don’t blow your nose while sitting at the dinner table.
– Don’t stick your chopsticks vertically into your rice bowl, it’s an omen of death in traditional Korean ceremonies.
Do Not Talk Loudly on Public Transportation
Part of good social etiquette in Korea means being quiet or keeping your voice low on public transportation. Locals think it’s rude when other riders are talking too loud or acting too boisterous. Avoid the dirty looks by respecting this norm and try to remember this key thing not to do in Seoul.
Do Not Eat Western Food
You’re visiting South Korea so you should enjoy the local cuisine! Come with an open mind and be prepared to try some interesting and unique dishes. Korean food is very different from most western meals so it may take some getting used to. But it’s actually delicious if you know what to eat! Besides, western and foreign food will end up being much more expensive.
Do Not Throw Toilet Paper in the Toilet
Many establishments in Korea do not permit flushing toilet paper down the drain. Instead, you’re expected to throw your used tissue into a garbage can. This is due to old infrastructure and plumbing around the country, so throwing your tissue in the garbage helps prevent clogs and blockages. This is slowly changing however and more and more places are updating their pipes or realizing it’s ok. But it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for signs just in case!
Don’t Expect All ATMs to Accept Your Foreign Card
Not all ATMs in Korea accept all foreign cards. I recommend visiting large banks such as KB (Kookmin) or KB Hana for best results, or check to make sure the ATM is marked as a global ATM. These global machines accept most foreign cards and also allow you to choose from various different languages. Come prepared with a bit of Korean Won before entering the country or pick some up at the airport ATMs before entering the city.
Don’t Use Google Maps
Google Maps does not fully work in South Korea. You can use it to map out your public transportation routes, but you cannot use it for walking, driving or biking directions. Per some interesting security/legal reasons, Google actually isn’t permitted to offer such services in the country – you can thank North Korea for that! I recommend instead using Naver Maps or KakaoMaps which are the local Korean navigation systems. They can both be switched to English under settings.
Don’t Worry About Tipping
The price you see in Korea is the price you pay! Tipping isn’t customary for any service jobs in Korea, helping to keep your travel expenses low. Some cafes and restaurants may have tip jars at the register for generous patrons, but it’s not a requirement.
Of all the things not to do in Seoul, there are hundreds more wonderful things to do. As an expat living here for nearly two years, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the good and the bad of life in Korea.
Do you think there are other things you should not do in Seoul ?
Have you visited Seoul? What are some of your top not to do in Seoul tips? Share them below!
To see more by Life of Brit, check out more of her South Korea guides below and social pages (Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook).
An Ultimate Guide to 1 Week in South Korea – here
7 Things to Buy in South Korea – here
My Favorite Non Touristy Things to Do in Seoul – here
Well, now I know. Thanks for this. Very useful information.
Such a useful list! I had to chuckle at the “not joining a cult” point but I guess, when we don’t know the culture we are more susceptible to being tricked. Great article!
The same happened to me (the giggling not joining an actual cult) hahaha. But yes, scams are everywhere… at least this one seems quite harmless! I am happy you enjoyed it =)
What a cool post, definitely learned something new about South Korea. Also “Do not join a cult” made me smile, and think “do people really do that?”, but when I read further I can see why some might fall for it 🙂
Exactly! Who would have thought that that could happen without you even knowing, right??
I joined the cult. It seemed very harmless, dressed in a hanbok and did a prayer ceremony. The girls were very friendly. In the end I donated 6000 won – all I had in my wallet. Very crack up
But on second thoughts though, they took my personal details – name and birthdate, and those of my family members who I was praying for, which would then be written on rice paper and burned at the altar during the ceremony. So now I’m wondering, are they actually trying to use that info to take advantage of my various digital and financial accounts? I don’t know, but my service providers have reasonable security mechanisms anyway. Or maybe make fake social media accounts that imitate us and try to trick our friends….. Hmmmm very dodgy
Maybe you should have read this poster before leaving for your trip hehehe Just kidding! In any case, I would keep an eye on your accounts in social media and your bank accounts… just in case! But I am also miss paranoia too, so… Anyway, Thanks for sharing your experience!
Sticking your chopsticks in rice is not an omen of death. It us done for funeral/ceremonies as food offering to those that have passed.
Don’t go in the height of winter/summer made me laugh. I lived there through those seasons. You can survive!
Another good rule on the subway, watch where you sit, there are designated areas for elderly/infirmed/pregnant people and keep you backpack/bag in front of you. Keep your hands out of your pockets; it’s rude to have your hands in your pockets all the time.
Oh wow, that’s very interesting! Did not ever think that keeping your hands in your pockets would be a sign of everything. It’s amazing how different cultures can be. Thank you for your comment about the chopsticks and the rice, will check it out, since this is a guest post =)
I’ve noticed most of the things that you’ve mentioned in K-Dramas. Thanks for writing an article on this. Absolutely loved it 💜