In the middle of busy Myeongdong, I found a surprisingly calm escape: several cat cafés. These cafés combine coffee culture with Korea’s love for pets, offering visitors a chance to relax with friendly, well-cared-for cats.
On arrival at Incheon International Airport, I picked up a T-money Travel Card+ at a convenience store on the first-floor arrivals level, and it quickly became one of the most useful tools for navigating Korea. Unlike a standard transit card, this upgraded version combines three functions in one: transportation, payments, and foreign-friendly money services.
The card works like a typical T-money card for subways, buses, and even taxis across Seoul. But what makes it stand out is its integration with WOWPASS functionality, allowing foreign users to load funds, convert currency, and make purchases at restaurants, shops, and convenience stores without needing a Korean bank account.
Strawberry Nights & Street Bites: A Spring Walk Through Myeong-dong
Spring transforms Seoul’s Myeong-dong into a lively night market filled with bright lights, street food, and fresh strawberries. Vendors line the streets from late afternoon until around 11 PM, selling strawberry tanghulu, cream-filled waffles, and skewered meats. Dessert cafés and cat cafés stay open late, offering a break from the crowds. Seasonal strawberry treats are especially popular from March to April.
And with six Olive Young K-beauty stores, there’s plenty of health and beauty products to shop for too. (Pro Tip- use your home-country Costco membership to get K-Beauty products even cheaper than Olive Young.)
Following Seoul’s long, lingering summer heat, the leaves have been taking their time to fall, stretching out over the past few weeks..
Vocabulary
낙엽 — nak-yeop — falling leaves
떨어지다 — tteo-reo-ji-da — to fall
서서히 — seo-seo-hi — slowly; gradually
몇 주 동안 — myeot jju dong-an — for a few weeks
더운 여름 — deo-un yeo-reum — hot summer
주변 지역 — ju-byeon ji-yeok — surrounding areas
지속되다 — ji-sok-doe-da — to continue; to last
가을 — ga-eul — autumn; fall
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Discover the “Miracle of Moses” (모세의 기적)
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It was announced on 6/16/2025 that T-Money, a rechargeable pre-paid transportation card in Korea, will soon support Apple Pay. This means that you’ll soon be able to add a digital T-Money card to your iPhone and Apple Watch.
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