If you’re visiting the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong, Gangnam (강남) this summer, don’t miss a stop at 호과당 (Ho Gwa Dang)—also known as Tiger Pie House.
Culture Bite: Ho Gwa Dang’s 타코파이 (Taco Pie)
Tag Archives: Seoul
Healthy fast-casual salads and in Seoul.
Serving salads, poke bowls, wraps, hot bowls, sandwiches, and soup, Salady is a Seoul chain with 6 locations. We visited the Seoul Gangnam location.
Empty your mind, fill your belly with cake.
Tucked along the peaceful Yangjae Stream in Dogok-dong (도곡), you’ll find a charming lineup of cafés, bakeries, and restaurants perfect for a relaxing stroll or a quiet bite. One standout is Sim Jae (心斋), a specialty dessert café known for its creative fusion-style cakes sold by the slice. While this location focuses on cakes, Sim Jae’s other branches also serve up tarts, bagels, brownies, and a variety of other handcrafted treats—each one as thoughtfully made as its serene name suggests.
iPhones and Apple Watches to support Apple Pay for Public Transportation
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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Seoul Gangnam’s Gaepo Neighborhood.
Nestled next to Dogok-dong, Gaepo-dong (개포동) is another affluent neighborhood tucked away in Gangnam, Seoul. Known for its top-tier public schools, lush parks, and the scenic Yangjaecheon Stream, Gaepo offers a peaceful charm with cozy coffee shops and tree-lined streets that bloom beautifully throughout the seasons.
Seoul Gangnam’s Dogok Neighborhood.
As summer 2025 kicks off on June 20, warm weather and early seasonal activities are underway in Seoul.
Dogok (도곡동), one of the 25 neighborhoods in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam District, is joining in the seasonal spirit. A banner reads, “Dogok Early-Summer Picnic” (도곡 초여름 피크닉).
Monsoon season to begin early
South Korea’s monsoon (rainy) season, known as jangma 장마, runs late June to late July. It’s the most uncomfortable time of the year to be in Korea – intense bursts of rain and persistently high humidity.
2011 and 2022 were especially heavy monsoon years where parts of Gangnam suffered severe flooding. Our car, along with hundreds of other vehicles, suffered massive water damage in 2011 and again in 2022. In our neighborhood, nearly all of the parked cars were scrapped.
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