On early mornings in Seoul, the city feels completely different. Before traffic builds and cafés fill with students, you can hear the soft echo of delivery scooters and the rustle of street vendors setting up stalls.
Many Koreans start their day with haejangguk (해장국) or a simple gimbap (김밥) from a corner shop. Morning walkers stroll along the Han River, greeting neighbors with a warm annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요). This quiet hour shows a softer side of Korea — calm, gentle, and beautifully ordinary.
Mornings in Seoul feel unique compared to many places outside Korea. While cities like Tokyo or New York start with fast-paced commuters, Seoul begins with a softer rhythm — a mix of small neighborhood shops opening, quiet greetings, and comforting food aromas. Instead of grabbing quick pastries or coffee-to-go, many Koreans prefer warm dishes like juk (죽) or kongnamul-guk (콩나물국) to start their day. Even in winter, people step out early for short walks, creating a calm and communal atmosphere that feels both traditional and modern at the same time.
Vocabulary
- haejangguk (해장국) — hangover soup
- gimbap (김밥) — rice roll
- annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) — hello
- achimbab (아침밥) — breakfast
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