Solo travel can be great fun. Doing it in Korea was an interesting as well as daunting experience. I travelled in Busan and Seoul on my own before and with friends on other occasions. Being alone forces you out of your comfort zone. You can’t rely on your friends for companionship or advice, you have to figure it out on your own. So below are my personal perspectives travelling solo in Korea.
You crave conversations that you can understand in full.
Get a hostel to stay in and mingle around. At the very least, you will still have someone to talk to even if it’s just a few words. Unlike other English speaking countries, I cannot strike up a conversation with just anyone on the streets. They don’t speak English in general so that option is out. I manage to get around with simple Korean phrase words and to get someone who understands English on the streets when you are lost is akin to striking a gold mine. It’s not impossible but hard. Unfortunately, I had opted to stay at a place with only single rooms. It was my first solo travel and I thought that it was great to have privacy at that time. At the end of my visit, I was longing for somebody to talk to in English to the extent that I kept dropping by the reception just to talk to the staff there.
Two portion rule in Korean restaurants
It’s not that the restaurants are not used to solo travellers, some food are not available as it is meant to be eaten as a group. Meat barbecue, for example, requires a minimum order of 2 portions as it is meant to be shared with other people. That is just how the culture works. So if you really wish to give it a try, try to have it with someone from your hostel. Otherwise, there is no rule saying you can’t order both portions for yourself. Just make sure you can finish it all, of course.
You feel single and neglected.
This is purely subjective but it is a pet peeve of mine. There are so many couples putting their couple-dom on display that you cannot help but feel left out. There are couples in matching t shirts, matching outfits (down to the same shoes and backpack carried), couple bicycles that I sometimes felt that I was probably the only one with no partner there. One time, I was coming down from Namsan via the elevator to the street. Somehow or other, I was stuck with all these couples around me, hugging and whispering to each other. In such a small and enclosed space, I could only bear with it for the short time it took me to get down and off. I then concluded that Namsan Tower is popular with couples since there are so many couple locks around that area
Many locks left behind by couples…
It’s the best time to visit the jimjilbang (sauna) if you are shy.
Jimjilbang is a wonderful and different experience that can only be found in Korea. It is similar to the onsen (hot spring) in Japan but is an experience that I feel should be tried once at least. For those who are shy, this is the best time to try it out. I went to one on my own and I was glad that I tried it out. For 4hrs, I was pampered with a massage, tried out the hot saunas, and had a good soak in their many different water baths. I left feeling AWESOME. For a country that is so conservative, it never cease to amaze me how open they can be behind doors. The locker room was full of naked ladies in all shapes and sizes. Pregnant ladies, old ladies and even male kids! It was a bit unnerving for me as we are not used to this in my country but it helped that I was on my own. So I just sucked in my tummy and walked around confidently naked to the hot baths even though I wanted to run and hide. Every time I tried to ask my friends to join me, they would refuse as they were shy so I was happy that I got to go on my own.
Cleavage is no good but short skirts are ok?
This is simply an observation that I have made and read about. Showing cleavage is frowned upon and not really looked on favorably. So when visiting, covering up a little may be more prudent when travelling on your own rather than attract the wrong kind of attractions. On the other hand, I have seen A LOT of short skirts so it often makes me think how contradictory it is. However, not everyone wears them as such, just that I have encountered more short skirts than cleavage baring tops.
Overall, I had great fun travelling alone. It required more planning on my part due to the language barrier whenever I wanted to go anywhere but the support system in place for visitors were excellent. In tourist areas, there are usually information counters with excellent English speakers, roaming translators and even a helpline for foreigners. It was when I ventured out of these tourist areas that you really feel the language barrier but most Koreans have been very helpful whenever I approach them. They can be a bit reticent at first but knowing a bit of Korean helps go a long way. Just keep a lookout for the ahjummas and ahjusshis though, that requires a whole new story to go with it…
Lifetomyfullest 
Interesting country to visit! Great experience must be when you travel solo!! I have been wondering about visiting Korea for a while, especially after that news on the popularity of plastic surgeries have turned the Koreans to have similar facial features and tend to look alike 😀 Did you notice that on their street too?
LikeLike
Haha! Maybe I’ve visited too many times that I’ve grown immune to it..didn’t really notice that! Haha…but i do agree that they do tend to do plastic surgery very often. ..😃
LikeLike
I’m planning a solo trip next year for 3 weeks. I know a little bit of korean but wondered how easy you found it to make friends at hostels etc? First proper solo trip and don’t want to spend the whole time alone! Wondered about group tours but usually seem to be more family/ middle age focused….
LikeLike
Personally, i feel that it depends on the hostel you choose. Some that I was at seemed to have mostly couples or travelling with friends so it was not that easy to make friends but I think if your hostel have dorms, it is still easier to make friends as long as you make the first move.
Knowing some korean helps cos the koreans REALLY shy away from foreigners and when you are travelling outside seoul, it’s a bit harder to get around as a foreigner…even with my limited korean, I would still get lost or have no idea about the display cos explanation is all in korean..I would suggest that you read up before going about any places or museums as such. The chances of having it in english is really small so most of the time I was really glad I did some background research to find out its significance. …oh and if you wish to have help, they have a helpline for foreigners to call in..I think it’s 1330..I’ve called in with all sorts of requests and they try to help as much as possible. You can always rent a phone at the airport or rent a sim card when you are there..
Sorry for the lengthy reply! Hope that helps..3 weeks is very long, do you intend to travel throughout korea or only seoul?
LikeLike
Ah thanks, yeah that’s what I’m a bit nervous about…guess I’ll just have to see. I’m basic conversational so hopefully will be sufficient – and I’ve heard that phoneline is useful! Good to know about the museum displays though…I know its a while but I’m coming from the UK so want to make the most of it if I’m paying expensive flights. Atm I’m thinking Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju-do and Daegu should be enough to keep me occupied!
LikeLike
Well, I think you should do fine…😉 there’ll always be someone at the hostel somehow..haha…
I’ve been to seoul a lot and busan too, have yet to see the others but hoping I will get a chance to do so soon. I think there’s so much to cover in seoul itself so you should have no problem maximising your 3 weeks in korea..would be awesome to read about your adventures soon…good luck! Hwaiting! 😄
LikeLike
HIya great site! Good to see another “minority” with the travel bug which is not unusual as we are descended from immigrants after all. With your love of Korea I recommend eatyourkimchi.com they have video’s on youtube as well. I have not been to Korea but would love to visit, I love their intricate food culture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for dropping by and sorry for the late reply! I’ve actually been following SImon and Martina from some time ago, they are pretty awesome…:) Korea is awesome! 🙂
LikeLike
Really useful tips! I’ve been dying to visit ever since my Korean friend cooked for me- their food is amazing! It was really interesting to read about your experiences, especially the two portion rule! How long did you spend in Korea in total?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, I’ve been visiting for quite a number of years now but I like staying at least a week each time to enjoy my break. 🙂 Oh, I agree that their food is amazing, Korean food is one of my favourite food to eat…hehe…do you have any favourites among those that you’ve tried before? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes my friend made bibimbap for me and it was amazing!! What are some of the best foods you tried there? I heard they eat all sorts of crazy things!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh some of their traditional food are quite good such as the rice cakes and kimchi stew…I like their food a lot…in fact, I’m in Korea now so I’m looking forward to trying some of them here 😁
LikeLike
wow – you did share very important, precise factors…It seems nothing haven’t change since I visited last year or so…this is very interesting country with different culture.
LikeLike
Oh it is an interesting culture indeed..did you like it when you visited? 🙂
LikeLike
I enjoyed it – I visited last year and I had a musical performance!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person