OWL Magazine Korea

Gwanghwamun area stands out as one of Seoul’s prime office-dense locations, boasting government buildings like the Seoul City Hall, various embassies, and headquarters of both large and small enterprises. The influx of office workers naturally gives rise to a diverse range of cafes, from mainstream ones like Starbucks to independently operated small cafes and budget-friendly franchise cafes. “Seoul Gwanghwamun Mammoth ...

Since the opening of the first Starbucks store in front of Ewha Womans University on July 27, 1999, Starbucks has firmly established its presence in South Korea. Despite initial controversies over coffee prices exceeding meal costs, Starbucks has become an integral part of the country. Following in the footsteps of McDonald’s as a global restaurant chain, it has even given ...

In the past, the Noryangjin area was a popular spot for civil service exam takers. As the craze for civil service exams grew, it was easy to find academies offering classes for exam preparation, turning Noryangjin into a bustling hub for students from all over the country. While online classes have become the norm, and the fervor for civil service ...

The area around Sadang Station is a vital hub in the transportation network of southern Seoul. Not only is it known for heavy traffic, causing congestion with numerous cars, but it’s also a place where you can easily find express buses connecting Seoul to various parts of Gyeonggi Province. The subway, with both Line 2 and Line 4 passing through ...

Near Gasan Digital Complex Station, various restaurants abound. Being a densely populated area of offices, it naturally offers a variety of dining options. Especially in the underground shopping mall of large buildings, you can find diverse restaurants. While the interior and ambiance might be standard due to its underground location, you can discover reasonably priced establishments. Given the considerable time ...

Within the iconic Gyeongbokgung Palace, representing the Joseon Dynasty, you’ll find various museums, and among them is the National Folk Museum of Korea, located on the fringes of Gyeongbokgung. Interestingly, you can visit the museum without entering Gyeongbokgung itself. If you choose to visit only the museum, head to the path east of Gyeongbokgung and follow it up towards Samcheongdong. ...

On July 27, 1999, Starbucks landed in South Korea with its first branch in front of Ewha Womans University. Initially, there was controversy due to coffee prices being higher than a meal, but now Starbucks has firmly established its presence in South Korea. Especially within a 1km radius of Gwanghwamun Square, it boasts the highest density of Starbucks stores, surpassing ...

In front of Seoul National University entrance, you can find a variety of cafes. Starbucks, a prominent cafe chain, has three locations alone, and it’s always bustling with people, often making it a challenge to find a seat. Additionally, you can find cafes of different sizes, both franchise and privately owned, in the area. While Gang Coffee may not be ...

Cold noodles are a seasonal delicacy that occasionally comes to mind, especially during the summer. However, they’re not exclusively limited to the warmer months – historically, they were considered a winter treat. Nowadays, ice is readily available even in the summer, but in the past, it was a precious ingredient reserved for royalty or special occasions. Recently, cold noodles are ...

Near Yeongdeungpo District Office, you can find a variety of great restaurants. Being in the vicinity of a government office, it’s natural for a commercial area to form with numerous dining options. This time, I visited a restaurant called “Yugane Haejangguk” because the signboard read “Specialty in Oyster Rice Soup.” “Yeongdeungpo District Office Oyster Rice Soup Specialty: Yugane Haejangguk” While ...

Personally, I’m not particularly fond of pork cutlets. However, there are times when I crave it, especially the one I had during my trip to Japan. The pork cutlet I had in Japan was different from the ones commonly found in Korea. The batter was very thin, and the meat inside was thick and moist, setting it apart from the ...

Sungkyunkwan University’s Seoul campus main gate area is dotted with various cafes. It was easy to find cafes offering affordable prices, given the proximity to the university. After a long time, I visited the main gate of my alma mater, Sungkyunkwan University. The atmosphere had changed significantly from what it used to be. Many of the familiar restaurants, cafes, and ...