From skincare rituals in Seoul to taekwondo in Busan and hanbok photoshoots in Jeonju, this South Korea travel diary by Alexis Fender highlights authentic cultural, beauty, and wellness experiences you won’t forget.

South Korea is a country where ancient traditions meet modern innovation. From world-famous skincare and K-pop culture to centuries-old palaces and hanok villages, the country offers experiences that go beyond sightseeing.

This guide — a personal travel diary by Alexis Fender, founder of Curiosity Takes Flight — takes you through her most memorable discoveries across Korea, from skincare labs in Seoul to martial arts in Busan and peaceful nights in Jeonju hanoks. She has visited over 20 countries and shares destination guides, hidden gems, and accessible tips.

Mixsoon, Myeongdong

Free skincare analysis. They will use a machine to take pictures of your face under different lighting which will generate a personalized analysis of your skin complete with Mixsoon product recommendations based on your skin’s needs. You will be sent a link with your full analysis that you can reference at any time.

EcoJardin, Gyeongbok

Color analysis ($56): they will use fabric color swatches to see what colors match your skin tone, hair and eyes. They will create a custom color palette for you so you know exactly what color clothes and accessories to shop for. Haircut ($24): I did this and asked for long layers with curtain bangs and I loved it! I’m glad I did it here, because it’s much cheaper than what I can get a haircut for at home in the U.S. 18-step scalp treatment ($176): This is a MUST and my favorite beauty treatment I did while in Korea. It includes everything from a neck massage oil, to a scalp scrub to a herbal scalp mask and finishes with a blowdry and styling. Very relaxing and makes your hair/scalp feel clean and healthy once it’s done. They will show you the before and after under a microscope so you can see how great your results are.

Nuldam Space (right outside Gyeongbokgung Palace)

Cafe with a fully vegan menu with pastries and coffee. You can write a letter to your future self, decorate it, seal it and they will mail it to you any time within the next year.

Eat Korean street food at Gwajang Market There are tons of vendors and restaurants on the street, so explore and try as much as you can! I loved kimbap, hotteok (sweet korean pancake), and kkwabaegi (twisted donut).

Jeonju Hanok Village

Stay the night in a traditional Hanok. You ditch your shoes at the door, make your bed on the ondol (heated floor) and wake up to peaceful views of tiled rooftops and quiet alleyways. The homes are built with natural materials and designed for balance, warmth and rest. This was the most unique place I stayed in Korea and the first time I booked accommodation to intentionally sleep on the floor. It’s a great way to soak in the culture of Korea.

Take a taekwondo class

I took a class at Daeyoung Taekwondo in Busan and loved it! You learn the basics of taekwondo from the professional black belts like how to block, punch and kick. Then at the end of class you can test your skills and break a board! You’ll also get a certificate that you can take home with you.

Rent a Hanbok and take pictures

You can find Hanbok rental places all over South Korea, but I chose to do a rental in the Jeonju Hanok Village because there are so many beautiful spots to take pictures. You can rent a Hanbok for a few hours and their stylists will help you pick out a Hanbok and even style your hair for you to complete the look. Hanboks are traditional Korean dresses - it made me feel like a princess!

Take a K-pop dance class

I took a class at Cali Dance Studio in Jeonju. The class was an hour long and tons of fun! We learned a short combo to a k-pop song and were able to record ourselves performing the dance at the end of class. Our instructor was great and the choreography was easy to learn.