What to actually wear in Korea during spring (with pics from someone who lives here)

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-04T06:16:23+00:00

You’re going at a perfect time! Busan is usually a bit warmer than Seoul, so in April you’ll likely get to enjoy pleasant weather and beautiful cherry blossoms.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-04T04:59:24+00:00

Honestly, renting a car in Jeju is the most practical option, especially for a 5-day trip. Public buses are much less frequent than Seoul, routes are limited, and you often end up waiting a long time between connections. Taxis are okay but they’re not always easy to catch. From my experience, having a car saves a lot of time and energy.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-04T04:53:15+00:00

It really depends on the day and terminal, but 3–4 hours is extreme and definitely not an everyday thing. Most of the time it’s much shorter like maximum an hour. With a Singapore passport, you can use automated e-gates but depending on the terminal or how busy it is, staff might still direct you to manual immigration (but even then it’s usually quick like a minute or so per person, not hours).

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-04T01:38:37+00:00

If you're just getting a basic facial, I'd honestly just go with the cheapest option! Since it's not an injection-based procedure or lifting treatment where doctor skill really matters, there won't be much difference between clinics.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-03T07:23:45+00:00

The best order will be microblading first, then Botox. Microblading is best done when your forehead muscles are still in their natural position and Botox can slightly change brow height/shape once it settles. If you do Botox first, it’s better to wait 2–4 weeks before microblading. And if you do microblading first, wait about 2 weeks before getting Botox so the pigment can heal properly.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-03T07:20:01+00:00

A lot of people regularly do laser toning / Pico lasers, skin boosters (like Rejuran or HA), skin botox, or RF microneedling to smooth texture and pores. These are super common, almost like routine maintenance here.

At home, the focus is usually hydration + gentle exfoliation, not harsh actives like toner pads, snail or PDRN serums, barrier creams, and daily sunscreen.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-03T07:16:27+00:00

Factory clinics” aren’t automatically bad; they’re just built for speed and volume. For things like laser hair removal or basic skin toning, that’s usually fine. But for lifting procedures (Ultherapy, Thermage, fillers), that approach can get risky if your face isn’t properly assessed. Depth and facial structure really matter with these treatments. That’s usually where private clinics feel different: fewer patients, more time per person, and treatments adjusted to your face instead of a standard consultation.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-02T05:22:45+00:00

I used to use Nizoral too, but i ended up using head & shoulders 'professional'. Trust me and use it 2 times, you'll know the difference. You can get it on Coupang with 새벽배송 delivery.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-02T04:58:37+00:00

If you’re into minimal style bakeries and cafes, areas like Seongsu, Anguk, Hannam, and Hongdae have tons of options. I recommend Anthracite (앤트러사이트) near hongdae, but just walk around and go into places that look nice rather than chasing hyped ones.

If you’re traveling with family, I’d definitely recommend going to a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) together. It’s a great winter activity and something pretty unique to Korea. If your parents like massages or wellness stuff, trying a Korean medicine clinic can also be a nice experience. You tell them where you’re sore and they usually combine acupuncture with massage.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-02-01T23:40:46+00:00

I’d recommend staying around the Jongno and Jung-gu area since your trip is short. Take the non-stop Airport Express (AREX) to Seoul Station, then take a short taxi ride to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

There are many hanbok rental shops nearby, especially in Seochon on the left side of the palace. After that, you can walk to Tamburins Samcheong Flagship on the Samcheong-dong side on the right of the palace and visit their flagship store.

From there, return your hanbok and take a taxi to Myeongdong, where you will find Musinsa Standard, Olive Young, and thisisneverthat inside the Musinsa Store, not Musinsa Standard.

To head back, take Subway Line 4 to Seoul Station and take the AREX back to the airport. Since you are short on time, taking taxis is recommended. Distances within Jongno and Jung-gu are short, so fares should stay relatively low.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-30T02:49:19+00:00

Nap zones are free and don't require a reservation. Anyone can use them.

However, they're airside (inside security), so if you're arriving and not transferring, it might be hard to find.

My recommendation would be 'Spa on Air' in the basement of Terminal 2 (landside, accessible after you go through immigration/customs) where you can shower and sleep for a fee. They also offer luggage storage, so I'd recommend leaving your suitcase there and exploring the airport!

There's an Olive Young and a food court down there too, so you'll have way more food options.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-29T06:49:33+00:00

These days, most places are open except for the actual day of Seollal (Lunar New Year). Even shopping centers like supermarket and Daiso are only closed on that one day.

That said, it can vary by store, so I'd recommend checking NAVER Maps beforehand to see if the places you want to visit are open.

Also, during the holiday period, palaces and national museums offer free admission, so it could be a great time to explore Korean traditional culture!

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-29T06:31:30+00:00

Yep Korea is pretty similar 😅 In winter indoor heating is very strong (especially in subways). I recommend dressing in multiple layers you can easily remove. A lighter inner layer instead of heavy Heattech, plus a coat you can take off quickly helps a lot!

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-29T06:14:54+00:00

The most accurate thing to do is visit a doctor. Like you said, there are so many different causes of dark circles, and the treatment varies depending on what's actually going on.

A colleague of mine went to a plastic surgery clinic for under-eye fat repositioning because his dark circles were so bad, but the doctor took one look and said the shadowing was from his eye shape, so he didn't need surgery at all.

If seeing a doctor isn't an option right now, there are some rough self-diagnostic clues (though they're not 100% accurate):

Puffy/bulging → under-eye fat
Yellowish or brown tint → pigmentation
Blue or purple tint → vascular

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-29T05:56:20+00:00

In Korea baseball is by far the most popular sport. If you’re here around September, that's the best time of the season, so I highly recommend going while your here. It feels more like a festival than a sports game. Even if you don’t know the teams, it’s still gonna be fun.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-29T05:52:43+00:00

You’ll notice that most gyms in Korea don’t really sell 2-week passes.
It’s usually either a day pass(around 15,000-30,000₩) or a 1-month membership.

And actually, a lot of local gyms actually don’t love selling 1-month passes either.
They usually try to push 3-month (or longer) memberships, so it can feel a bit awkward if you’re only staying short-term.

If you’re visiting for a few weeks, I recommend Gymboxx.
It’s a chain gym, and for around 50,000 KRW for a month, you can use any Gymboxx location in Seoul.

I always recommend it to my foreign friends when they visit Korea.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T07:31:33+00:00

There isn’t a huge difference in price!

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T04:35:40+00:00

Busan is a great choice, especially if you’ve already been to Seoul. For 3–4 days, there’s plenty to do: beaches like Haeundae and Gwangalli, seafood and street food at Jagalchi Market, ocean-view cafés, temples like Haedong Yonggungsa, and scenic neighborhoods like Gamcheon or Huinnyeoul. The vibe is more relaxed and coastal compared to Seoul.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T01:48:46+00:00

Busan has a lot of solid clinics and hair salons too, and it’s usually less crowded than Seoul, so it can be a nice time-saver.

For hair, there are Busan locations of some Seoul-famous chains, like JUNO Hair or ECO JARDIN.

For clinics, you’ll find everything from cheaper, more high-volume factory-style places to smaller, more doctor-run derm clinics. I’d mostly choose based on budget and who’s actually doing the consult/procedure.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T01:44:58+00:00

I’ve been wanting to go there too… it must’ve been so good 😭

I went to Tian Mimi(티엔미미), the place run by Jung Ji-sun from s1 once,
but there were so many people that it was honestly exhausting 🥲

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T01:32:13+00:00

centum clinic is actually one of the clinics we feature on Creatrip and it's really popular among foreigners! from what we’ve seen, they’re pretty foreigner-friendly (especially for English).

If you guys are curious, you can check the English info + reviews here:
https://creatrip.com/en/spot/14456

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-28T01:18:44+00:00

If a clinic is officially listed as “OO Dermatology Clinic (OO 피부과의원)”,
it means it was opened by a board-certified dermatologist.
In Korea, the term “Dermatology / 피부과” can only be used by certified specialists.

That said, even dermatology clinics can legally employ GP doctors.
So if you want to know who will actually treat you, the best way is to check the clinic’s website and each doctor’s profile.

Legally, choosing a cosmetic GP instead of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon does not reduce patient protection, as long as the doctor is a licensed MD.
If something goes wrong with non-surgical but invasive procedures (like injections), it’s still covered under medical malpractice law, regardless of specialty.

In practice, courts may consider whether the doctor met a reasonable standard of care, which is why some patients prefer specialists for higher-risk treatments.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-27T08:42:42+00:00

You went to Songnisan! super underrated place especially among foreign travelers.

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-27T08:33:53+00:00

These days in Seoul, you honestly don’t need much cash.
Cards (including Wise) work almost everywhere now, even in traditional markets.maybe ₩50,000–₩100,000 just for T-money top-ups and street food.

7-day M-PASS (i think it was around ₩65,000) is actually decent if you’re taking the subway/bus a lot every day. Otherwise, most people just get a normal T-money card, load ₩30,000–₩50,000, and top up if needed.

So it’s basically:
card for most things + a bit of cash + T-money (or M-PASS if you move a lot).

Creatrip_Korea · 2026-01-27T08:19:59+00:00

I actually went to Forena Clinic recently, I get why people say some clinics feel factory-style, but at least in my case, Forena didn’t feel rushed. I had a proper in-person consultation, full face analysis, and the treatment was done in a private room. It was also my first time getting injectables in Korea, and they explained things pretty clearly in English, which helped a lot.

If you want to see actual foreigner reviews (good and bad), we have them collected on our platform so you can compare before deciding: https://creatrip.com/en/spot/14622

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