Do you have any plans or activities in mind during your free time when there are no language classes? Or perhaps, are you engaging in anything else besides studying? Are you tired of the usual tourist spots? Wouldn't you want to venture out and discover new destinations, hotspots, and experiences? Let me show you how young Korean friends spend their leisure time today. If you're interested in experiencing leisure time in Korea like the locals, keep on reading!
Sports & Activities
Koreans have a strong passion for sports, both as participants and spectators. From traditional martial arts like taekwondo to modern sports like football and baseball, Koreans enjoy a wide range of activities. Sports also play an important role in Korean society, bringing people together and promoting teamwork, discipline, and healthy competition. Whether it's playing with friends or cheering on their favorite teams, sports are an integral part of Korean culture and daily life. In Korea, people enjoy participating in sports activities themselves, but they also enjoy watching games and sharing the excitement with others. Here are four representative examples of sports activities that are commonly enjoyed as spectator sports in Korea.
Baseball
The professional baseball season in Korea runs from April to October. It is the most popular sport among Korean fans and is one of the ball sports that ranks high in the world. Especially on weekends, enjoying baseball games at the stadium has become a daily routine for everyone regardless of age and gender. There are baseball stadiums in various regions such as Jamsil and Mokdong in Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Busan, Daejeon, and Incheon, and they are composed of ten teams. Admission fees range from approximately KRW 8,000 to KRW 60,000. Prices vary depending on the baseball stadium and seat, so please check each team's official website or ticket reservation site! Even around the editor, there are many people who go to watch baseball games, and some people even go to Busan to watch the games on weekends! Even if you don't know the baseball rules, the cheers and excitement from the people around you can make your heart race, and it's also fun to gradually learn the rules while enjoying chicken and beer sold at the stadium.
Soccer(Football)
The soccer season in Korea runs from March to November. Korea, which hosted the 2002 World Cup, is a country where soccer is one of the most popular sports along with baseball. Koreans, especially men, often play soccer or futsal on weekends regardless of their age. In fact, there are various and numerous soccer clubs that form men's and women's futsal teams to improve their skills. Currently, twelve teams compete for the annual championship in Korea's soccer league. Additionally, various soccer events are held such as the K-League All-Star Game, charity games, and home games with the participation of domestic and foreign soccer stars. Admission fees range from approximately 14,000 to 40,000 won and more detailed information can be found on the website of the Korea Football Association.
Basketball
Professional basketball, which is the most popular indoor sport in winter, has a season from October to March of the following year. Men's basketball has 10 teams and women's basketball has 6 teams. Throughout the season, various games are held to meet basketball fans, and admission fees range from approximately 11,000 won to 72,000 won. Basketball has simple rules and the game itself is not too long, making it a comfortable sport to watch. Additionally, the players' flashy techniques often catch the eye.
Volleyball
Pro volleyball is one of the representative indoor winter sports in Korea, along with basketball, and it runs from November to April of the following year. Volleyball is especially popular as an Olympic sport, and it is a highly tense game due to the strong spikes of the players and the defense against them. There are 7 men's teams and 6 women's teams, and the admission fee is approximately 10,000 to 20,000 won.
Cultural Activities
Movies
Movies are one of the most popular leisure activities in Korea, and many people especially go to the movies when they have a crush or go on a date. Korea has grown into a movie powerhouse amid the Korean Wave, and has won awards at various prestigious international film festivals, as well as achieving great success in the industry. The major movie theaters in Korea are CGV, Lotte Cinema, and MEGABOX, and they can be easily found throughout the country. The cost of a movie ticket is between 10,000 and 15,000 won, and the morning show prices are mostly 10,000 won. In addition, the essential elements that you can't miss while watching a movie are popcorn and drinks, and a variety of other foods such as roasted squid, nachos, and hot dogs are also available.
Plays & Musicals
Daehakro (Hyehwa-dong) is the center of theater performances in South Korea. You can enjoy various performances such as theater, musicals, operas, and dances at the Daehakro Theater. Not only in Daehakro, but you can also easily watch performances at cultural centers or regional art centers run by local governments. You can watch foreign performances such as musicals, etc., at the National Theater, Arts Center, and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. You can check the performance schedule and discount benefits by downloading the map of the theater and various ticket reservation websites. Especially in theater performances, unlike movies or musicals, there is frequent interaction between the audience and performers, which makes the audience feel like they are a part of the performance. Of course, if you are not fluent in Korean, there may be some difficulty in understanding, but it is one of the cultural activities that you should definitely experience if you can understand more than 50% of Korean.
Museums & Art Galleries
Korea has a wide variety of museums and art galleries throughout the country, established by various entities such as the government, local communities, universities, companies, and individuals. They are operated in diverse themes, scales, and forms. Visitors can choose and explore the museums and art galleries that interest them, based on their personal preferences. Admission fees can vary greatly, so it is recommended to check before visiting.
Exhibitions
Korea has many different exhibitions that are operated according to a specific period of time. These exhibitions are held in various places such as art museums, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and the 63 Building. Many young people visit these exhibitions to appreciate the works and take photos to upload on Instagram.
If you search for 'exhibition' on Instagram, you will see feeds like the one in the picture above, and you can choose one that you like and go see it. Most ticket prices are around 10,000 won, so it's not expensive, and the artwork descriptions are also available in English, so it's not a burden for foreign students to go.
Amusement Parks
One of the common ways people enjoy their leisure time around the world is by visiting amusement parks, and Korea is no exception. Particularly popular among young people, families, and friends, amusement parks provide a fun way to spend time together. In Korea, there are relatively large amusement parks located in major cities, as well as smaller ones. Some of the major amusement parks include Lotte World, Everland, Seoul Land, and Gyeongju World. It has become common for people to wear school uniforms when visiting amusement parks, and there are uniform rental shops near the parks. Additionally, Creatrip has partnerships with uniform rental shops such as Gangnam Uniform and Ewha Uniform, and offers discounted products for purchase through their platform.
Jjimjilbang/Korean Spas(Public Bath House)
Jjimjilbang is a type of sauna that ranges from 50 to 90 degrees Celsius, and in recent years, it has become a very popular multipurpose leisure facility in Korea where people can relax with their family and friends without any pressure. Originally, it was a place unique to Korea, but in recent years, it has spread to various countries around the world. In a jjimjilbang, there are various types of heated rooms, such as a salt room, a yellow mud room, and a red clay room, so you can enjoy the steam that suits your preferences. Especially, it is known that after sweating a lot in the jjimjilbang, a lot of toxins and waste are excreted, which is effective for skin care, stress relief, and weight control. The most famous part of jjimjilbang is making a sheep's head shape with towels and eating steamed eggs and sikhye (sweet rice drink). This has been introduced in dramas and entertainment programs, and has become a popular tourist attraction for foreign tourists as well. The admission fee for jjimjilbang varies by region, but it is generally around 10,000 won to 18,000 won.
Shopping
Traditional Markets
If you want to experience Korean culture while shopping, it's also a great idea to purchase goods at a traditional market. In small cities outside of Seoul, markets are held every 3-5 days, during which you can purchase local specialties and enjoy various cultural events and experiences. In addition, prices are affordable and there are many traditional foods to try, so it's worth experiencing at least once.
Street Shopping
Korea is especially famous for trendy clothing, and on Korean streets, there are merchants selling clothes, accessories, shoes, and more, so you can stroll around and shop for items you like at reasonable prices. Especially in the bustling areas like Hongdae and Gangnam, various SPA brands have also established themselves, so it is a good idea to visit during the sale season to purchase affordable clothes with good value for money!
Exercise
Climbing
Climbing is one of the popular sports among young friends in Korea. They often go with their friends or join a group from their university club or with strangers. Some people take videos to upload or keep as a memory, whether they are good or not, and as they continue climbing, they feel that they are improving their core strength and stamina, making it a workout that can be done both as an aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Try making new friends and having a unique experience through climbing!
Group Exercise
If you haven't done any group exercises for motivation, some of the representative ones in Korea include Pilates, boxing, Muay Thai, and CrossFit. Not only can you exercise, but you can also get to know your teammates who exercise with you, and it could be an opportunity to make Korean friends as well.vAlso, if you learn martial arts such as boxing or jujitsu, you may have a chance to compete later, so try to stick to one exercise consistently!
Hiking
All sports are good for clearing your mind and reducing stress, but especially hiking is one of the best activities to do when you have a lot on your mind. Many young people, including the editor, enjoy hiking in Korea. Nowadays, there are even clubs in universities dedicated to hiking. The process of climbing can be so difficult that you may feel like giving up, but once you reach the summit, you can feel refreshed as the difficulty and worries disappear. In Korea, middle-aged people often share various foods such as makgeolli and kimbap near the summit while spending time together.
Others
Coin Karaoke(Noraebang)
A coin karaoke is a karaoke system where you can sing by inserting coins or bills. As the price of regular karaoke rooms has increased, it has become a popular activity among young people and teenagers, like a ray of sunshine. Almost all coin karaoke rooms are divided into time-based and coin-based systems, with time-based rooms being charged per hour and coin-based rooms being charged per 15 songs. Also, nowadays, many places accept card payments, so there is no need to worry if you don't have cash.
Escape Room
Escape rooms are also a hot spot among young friends, and there is hardly anyone who hasn't been to one. Escape rooms are a specific genre of mystery games that revolve around being locked up and escaping from a confined space. There are various genres such as horror, thriller, romance, fantasy, etc., and the difficulty level varies depending on the number of people and the theme. However, since the explanations in most escape room cafes are mostly in Korean, it can be difficult to understand and solve the puzzles if you're not proficient in Korean. After studying at a language institute and becoming proficient in Korean, be sure to try it out!
We hope that this was helpful! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at support@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
