🇰🇷【South Korea Solo Trip】Real Seoul Itinerary Share! Myeongdong Cosmetic Clinic Experience, Must-Eat Korean BBQ, Olive Young Shopping & Supermarket Tax Refund Trial and Tribulations
蕓熙
2 days ago
Finally found time to fly to Seoul again! This Korea trip was all about “taking it easy, leveling up my looks, and shopping like crazy”. Besides eating nonstop, I also booked a super popular K-beauty aesthetic treatment that’s been trending in recent years! Today I’m sharing my real, honest experience from this trip. Whether you’re planning to get aesthetic treatments in Korea, stocking up on skincare, or buying souvenirs, this guide will definitely help you.
📸 1. First Aesthetic Clinic Experience in Myeongdong, Shurink, Oligio, Re2O Review
Getting aesthetic treatments in Korea has basically become a must-do for so many people, so this time I also made an appointment at a clinic in Myeongdong. Most clinics around Myeongdong have Chinese-speaking staff, so communication is totally stress-free, and the whole process feels very professional and smooth.
This time I did three popular treatments:
1. Shurink (Korean version of HIFU): mainly for lifting and defining the face contour. During the treatment you’ll feel a slightly sore, tingly numb sensation, but it’s absolutely worth it for that V-line! Right after, I could already feel my jawline area looking a bit tighter.
2. Oligio (Korean monopolar RF): this is mainly for improving skin elasticity and fine lines. The process feels slightly warm, and afterward my skin looked noticeably more glowy.
3. Re2O (skin-regenerating “water glow” injection, exosome-type treatment): focused on deep hydration and repair. There’s a little prickly sensation while it’s done, but in the days after, my skin was seriously plump and radiant, and even my makeup sat so much better!
💡 Tip: For a few days after aesthetic treatments, your skin can be more sensitive and dry, so make sure you have plenty of simple, hydrating sheet masks ready, and don’t forget sun protection!
🥩 2. Seoul Food Tour, A Secret List for Korean BBQ Lovers
In Korea, how could you not eat Korean BBQ? On this trip I challenged several BBQ spots in different styles, it was basically heaven for meat lovers!
Whether it’s Hanwoo beef or thick-cut samgyeopsal (pork belly), Korean BBQ places really nail it when it comes to tenderness and marinades. When the pork belly is grilled to golden, crispy perfection, wrapped in fresh lettuce with sliced garlic and dipped in doenjang, then stuffed into your mouth, the aroma of the fat just explodes, pure happiness. Some places also have staff who grill it for you, so you don’t have to worry about burning anything, you just focus on eating and enjoying.
🛍️ 3. Shopping Heaven, Olive Young Haul & Seoul Station Lotte Mart Tax Refund Review
After eating and drinking well, it’s time for the most anticipated part, shopping!
1. Olive Young must-buy list
As Korea’s biggest beauty store, Olive Young can seriously trap you inside. Since I had just done aesthetic treatments, my mission this time was super clear, I grabbed tons of hydrating and firming sheet masks to replenish moisture and help my skin recover. I also picked up a bunch of super trendy makeup lately, like glossy “water glow” lip tints, eyeshadow palettes, and tone-up creams. There were so many options it was dizzying, and the discounts were such a good deal.
2. Supermarket souvenir shopping, my hard-learned lesson: Seoul Station Lotte Mart vs Hapjeong Station Homeplus
I have a really important takeaway from buying souvenirs this time that I want to remind everyone about!
Seoul Station Lotte Mart (highly recommended):
For snacks, instant noodles, seaweed, and other souvenirs, I strongly recommend going straight to Lotte Mart at Seoul Station. The selection is super complete, and best of all, you can do your tax refund (Tax Refund) on-site, it saves time and is so convenient!
Hapjeong Station Homeplus (avoid):
I used to shop at Homeplus near Hapjeong Station because it felt less crowded and easy to browse, but this time it was honestly a huge disappointment. Not only was there no tax refund service at all, the store also felt very quiet, and the shelves had way fewer items than before, so many souvenirs I wanted were nowhere to be found. These days, if you’re buying souvenirs, heading straight to Seoul Station Lotte Mart is the safest bet.
🌙 4. Hungry late at night? Convenience store suppers are a must
What if you get hungry late at night while traveling in Korea? GS25 and CU convenience stores, found everywhere, are your best lifesavers!
Korean convenience stores have so many cup noodle choices it’s hard to decide, from classic Shin Ramyun and Ottogi cheese ramen to all kinds of spicy chicken noodles. Late at night, grabbing a hot cup of ramen and pairing it with a banana milk or a mildly spicy rice ball is basically the perfect end-of-day ritual for any itinerary.
📝 Summary
This Seoul trip was packed, but it felt so satisfying, from aesthetic treatments and skincare to Korean BBQ and shopping for souvenirs! I hope my personal experience, especially the little tax refund reminder for supermarkets, helps everyone getting ready to travel to Korea. If you have any questions about Seoul itineraries or aesthetic treatments, feel free to leave a comment below and chat!
Wishing everyone an amazing Korea trip, have fun and shop to your heart’s content! ❤️
