Bukchon Hanok Village alone makes South Korea worth the trip

I'll be honest — I went to South Korea primarily to see Bukchon Hanok Village, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Seoul has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights.

The food is extraordinary. Korean BBQ sounds simple but here it's done with real craft. K-pop and beauty culture added another layer to the experience. Spent 18 days and honestly could have used a week more.