There’s something so grounding about coming back to a place that shaped you—and for me, Korea will always be that place. This past trip was part business, part nostalgia, with my family in tow. We split our time between busy Seoul and Gyeongju, where I once lived. Both of which reminded me of why I fell in love with Korea.
Gyeongju
Tucked in the southeastern countryside, Gyeongju is a city that truly feels like stepping into a preserved storybook. We stayed in an incredible restored traditional hanok which I found on AirBnB. It blended historic charm with modern comfort perfectly. The architecture featured wooden rafters, paper-covered doors, and a serene courtyard—where we had kittens visit us every morning.
It was located just minutes from Hwangnidan-gil and other cultural sites. It’s the perfect base: peaceful enough to feel like an escape, yet close enough to explore. Our time in Gyeongju was spent just walking the streets. Many things had changed, and other things not so much. For example, photo booth culture is still a very serious thing and you'll find them on almost every corner. And when I say photo booth, I mean an actual store front with costumes, curling irons, and more. We ended up booking an actual tour through Viator and it was amazing. Although I lived in Gyeongju it had been years since I'd been back and I had a husband and seven year old in tow so I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.
Our one day tour included visiting Yangdong Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, and is also where I used to teach. The architecture alone is worth the trip, and its an easy 30 minute drive outside of Gyeongju. We also saw historical sites like Royal Mounds, and Woljeonggyo Bridge (stunning!)
Our favorite meals included: Bichkkuli Tea House - impossibly aesthetic, and made for Instagram posts for sure. We also had dinner at Hongshi, which is a traditional Korean restaurant. The amount of food that strolled out was endless, but my favorite was the frozen persimmon dessert.
One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of places for breakfast (including coffee shops) don't open until 10 or even 11 and so there were many mornings we walked to the 24 hour corner store.
Seoul
In contrast to Gyeongju, Seoul buzzes with insane energy and creativity. For someone who lives and breathes branding, I was in heaven. The cafés here aren’t just cafés—they’re curated experiences. Each one more niche, and more beautifully designed than the last.
Favorites include:
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Onion Anguk – housed in a hanok with a large array of unique baked goods.
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Artist Bakery – as creative and well-executed as its name suggests. I recommend going right before they open to get on the waitlist.
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Bukchon One Cafe - There are a variety of refreshing drinks called "ades" around Korea. This place had the very best. The Auzi Yuza Ade was maybe the best thing I tasted on our entire trip.
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Jean Frigo – While we didn't visit this time around becaue no kids allowed, I have been here before and it's really cool. What looks like a small fruit stand is actually a restaurant/bar. You enter through a fridge door. Super unassuming and really a cool experience.
We spent most of our time wandering Insadong and Jongno District, two neighborhoods that are interesting, and walkable. We strolled through Bukchon Hanok Village, where we popped into a skincare boutique, House of Coréelle so beautifully designed, not a single detail was overlooked. There is so much inspiration everywhere!
Now, the reason you're here. Skincare. Am I right? Though I couldn’t enjoy any skincare treatments this time (thanks to a recent surgery), here are some of the most popular facial spots in Seoul (some of which I've been to and others my wishlist for next time):
In addition to to all of the exploring, I had the opportunity to meet with other KrX distributors around the world, and see the factory that makes their products. I also met with the president of Corthe and Dermathod. Each meeting strengthened our partnership and it was great to meet face to face to advocate for our community - ie. removing "whitening" on bottles and using more inclusive language, giving input on product formulations, etc.
Our time in Korea was wonderful despite the heat and humidity that was quite literally stifling. I must say this trip reminded me of why we do what we do at Kin Aesthetics. It’s not just about skincare—it’s about creating something intentional, beautiful, and rooted in meaning. Every space tells a story. And we can’t wait to keep telling ours.
