Seoul
A seductively stylish & spicy destination to work from.
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The modern-day city is a distinctive blend of historic preservation and rapid urban development, with modern architecture contrasting with ancient palaces and serene natural spaces.
The higher flight costs coming from Europe are well worth it for a month's stay or as part of a longer trip. I wouldn't hesitate to book another visit in the near future.
The higher flight costs coming from Europe are well worth it for a month's stay or as part of a longer trip. I wouldn't hesitate to book another visit in the near future.
The higher flight costs coming from Europe are well worth it for a month's stay or as part of a longer trip. I wouldn't hesitate to book another visit in the near future.
The higher flight costs coming from Europe are well worth it for a month's stay or as part of a longer trip. I wouldn't hesitate to book another visit in the near future.
After the novelty of sweating through three T-shirts a day had worn off in Southeast Asia, I was eager to get to savour some of the cooler weather of late spring.
South Korea and Japan had always been high up on my list of places to visit, which due to the distance, I'd always put off.
With a fixed date to return to the UK, a six-week window presented itself to see as much of the region as possible, with Seoul as the starting point.
Booking within 6 weeks of arriving, I found Seoul a really difficult place to find quality accommodation. Knowing how efficient the local transport system is, if I were to return and stay for a longer duration, I'd consider being slightly away from any of the immediate core areas where you're more likely to get a better deal.
Compared to countries in SE Asia, there's definitely no surplus of supply on Airbnb, so it's worth checking conventional hotel websites if you're planning a shorter trip.
Having subsequently checked availability for 6 months in advance, book as much in advance as possible, be somewhat flexible on your location, and it is feasible to find a decent deal.
You won't have to look very hard to find somewhere to work from in Seoul. WeWork has numerous spaces across all districts of the city with a number of smaller operators and national chains like The Executive Centre and Bizsquare offering spaces across the city.
Seoul is blessed with an inordinate number of coffee shops, generally open late into the evening, with excellent WiFi, making them also viable spaces to set up from.
Whilst noticeably more expensive than cities in Southeast Asia, Seoul still represents solid value for money if coming from Europe or North America. Good quality meals from informal restaurants can be found from around 8,500 won (£4.50), with prices for both coffee and alcohol lower than what you would expect at home.
A single ticket on the metro costs 1,500 won (£0.85) making getting around the city affordable. Tickets to local tourist attractions are very affordably priced, with tickets to palaces coming in around 3,000 won.
Accommodation is the one area where you may want to over-budget for, with limited availability on Airbnb.
As you might expect, Seoul offers a truly world-class selection of cultural sites, food, drink, and nightlife options, all spread across the vast geographical expanse of the city. You’re unlikely to leave unsatisfied in this regard.
Yet, while it is busy, no area in Seoul felt quite as dramatic and intense as what you might find in neighbouring cities like Osaka and Tokyo.
Korean Standard Time is +9 hours ahead of GMT, making it 7 hours ahead of CET during the summer months. In relative terms to other destinations in Asia, this is +2 hours on Bangkok and +1 on Kuala Lumpur.
I had already been working in the region for the three months previous, so it wasn't a huge change in working hours, but it's right at the edge of where you would class an acceptable working time whilst not impacting your daily schedule.
Having explored exhaustively on foot for each of the days I was in the city, these were the neighbourhoods that stood out to me.
If visiting the city again, I'd happily stay within close proximity to any of these locations.
Given how effective the metro is, I would even consider staying further out than I normally would, if it widens the net of accommodation options.
After doing a tour of several WeWork locations within Seoul, this was my preferred one. 5 mins walk from Apgujeong station in Gangnam, the main room for All Access Members was airy, calm, and professional. Easy access in and out of the building with lots of options nearby for lunch or dinner.
All the locations across the city are accessible 24 hours a day with a desk booking, have surprisingly good quality coffee, and the best selection of beer taps I've seen in any location, including local IPAs.
Euljiro - Split over 5 floors and within a 2-minute walk from the station. Convenient and with a plush interior, but bizarrely loud music played on every floor with little AC. Power sockets on All Access Desks difficult to use if you've got a Mac MagSafe charger. Convenient location.
Hongdae - The most professional out of the ones visited, with a dedicated large area for coworking. Only downside is the lift system for the building is dreadful, making it cumbersome to get in and out throughout the day.
Gwanghwamun - Good interior but with a relatively limited seating area for All Access passes and a playlist seemingly fixated on Katy Perry's 2011 back catalogue.
The F-1-D visa would allow individuals to stay in Korea for one year with the opportunity to extend for another year. Extension of stay would be handled by the local immigration office in South Korea.
To be eligible, you must be a remote worker employed by a foreign company, earning at least double South Korea's gross national income per capita from the previous year, which was around $64,000 for 2023.
Additionally, you must have worked in your current industry for at least one year, provide proof of health insurance, and have a clean criminal record. Accepted applicants can be accompanied by their spouse and children under 18 without additional visas.
Easily reachable from the center of Seoul, the three mountain peaks of Bukhansan are visible from across the city. There are numerous well-marked hiking routes, with several of them following the 5.9-mile defensive wall of the Bukhansan-seong Fortress.
Most of the paths are shaded by dense forest, mitigating the impact of any hot daytime temperatures. It's worth noting that one of the peaks was inaccessible during my visit due to falling rocks, so it's advisable to plan your route in advance, considering any known closures.
There are numerous ways to ascend it, I could recommend an East to West route starting from either 북한산보국문 or Solsaem stations with the finish at the main entrance.
The start of May felt like the ideal time to be in Seoul. Summer temperatures can frequently reach 35+ degrees, a world away from the -10 temperatures which face the city in winter.
I would have no hesitation booking for a month, if not longer, in the city. If you are only passing through, I would suggest a minimum of a week to give yourself enough time to see various parts of the city.
South Koreans are undoubtedly one of the most stylish populations I've encountered. Across all demographic groups, people appeared to take great pride in their attire, with the city fostering a remarkably high level of attention to detail in fashion.
Seoul felt remarkably cosmopolitan, with a higher volume of tourists from more diverse backgrounds than expected. While areas like Itaewon and Myeongdong were densely populated with visitors, this dropped off sharply just beyond their core areas.
Even though I was only in the city for a week, I did not get the sense that it was a significant remote work hub, which is unsurprising given its geographical location. Coworking spaces often serve as a litmus test for this, and at each WeWork location I visited, I encountered practically no foreign workers.