Seoul - What to Do in Sinchon

Sinchon is located between Hongik University and Ewha Woman's University. It has a "Let's Eat Alley" and a Korean spa nearby, making it the ideal place to experience nightlife. 

Here are the 10 things I love about Sinchon...

1. Korean Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang)

Start off with a Korean breakfast.

Seolleongtang is open 24 hours. Located in one of the alleys of Sinchon, it is fairly easy to find. The milky soup is made by simmering ox bone over a slow flame for several hours to a day. The broth is very rich in flavor. The shop provides all-you-can-eat kimchi.

Bone broth can improve joint health and boost the immune system. The simmering cause the x bone and ligaments to release collagen, glutamine and glycine which are useful for your health. It also contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulphur.

2. Grand Mart

The food section is located on B1F and B2F. Here you'll find a bakery shop (located at Sinchon Metro Exit 7). You'll find plenty of Korean instant noodles, snacks, potato chips, puddings and drinks on B1F. Fresh produce and fruit are located on B2F.

Operating hours is 10:00-23:00.

3. ARTBOX

Artbox is a popular Korean stationary store with gift items and unique designs. Ranging from notebooks, calendars, phone cases, wallets, pens to bags, luggage cases and interior design items, it will sure keep you occupied for hours. Lots of cute Korean design items. 

Opens every 11:30 am to 11 pm. 

4. Korean Beef "Stand-Up" BBQ

Hungry yet?

Wiz House is right opposite to a Korean rib barbecue store that has been opened since 1953. The shop opens at 12:00 am. The price for one portion of Hangul (150 grams) cost 15,000 won. Minimum order is 2 portions. Just stand in front of the gas can to cook the beef like a local... 

 

5. U-PLEX

A younger and trendier mall that is connected to Hyundai Department Store. U-PLEX consists of 15 floors, including fashion brands: 8IGHT SECONDS, GAP, BEQUEM, SONOVI and POLHAM. The "Kakao Friends" store is located on B2F - a great place to purchase some phone case or pens for your grand kids... Operating hours is 10:30 to 21:00.

6. Dinner at the "New Mapogalmaegi"

A popular shop located near the pub area of Sinchon. Its pan is designed to cook egg crust on the side. Order pork skin. It's sweet and chewy when roasted. One of their specialties is the diaphragm meat (pork). It has a chewier texture than fillet and is very tender. The raw beef (Yukhoe) bibimbap is also excellent.

Needless to say, barbecue meat goes well with alcohol.

Egg crust with kimchi on the side...

7. "Sinchon Rest"

Korean public bathhouse (Jjimjilbang) have gender-segregated hot tubs, public showers, traditional sauna rooms and massage tables.

In "Sinchon Rest", Korean public bath is 8,000 won (including a towel and spare clothes for change). It would cost you an extra 17,000 won if you want to experience Korean exfoliation from one of the massage ladies.

After 22:00, you can stay the night and it will cost 11,000 won. You can sleep on the floor (or in one of the "stone caves").

I would definitely recommend staying the night to save money, if you don't mind the crowd, or the noise from the television... Otherwise, you can just enjoy the sauna room and walking around naked to satisfy your inner exhibitionism fetish. Remember to get dressed when you enter the public area though...

Often Korean drama would portray people eating ramen, cracking baked eggs with their head and drinking iced sikhye. Well, no one made the Korean lamb towel head in the bathhouse...

Sikhye is a (very sweet) traditional fermented rice drink. It tastes just like... sugar water (diabetes alert!). This is what Sikhye look like:

Quick Tips: 

• Bring your own face mask
• Nap in one of the caves
• Try the ice cold tub
• Then try the hot stone cave

8. Shopping at Olive Young, ARITAUM and Innisfree...

You'll feel refreshed after a long, hot bath...

At night, the streets of Sinchon is crowded with young people. You'll see street performers and couples wandering in the nights. This is a great time to shop for beauty products. Innisfree is famous for their green tea seed serum and super volcanic pore clay mask. You can purchase brands like Laneige, Hannule and Iope at Aritaum. It is tax free and they often give you free samples when you make a purchase.

Oliver Young is absolutely my favorite shop for face masks - I love the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask and Dewy Tree Deep Detox Black Mask!

 

9. Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup (Jjamppong) Takeaway

If you're craving for some late time snack, try the Jjamppong. It's a Chinese-Korean noodles dish with a variety of seafood and vegetables.

10. Nitrogen Ice-cream "Mini Melts"

Late night snack is available at convenient stores. It's nitrogen ice-cream, in beaded form.