Japanese tourist Kanako Inoue, 50, before and after a makeover at a studio in Myeong-dong, Seoul, on Feb. 10. Korea Times photo by Lim Ji-hoon
When Lindsay, a 34-year-old visitor from Canada, and Kentaro, a 46-year-old from Japan, arrived in Seoul on Feb. 12, they headed straight to a specialized scalp care clinic in Myeong-dong.
The two said they booked consultations after seeing reviews on social media.
“Going to Korea and getting a scalp massage like Koreans do has become popular abroad,” they said. “The service is delicate and the results are excellent, so we’re very satisfied.”
A different kind of curiosity drew Amanda, a 21-year-old tourist from the Philippines traveling with her family, to an artificial waterfall in Hongje-dong on Feb. 9. A cold snap had transformed the cascading water into a tower of icicles, turning the site into an unexpected winter spectacle.
“You don’t get to see frozen waterfalls in the Philippines,” she said. “It feels unusual and fascinating to find something like this in the middle of a city.”
There is a paradigm shift now in how foreign travelers experience Korea. Beyond well-known landmarks such as royal palaces and Mount Nam, visitors are increasingly seeking out places like Hongje Falls, Han River parks and Mount Bukhan.
They are also booking beauty treatments, such as scalp care and teeth whitening, and having glasses made. At traditional markets and convenience stores, visitors film food content to share online and with friends at home. Fortune tellers, bathhouses and PC cafes have also become popular stops, for the same reason: They're the kinds of places where locals visit as part of their everyday lives.
“There is a stronger tendency to go where Koreans go, try what Koreans do and experience Korea’s modern culture and daily life,” said Kim Nam-jo, a tourism professor at Hanyang University. “The development of social media has significantly changed travel patterns.”
Alex, a visitor from Canada, undergoes an X ray before receiving a laminate veneer treatment at a dental clinic in Seocho District, Seoul, on Feb. 10. Korea Times photo by Lim Ji-hoon
Source: Korea Times News
