Bizarre, Unusual, and Expensive Things You Only See in Korea

Found in: Seoul
Est. Cost: $605/Dish*

Hanwoo beef is the South Korean equivalent of Wagyu beef. Due to its high fat percentage, which hovers between 40%-50%, Hanwoo is just about as succulent as beef can get. Thanks to a BBQ joint in Seoul that sells the meat as part of a $605 meal, having a golden palate has taken on a whole new meaning.

Hanwoo Gold Flaked Beef @Best Ever Food Review Show/Youtube

The base price of the beef is relatively high to begin with because of the scarcity of Hanwoo cows. Adding gold to the equation will not help lower the bill, but that doesn’t seem to be affecting business very much — if anything, it’s helping.

Found in: Gapyeong-gun
Est. Cost: $70/Night* 

Have you ever wanted to know what it felt like to be the noodles inside an Instant Ramen cup? Sounds crazy, right? Well, it’s not. Apparently, sleeping in a giant cup of Ramen noodles is something people have considered in Korea. How else can the high demand for the Instant Ramen-themed room at the Unique Pension hotel in Gapyeong-gun, South Korea, be explained?

Instant Ramen Themed Hotel Room @rojakpenangrojak/Facebook

With its bed tucked away inside an oversized replica of a styrofoam cup of Ramen, the “Ramen Room” at Unique Pension isn’t like one of the rooms you’d find at the Marriott. It’s one of several “role-play rooms” designed to bring patrons’ wildest dreams to life — and it’s only $70* a night.

Found in: Seoul
Est. Cost: $5.50/Latte*

Seoul’s reputation in the global food scene has grown quite a bit in the past few decades. The foods are as delicious as they are unique and there are restaurants themed to cater to everyone’s needs. Everyone has their own opinion about which establishment has the best dining experience in South Korea’s capital, but there’s no debate about which restaurant tops the list as the crappiest…

Poop-Themed Restaurants @shopify/Pinterest

From the poop-shaped smiley faces painted on the walls, to the toilet-shaped coffee mugs and ice cream dishes, everything in Seoul’s Ddong Cafe has something to do with number two. If you’re looking to dine in, take a load off in one of the booths and enjoy some poop-shaped toast for $1 a slice.

Found in: Seoul
Est. Cost: Free to visit*

While most of Seoul’s countless themed cafes all tend to blend together, ‘Blind Alley’ stands apart from the others for a rather unique reason. It’s not just a raccoon-themed establishment. ‘Blind Alley’ has a few very distinguished patrons who also happen to live nearby — two resident raccoons.

Racoon Cafe @buzzfeed/Twitter.com

In America, they’re considered vermin. However, when Americans visit the raccoons of ‘Blind Alley’, they can’t help but play with them while snapping a few selfies. Unlike most other themed restaurants in Seoul, there’s no cover charge to enter ‘Blind Alley’ to see and play with the raccoons. Still, it would be rude not to buy something for the once-in-a-lifetime WBD Channelesque experience you’ve been given.

Found in: Gangjin County, South Korea
Est. Cost: N/A

In 2019, reports surfaced of a rather unusual educational event. A school in Gangjin County, South Korea, opened its doors to some new students. These weren’t your usual enthusiastic first graders, but several grandmothers. 

Grandma's in Enroled in Elemetary Schools @boredpanda/Pinterest

After low birth rates in the area saw enrollment numbers plummet, local authorities thought it would be a good idea to allow illiterate grandmothers to take classes, too. These women, for various reasons, were never taught to read or write. The set-up might have been out of the ordinary, but it was certainly useful. 

Found in: Jeongdongjin
Est. Cost: $250/Night*

It’s not every day that you see a cruise ship perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea unless, of course, you’re in Jeongdongjin, South Korea. If that’s the case, you’ll come across the Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht – a cruise experience that is unlike anything you could imagine. It looks like it’s been run ashore, but this cruise ship is, in actuality, a land-based hotel.

Beached Cruise Ship Hotel ©KoreaKHW/Shutterstock.com

Other than its lack of sea-worthiness, visitors of the Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht receive an almost identical experience to what they’d find on Royal Caribbean cruise. That includes access to the 540-foot-long “ship’s” nightclub, athletic facilities, saltwater pool, and Vegas-style shows.

Found in: Nationwide
Est. Cost: $2*

Since 2020, masks have been flying off the shelves for obvious reasons. There are so many varieties out there that claim to protect us in the best possible way – but some are better than others. In Korea, you can find masks specifically designed to protect your nose…and seemingly nothing else.

Nose masks @theguardian/Pinterest

It’s not clear why this product is a thing, but it probably hasn’t passed many safety standard test. Take it from us, if you want to stay protected against anything airborne, it’s best to protect your nose and mouth and not just one or the other!

Found in: Nationwide
Est. Cost: $200-$250*

Whether it’s just something cute to do or a way of letting everyone know they’re together, South Korean couples have taken coupling to a whole other level by dressing alike from head to toe. This isn’t something that one partner gets roped into either. It’s something that everyone enjoys equally.

Matching Couples Outfits WoopShop_com/Pinterest

Since clothing is slightly cheaper in South Korea than it is in America, buying matching jeans, shirts, hats, socks, and Nikes will only cost partners about $100-$125 each. The next time your partner suggests a couple’s Halloween costume you’re not fond of, think of the alternative — matching daily outfits.

Found in: Nationwide
Est. Cost: $0.50/Soup*

Japan has 200+ types of Kit Kat. North America has a seemingly endless selection of potato chip flavors. No matter where you go, there’s something that has been done in excess. In South Korea, the many realms of taste are explored with the assistance of instant noodles.

Novelty Flavored Instant Noodles nongshim/Instagram

Instant noodles are a quick, easy, and cheap meal option for someone who doesn’t have time to prepare something of a bit more substance. They’re also one of the most popular foods in South Korea. Playing on the people’s love of these convenient meals, instant noodle makers have released dozens of limited edition/novelty flavors, including black pepper powder ramen with beef bone stock and the instant favorite, Caguri (curry).

Found in: Seoul
Est. Cost: $361,000* 

In December of 2015, in the Gangnam district of Seoul, a 17-foot-tall statue was erected in honor of the crown achievement of one of (if not) the most recognized Korean musician of the 2000s, Psy. His achievement, of course, was becoming a worldwide superstar thanks to his hit song, “Gangnam Style.”

Giant Gangnam Style Statue @ingarsal/Pinterest

The art installation is of Psy’s arms performing the song’s iconic dance move — the one in which his hands are crossed one over the other while lazily flopping about as he gallops in place. It’s not as interactive as the “It’s A Small World” ride at Disney World but the “Gangnam Style”  statue does play the hit song as tourists are snapping their pictures.

Found in: Nationwide
Est. Cost: N/A

After eating a crinkled-cut-fry-battered corn dog smothered with sauce, it should be expected that a diner will have a pile of dirty napkins they’d be ready to dispose of. They’d walk the streets of Seoul, looking left then right, but there would be no trash can in sight. There’s nowhere to throw out those saucy serviettes.

@schronisko/Twitter.com

The lack of outdoor garbage cans is quite intentional. It was done to reduce the amount of garbage in public. If the need to toss some waste should arise, pop over to the nearest mall or McDonald’s and use the waste receptacles inside. Alternatively, you could always keep wet wipes and plastic bags handy.

Found in: Imsil County
Est. Cost: $9-$30*

If there’s an afterlife, one would have to believe that the world’s most dedicated cheese enthusiasts and fromage-lovers would transcend to the cheese village in Imsil County after passing away. The village sits on a 32-acre piece of land in south-central South Korea and contains a cheese factory that’s been around since the 1950s.

Cheese Theme Park @atlasobscura| @tripadvisor/Pinterest

Imsil Cheese Village visitors can choose between a selection of packages that range from tours of the site to all-day cheese-making workshops where you’ll learn the ins and outs of how to prepare classic favorites like mozzarella. 

Found in: Suwon City
Est. Cost: $50,000/Night*

Prior to becoming the founder and OG president of the World Toilet Association, Sim Jae-duck had a two-floor mansion shaped like a toilet built for him. Jae-duck believed restroom hygiene was of the utmost importance in maintaining proper sanitation standards, and his architectural taste was proof.

Mr. Toilet House @scoopwhooppins/Pinterest

After he passed away, Sim Jae-duck’s private “sanctuary” was turned into a museum that takes you on a colorful journey through the history of toilets. If anyone’s interested, at the enormous cost of $50,000, visitors can spend a night inside the world’s largest (non-functioning) toilet. That sure would make for an interesting Snachat story.

Found in: Nationwide
Est. Cost: $1.75/Can*

After going for a walk on a hot day or getting home from a tough day on the job, many people recharge their batteries with a cold and refreshing soda. After all, there’s nothing quite like that first crispy sip. While Americans have grown accustomed to drinking root beer, cream soda, and orange soda, South Koreans have also thrown yogurt-flavored soda into the mix.

Milk Soda @VinMart.co/Twitter.com

Yogurt-flavored soda doesn’t sound quite as thirst-quenching as an ice-cold bottle of Coke but considering it has the daily recommended dose of both calcium and vitamin B, it’s worth giving it a try.