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My relationship with Seoul began in 2017 during a work trip that barely ventured beyond Gangnam’s glossy façade.
Fast forward through a global pandemic, and I found myself returning twice more—each visit revealing new layers of this dynamic metropolis.
Singapore’s relentless heatwave made Seoul’s climate a welcome respite.
But it wasn’t just the temperature difference that provided relief; it was the sense of space. Seoul’s generous sidewalks offer breathing room that’s hard to find in Singapore, creating an urban experience that feels expansive rather than constricting (unlike the claustrophobic planning of cities like Bangkok).
And that kickstarted my 4th trip back to this cosmopolitan city with my wife and another couple to see in real life again the Seoul we have for some time only watched evolved on Korean dramas.
5 Fascinating Facts About Seoul
- Seoul has one of the world’s most advanced public transportation systems, with over 300 subway stations and a smart card system that works across buses, subways, and even taxis.
- Despite being a mega-metropolis, nearly 30% of Seoul is designated as green space, including Bukhansan National Park within city limits.
- Seoul’s Starfield COEX Mall houses the largest underground shopping centre in Asia and the stunning Starfield Library with over 50,000 books and magazines.
- The Han River bisects Seoul and features 12 parks along its banks called Hangang Parks, covering more than 40 square kilometres of recreational space.
- Seoul has the world’s highest per capita rate of plastic surgery clinics, with the Gangnam district alone housing over 500 cosmetic surgery establishments.
The Price of Beauty: My Unexpected Surgery
One highlight—or perhaps lowlight—of my trip was going under the knife at a plastic surgery clinic.
What I thought would be a simple procedure to reduce my eye bags turned into something entirely different when the doctor suggested puffing up my sunken cheeks with fats extracted from other parts of my body instead.
The experience was nothing short of harrowing.
As they strapped me to the bed, I wanted to bail. Unlike the anaesthetic from my slipped disc surgery that knocked me out completely, this one left me in a strange state of semi-consciousness—hallucinating to loop music playing in the background (in a surgery room, of all places!).
Did I mention there were buckets of leftover blood in the room?
This is the price of beauty I will not pay again.
The Prevalence of Plastic Surgery in South Korean Culture
My experience made me realize just how prevalent cosmetic procedures are in South Korea.
After browsing through flyers in the clinic, I’m confident in saying that nearly every person you see on the street who resembles a K-pop artist has likely gone under the knife.
While it’s certainly cheaper than Singapore, it’s still relatively expensive.
My procedure cost 4.9 million won after hard bargaining. I’m grateful I held my tongue when asked if I had any other concerns—I’ve always wanted a smaller nose, but I’ll happily live with my big one after this experience.
It’s fascinating to see people working in retail or food service who look like they stepped straight out of a K-drama.
In Singapore, kids might save for three months to buy an iPhone; here, they’ll slave up to nine months to look like a comic book character.
No prizes for guessing how vibrant the aesthetic industry is here.
Non-Invasive Alternatives
If you and your wallet aren’t keen on invasive procedures, the non-surgical treatments offer excellent value. I tried Picotin, Juvelook, and a facial for 600,000 won, which included a comprehensive skin analysis.
Pro tip: Feed that analysis report into an LLM (I use Perplexity Pro), which gave me a list of recommended products available at Olive Young.
Speaking of Olive Young, they now ship to Singapore with free shipping on orders over $60. Even with the first-timer 30% discount voucher, prices still run higher than on Shopee.
Another tip: If you’re planning to spend, use a GXS card, which comes with zero currency fees plus cashback on transactions. My post-surgery medications cost $40, and I received almost $3 cashback. Use my code ADRI859 to sign up.
Changing Perspectives on Travel
But beyond the superficial, this transactions-filled itinerary made one thing crystal clear to me – that I no longer fancy such busy holidays.
As I write this, I am having a quiet moment alone enjoying breakfast at a Coffee Bean on the second floor, overlooking a rainy morning street in Gangnam.
Truthfully, I’m enjoying this quiet moment more than the entire past week combined.
Vacations should be less hectic than normal life, yet I logged more steps here than I do in Singapore.
Life priorities change as we age, and for me, that means slowing down to appreciate the simpler pleasures, especially with (at most) 20 years of physically able life left.
As the sun slowly emerges from behind the rain clouds, it feels symbolic of my own transformation.
Just like Seoul itself, I’ve changed—perhaps we’re both learning that sometimes, the beauty we seek isn’t found in dramatic reinvention (or plastic surgery) but in quiet moments of authentic experience.