Exploring Seoul: A Mother-Daughter Adventure in K-Beauty and Culture

When Juliet Izon’s debut novel, The Encore, found its way to publication, she fulfilled a promise to her daughter, Avvie: a trip to Tokyo. Their ten-day journey over spring break soon evolved into a delightful detour to Seoul, spurred by Avvie’s love for K-Beauty and curiosity about Korean cuisine.

The plan was simple and practical—Seoul was just a quick two-hour flight from Tokyo, with no new jet lag to manage. Additionally, the favorable exchange rate made the city surprisingly affordable for a mother and her enthusiastic 10-year-old. As Juliet put it, “For a 10-year-old with strong opinions about lip gloss and K-Pop choreography, it offered an almost embarrassing abundance of things to love.”

Traveling with a tween, however, is a unique experience. Avvie took charge of the itinerary, presenting a list of restaurants and attractions that often surprised her mother. “One of the best parts of having a tween is that they’re at the age where they begin to have real passions and opinions,” Juliet shared. Their travel preparations included a hard copy guidebook highlighting must-see spots, paired with YouTube videos and TikTok clips for a contemporary touch.

The duo embraced the beauty of Seoul, particularly during cherry blossom season. Though Japan is famous for its blossoms, Juliet found Seoul’s flowers, especially around Namsan Mountain, to be breathtaking and unexpected. The city itself, often likened to Brooklyn, buzzed with energy, especially in the Seongsu neighborhood, which enchanted Avvie as they explored boutique shops and vibrant makeup stalls.

To navigate their adventure, they enlisted the expertise of Kensington Tours and a local guide named Alice, whose insights into Korean culture and history enriched their experience. “With a 10-year-old, that’s quite often,” Juliet remarked about the benefits of having a guide. Alice led them through the lively Gwangjang Market for local delicacies, where they savored mung bean pancakes and sweet hotteok.

At Gyeongbokgung Palace, Alice’s storytelling added depth to their visit. The chance to wear traditional hanboks, with free entry to the palace, turned into an exciting decision when Avvie spotted others in beautiful attire. “We both had a blast picking out coordinating ensembles,” Juliet recalled, cherishing the memories captured in their matching outfits.

One of the highlights of their trip was visiting the HiKR Ground, a hub for K-Pop and Korean culture, where Avvie filmed videos and they indulged in local doughnuts. Meanwhile, their numerous stops at Olive Young, a leading health and beauty retailer, were a whirlwind of excitement, as Avvie expressed her preferences in skincare and makeup.

A quieter yet poignant moment came when they sat with a caricature artist, a unique experience that solidified their bond during the trip. “The resulting sketch, with both of our cheesy grins, might be my favorite souvenir from the trip,” Juliet reflected, emphasizing the importance of these personal moments amidst their bustling adventure.

Source: www.cntraveler.com