Whether you’re only in Korea for a day, a week, a month or a year traveling can be pretty expensive.

Unless you’ve recently won power ball- most of us don’t have the luxury of traveling somewhere without worrying about money. Worrying if you’ll have enough to support yourself, if you’ll have enough to do the things you want to do, if you’ll have enough when your trip ends etc. etc. etc.

If you have won power ball, this list isn’t for you, Richie…but, you should come on down to Korea. Be my best friend! It’ll be great! You pay for everything and I’ll show you the best places to go for a low, low fee of $1,000/day. Best thing either of us ever did. BFFL 143 xo..Jokes you guys. Jokesssss…

In a previous post, I made a list of the best free things to do in Seoul. Therein, I made a promise to my readers that I would compile a list of…

 

The Best Almost Free Things to do in Korea:

1. Jeonju

I don’t think I can speak highly enough of Jeonju. Although it isn’t technically in Seoul, I just had to put it on the list due to groundbreaking news. However, I am equally saddened and overjoyed after finding out (drum roll please):

Beginning in March 2016, there will be a FREE shuttle for foreigners to and from Jeonju.

I don’t think you understand what this means. Anytime you feel like it, you can hop on a bus and eat your way through this marvelous village. Oh, happy day!

Then the world comes crashing down as I realize I’m leaving in March. Eternal tears, friends.

I love Jeonju so much. If there’s anywhere you want to go in Korea, it’s Jeonju! The most delicious street food is lying in the wait for your arrival.Every time I go there it gets better and better, and there’s always something new to discover.

For instance, I’ve been there several times already and I’m only just learning there is a cheese village nearby. Yup- a cheese village. In a country where cheese is absent from most meals, there is a cheese village called Imsil.

I don’t know how good this place is (or its cheese), but I guess I’m just going to have to see for myself before I leave this land that keeps surprising me in the most unlikely ways. The shuttle might be free, but you should spend money on the food. All the food!!

2. Baseball Game

Baseball is an American sport, but Korea is doing it so so so much better.

Baseball in America is only fun if you’re actually at a Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Pahk… Or if you’re playing a pickup game with friends on the common. In literally every other circumstance imaginable, baseball is an utterly insufferable snooze fest… Even when Papi hits a grand slam over the Monstah. Even when it’s the world series. Even when it’s a no hitter…ESPECIALLY when it’s a no hitter!

Korea has acknowledged how boring baseball is and has solved the problem. #thankgod.

Take notes, America!

For one, above each dugout is a stage. On it, a jumping bouncing mascot dressed as a referee leads your side of the stadium in chants and cheers and songs…and EVERYBODY has thunder sticks and gets really into all the aforementioned.

Oftentimes, the songs they sing are American classics with Korean lyrics.

If you aren’t entertained by your male cheer crowd leader, it is certainly fun playing rounds of “guess that song” with your friends.

If you still aren’t entertained, there’s a bunch of hair flipping, crowd man pleasing Korean women getting everyone pumped up with their sweet dance moves.

Everyone gets into it, it’s honestly so much fun and it’s only ₩5-10,000 ($5-10) for a ticket that you can pick up 10 minutes before the game starts. Also, feel free to bring a whole picnic in with you and all the flavored soju you can drink…grapefruit is the best!

    3. Trick eye Museum- Hongdae

This is a cool thing to do on a date, to kill time, to do something weird and fun with friends…whatever! The trick eye museum is kind of tricky *pun intended* to get to if you don’t know where you’re going.

 

This is a popular destination among Koreans and foreigners alike because it’s so dang fun!

There might be a lot of lines and lingering about so I would suggest going on an obscure day and time…like a Wednesday at noon for example; especially if you don’t enjoy crowds (me neither, bro). But whatever, if that particular day/time combo isn’t possible- it’s still fun when it’s (somewhat) crowded.

It’s only ₩15,000 for admission and you can get some prettttty cool pictures.

Pro Tip: the actual trick eye museum and ice room are downstairs. There is an exhibit upstairs you have to pay for separately. This is an x-rated exhibit with an additional ₩15,000 fee. If that isn’t your cuppa…don’t make my mistake. Just bypass that line and go down… thats what she said…the stairs.

If it is something you want to do- you need to pay twice. Although, you get a discount when you enter the actual museum the floor below.

4. Yongma Land

I personally have never been- but it’s weird enough to be on my list! This amusement park once boasted the cries of happy children…now children just cry there. Just kidding…but probably, though. It’s been abandoned for years with the remains laying haphazardly strewn about like forgotten toys. Poor Yongma Land.

I picture it as the place where toys go when lost or abandoned. Or where the creepy terrifying clowns who destroyed Pee-Wee’s bike live…you guys know what I’m referring, right? Only the worst scene in movie history! Amiright?! …No? Fine. A toy graveyard will suffice for you- uncultured traveler.

It isn’t very big, and admission is ₩5,000. It is also a bit inconvenient to get to as it isn’t centrally located. It’s an off the beaten path destination in more than one way, but definitely worth getting to! Kpop artists choose it as a music video site, so who knows?! You could make your big break! Just remember the girl who got you there 😉

You want to take Exit 1 and walk east for about 10 minutes. As I haven’t been there before, I would use the maps but it looks fairly easy to navigate. You could also take a cab- which looks like it would be under ₩5,000.

Address: 118, Mangu-ro 70-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul 02180, South Korea

5. Mr Toilet

Yup. It sounds like what it is…a museum dedicated to toilets. There is also a theme park and the museum itself is shaped like a toilet. If you’re 5 or have the mind of a 5 year-old this is the place for you.

…I dont know, people, it’s a museum about toilets and poop.

Korea loves poop for some amusing and quirky reason unbeknownst to me. #becausekorea. I can’t really continue talking about it and keep this post clean. It would just stink and then what would I do? I would have to flush the whole thing! Ba dum chhh. That’s just about the cleanest joke I could have possibly made. So, you’re welcome internet.

Admission is free but you need to spend some money getting there, so I was torn between putting it here or on the list of free things to do in Seoul.

Address: Gyeonggi-do Suwon-si, Jangan-gu, Imok-Dong, 186-3
Korean address: 경기도 수원시 장안구 이목동 186-3

Get off at Suwon Station line 1 exit 2, then follow the map below

Honorable Mention:

1. Jimjilbang- Literally go to any one. There is probably one right in front of you and you don’t even realize.

---

---

That’s all I have for now!

If you have any suggestions on how to improve/ add to this list I would appreciate your knowledge! I think it’s pretty good as is, but feel free to share your thoughts: would you add anything? Change anything?

This is a troll free zone. All violators and rude comments will be removed from this site. Let’s be nice! Sharing is caring 🙂

XoXo