For more tips on navigating Korea like a pro, check out:
https://korea-properly-shop.fourthwall.com/

Great advice. It's well known that  Myeongdong IS the biggest grift in Seoul so just stay away is the best advice. My girlfriend and I got scammed at a beauty shop in Myeongdong once so we never go back there. There are many markets in Seoul with cheaper prices and way better food. #2 Never take a taxi at the airport and only take it in Seoul if absolutely necessary after 12:00AM. Trains, buses and Kakao taxi in Korea are one of the best systems in the world. Most of the taxi driver in Seoul are old, slow, and really bad drivers. We (my Korean friend & I) took 4 taxi rides in Seoul, got lost in 3 of them and in the fourth ride, my friend got motion sickness. 🤢🤕

1. Taxi: I always use Kakao T app, get an estimated price and check the route with Naver map. Never had a problem, neither in Seoul nor in the countryside.
2. Markets: When I am Seoul, I am always staying near Gwangjang Market. I know that many Koreans don't recommend Gwangjang Market, but every other day, I get a 호떡 or 꽈배기 there. Never have been ripped off. Of course: Always check prices. Some shops are overpriced (food or non-food).
3. Accommodation: In Seoul I always stay in a guesthouse. This year ₩ 1.050.000 for a whole month. Affordable, clean and a friendly host.
4. Restaurants: I know some places where it's no problem to eat alone when it's not busy. Special recommendation for barbecue: 혼고집 , they specialise on solo diners.
5. Cafés: I think one person, one drink is perfectly normal. I never would enter a café without ordering anything.
6. Cash: For me, it's the opposite: I try to avoid places that don't accept cash. (Even though I have a debit card.)

Thank you for making us aware  of street scams

I travelled in Korea for two weeks, solo and 68years old. I had a marvellous time and had no problems and never felt ripped off. I love the country so much that I have no started learning the language and will be back when I am 70.😻😻😻

Yes, the taxi cab driver who did not turn on his meter, this happened to us in Incheon!  Luckily, we were meeting some local friends and they talked to him when we arrived.

That's true, but in my experience the chances of running into this kind of dealer are extremely low.
And yes mostly they are representatives of the older generation Koreans who are 60+ years old
I think there are no countries without dishonest people, but in Korea you can feel safe. Have a wonderful trip!

This guy is the only review guy for anything that I’d trust. Even over Consumer Reports! 😊

Hello from Scotland
Thank you for this calm and measured info - definitely useful
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🇰🇷

Great advice for life in any country, thank you!

Watching your videos in prep for my South Korea trip this Dec!

Thank you for this great and informative video! 😊 This will be my very first time in Korea, so unfortunately there are some "tourist trap" places I do want to see, but from other countries I have visited I'm quite aware of tourists scams😂 I feel like Korea however is still a very safe country and the scams aren't so bad, and some of the rules are pretty common for dinning, not sure if its like this in Korea but if you ask for a non English menu you will get the local price and not the tourist price. If you treat people with respect and are polite and especially be patient with locals if you only speak English then you'll have an amazing time😊

Thanks so much for the useful info! I'm going to Seoul at the end of March and these are things I need to know about. Going to watch more from this channel.

Very clear and helpful advice.  Thank you.

I’m found in some services people recommended up charges. We went to some doctors, beauty appointments, optometrists, etc.

Most had pricing sheets and it was pretty simple. I noticed some had ones not on the pricing sheets. They pointed to the “best” option for one price and tried to talk me into another option not mentioning it wasn’t the “best” one on their price sheet. That was the one time I felt scammed as the price difference was 100,000 won and I didn’t catch it until they charged my card.

There is a government agency that will take claims and has a form with tracking when tourist feel scammed as they want repeat tourists.

Thankyou so much for this. Yes authentic places are the best. Travelling soon to Korea so this is very helpful 😊🎉

Great advice thank you ❤

Forwarding to my son and my friends who we’re going to Seoul with. Thank you!

Very good tip, Sean. Thank you 😊 🙏🏽

great tips...been to korea many times.. real brand dont chase...on point.   Pop ups and those  festival seem more popular these days. though I never felt their food options are any different for regular restaurants or shijangs.      Korea compared to other cities is very honest though and I never really worry to much about getting ripped off.    What I want to learn is how do you get the best king crab  price in Garak. or Snow crab in Sokcho. ?