Pink Plankton

South Korea is just full of things that make you smile, sometimes in a confusing manner.  Here is a photographic journey of some of the random, strange, quirky, weird, odd, or just plain cool things I saw when I visited in 2018:

1. Glass Museum

The Jeju Glass Castle Theme Park is more of a sculpture park or museum, per se.  You can spend an hour walking around the interesting glass objects they have arranged in peculiar ways.  Jeju Island has over 100 very randomly themed parks and attractions.

glass mushrooms in South Korea's glass museum

South Korea's Jeju Glass Castle

Christmas exhibit in South Korea's Jeju Glass Castle

 

2. Poop Cafe

South Korea has many themed cafes and poop is one of them.  It's located in the Insadong area of Seoul.  Everything from the decor to the food and drinks is poop-themed.

Poop cafe in Seoul, South Korea

poop cafe in seoul

There is a stall just outside the cafe that sells poop-shaped choco-bread.poop shaped cakes in Seoul, South Korea

 

3. Sex Theme Park

Love Land is another one of Jeju Island's interesting "theme parks" (which are more like sculpture parks).  It was definitely one of the most unique experienced I had in this country.  Here are just a couple photos, but I highly recommend you check out my full post on Love Land for more!

dirty statue of girl masturbating at Love Land in South Korea

dirty statues at Love Land in South Korea

girl riding penis at Love Land in South Korea

 

4. Ramen Garbage

This garbage is for ramen soup and nothing more.

ramen garbage Seoul Korea

 

5. Rainbow Village

Gamcheon Culture Village is located in Busan. It's a beautiful, colorful little village on a mountainside that you can meander throughout and get lost in.  It used to be a shanty town, until the government recently decided to give it a face lift and turn it into a tourist attraction.

Gamcheon culture village in Busan, South Korea Gamcheon culture village in Busan, South Korea

 

6. Gangnam Style

Gangnam is actually an area of Seoul, known for being a bit "posh".  They have a little tribute to Psy on one of the main intersections.  Tourist pose photo is an absolute must.

Gangnam style corner in Seoul

 

7. Seaweed

Who knew there were so many types of seaweed.  This was taken at a market in Seoul.

seaweed market in South Korea

This is seaweed drying.seaweed drying in South Korea

 

8. Colorful Lanterns

These were taken at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul.  They are so pretty!

colorful lanterns at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea colorful lanterns at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea

 

9. Crab Mailbox

Just plain cute.  This was found on Jeju Island.

crab mailbox on Jeju Island in South korea

 

10. Photo Shoots

We all know Asians love taking photos (I am Asian, so I'm allowed to say this non-offensively), but Koreans take it to the next level.  They really LOVE their photo shoots.  At the temples you can rent out a hanbok or other traditional dress to take photos in.  It's sometimes quite entertaining to watch people take a bagillion photos of themselves.  This particular photo was taken at Changdeokgung Temple in Seoul.

Changdeokgung temple girls in hanboks posing in South Korea

 

11. Abandoned Theme Park

Yongma Land in Seoul has been closed since 2011, but the defunct park remains.  Unlike most abandoned sites, this one is quite easy to access.  A man at the gate charges the equivalent of about $5 for entrance.  It's also quite a popular attraction with the locals. The day I went, there were at least 20 others in the park, many of whom were there solely for the purpose of taking photos of themselves.  Koreans take their photo shoots seriously.  They come with costume changes, props,  accessories, and selfie sticks, all ready to go.

ride at Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park in Seoul Korea Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park in Seoul Korea ride at Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park in Seoul Korea

 

12. Huge Sandcastles

While we were in Busan the annual Haeundae Sand Festival was happening.  Some of these sand sculptures were huge!

Haeundae Sand Festival in Busan Korea

 

13. Fish

I love markets and I thought the fish market in Seoul was very interesting.

fish market in Seoul, South Korea

shells in fish market in Seoul, South Korea

fish market in Seoul, South Korea

fish market in Seoul, South Korea

This fresh sashimi was sooo delicious and the equivalent of about $10. Amazing!fresh sashimi in fish market in Seoul, South Korea

 

14. Random creature

We found this guy in Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul.  I think the sign said he's from some movie.

scary creature statue in Yeouido Hangang Park Seoul, South Korea

 

15. Shell Museum

If you like seashells, you will love the World Seashell Museum.  It's another one of Jeju Island's random attractions.  The 2 level museum is filled with interestingly arranged seashell exhibits.  It's kind of weird to have an entire museum on seashells, but I like it.

Worldwide Seashell Museum on Jeju Island

Worldwide Seashell Museum on Jeju Island

Worldwide Seashell Museum on Jeju Island Worldwide Seashell Museum on Jeju Island

 

16. Mickey Mouse labels

No idea what kind of drink it is, but just thought the labels were cute.

korean drink in market

 

17. So Much Kimchi

Never have I ever seen so much kimchi.  This was taken at a local market in Seoul.

kimchi in market in Seoul

 

18. Seaside Temple

Nothing weird about this, just a beautiful temple!  This is Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan.

Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan, South Korea

boy in buddhist temple in Korea

There were these cute little figurine scenes scattered around the temple.

small figures in Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan, South Korea

 

19. Block Burger

A delicious lego-shaped burger in the Hongdae area of Seoul.

Block Burger restaurant in Seoul, South Korea

 

20. Mural Village

Mullaedong, or Mullae Art Village, is an interesting little neighborhood in Seoul.  Judging from the name, I was expecting beautiful mural pieces on all the walls.  There are some and they are okay, but I found the little details in the sculpture street art most fascinating.  See what I mean below.  The area is full of cafes and artsy shops that make it quite cool to wander around.

Mullae Art Village (Mullaedong) in Seoul, South Korea

sculpture of man in Mullae Art Village (Mullaedong) in Seoul, South Korea art in Mullae Art Village (Mullaedong) in Seoul, South Korea

As mentioned, South Koreans love photo shoots.  Here is a couple in costume posing.  I saw many girls dragging around the boyfriends for photos in the area.  It's quite funny!

couple posing for photo in Mullae Art Village (Mullaedong) in Seoul, South Korea

 

21. Cotton Candy with Face

I'd seen these cotton candy sculptures previously online, but watching this kid eat it was a whole new level of cute.

child eating cotton candy with face in Korea

 

22. Cute Volcanic Stone Statues

These guys are known as dol hareubang and they can be found on Jeju Island.  They are carved out of volcanic rock and are meant to be guardians of the island.  How nice!

Dol Hareubang volcanic rock statues on Jeju Island

 

23. Hostel with personal computer bunk bed

I just find it so interesting that at the Incheon Airport Transfer Guesthouse each dorm bed comes with it's own personal desktop computer underneath. That's somethin' you don't see everyday at your average hostel!

Incheon Airport Transfer Guesthouse hostel dorm room

 

24. Message in a Bottle Lightbulb

This is just a nice photo I didn't want to leave out. It was found at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul.

message in a bottle lighbulb