First-hand guides to Korean culture, food and daily life for visitors and newcomers, alongside a family growth diary from Seoul. https://jellyggumi.github.io/ en Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:26:55 +0000 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:26:55 +0000 Jekyll v3.10.0 Why Hangul takes about an hour to learn, how syllable blocks assemble, and the handful of Korean phrases visitors genuinely use. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Hangul-And-First-Korean-Phrases/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Hangul-And-First-Korean-Phrases/ Language K-Culture Cultural Tips What each Korean season actually feels like, including monsoon rain, humid summers and sub-zero winters, and what to pack for each. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Four-Seasons-In-Korea-What-To-Expect/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Four-Seasons-In-Korea-What-To-Expect/ Seasons Practical Travel & Transport The table manners that matter in Korea: pouring etiquette, who eats first, shared dishes, banchan refills and paying the bill. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Dining-Customs-Explained/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Dining-Customs-Explained/ Food Etiquette Food & Dining How Korea's subway, buses, trains and taxis actually work, from T-money cards and transfers to KTX tickets and late-night options. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Getting-Around-Korea-Public-Transport-Guide/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Getting-Around-Korea-Public-Transport-Guide/ Transport Practical Travel & Transport A Korean first birthday, or doljanchi, has a symbolic table, ceremonial clothing and a choosing ritual. Here is what each part means and why it exists. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Doljanchi-A-Korean-First-Birthday/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Doljanchi-A-Korean-First-Birthday/ Family Tradition JellyGGumi Family Diary How to actually use Seoul's Han River parks: which park for what, bike hire, picnic delivery, the night fountain, plus Namsan and Bukhansan by subway. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/The-Han-River-And-Outdoor-Seoul/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/The-Han-River-And-Outdoor-Seoul/ Seoul Seasons Travel & Transport How Korean beauty shops actually work: single-brand versus multi-brand stores, testers, sheet masks, sunscreen, cushion compacts and reading a label. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Skincare-And-Beauty-Shopping-In-Korea/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Skincare-And-Beauty-Shopping-In-Korea/ Shopping Practical Daily Life Korean food is strongly regional: Jeonju bibimbap, Busan milmyeon, Jeju black pork, Andong jjimdak and how to find a town's local speciality. Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/A-Regional-Food-Map-Beyond-Seoul/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/A-Regional-Food-Map-Beyond-Seoul/ Food Practical Food & Dining A templestay is a night in a working Korean Buddhist temple. The real schedule, the dawn service, the formal meal, the 108 bows and what to pack. Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/A-Temple-Stay-And-Korean-Buddhism/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/A-Temple-Stay-And-Korean-Buddhism/ Tradition K-Culture Travel & Transport A practical guide to Korean barbecue: the cuts, charcoal versus gas, who grills, free banchan refills, and why cold noodles arrive last. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-BBQ-How-It-Actually-Works/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-BBQ-How-It-Actually-Works/ Food Etiquette Food & Dining A guide to Seoul's five Joseon palaces, the Secret Garden booking trap, differing closing days, and how free hanbok entry and rental shops actually work. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Seouls-Palaces-And-Wearing-Hanbok/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Seouls-Palaces-And-Wearing-Hanbok/ Seoul Tradition Travel & Transport How Korean age counting works after the 2023 legal change, why nobody uses your given name alone, and how road-name addresses replaced lot numbers. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Age-Names-And-How-Addresses-Work/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Age-Names-And-How-Addresses-Work/ Language K-Culture Cultural Tips Korea's volume-based bin bags, separate food waste, paid stickers for large items and doorstep parcel culture, explained before you get them wrong. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Recycling-Deliveries-And-Daily-Logistics/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Recycling-Deliveries-And-Daily-Logistics/ Practical Daily Life How Seollal and Chuseok work: lunar dates that shift each year, the mass travel home, ancestral rites, tteokguk and songpyeon, and what stays open. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Seollal-And-Chuseok-Koreas-Two-Great-Holidays/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Seollal-And-Chuseok-Koreas-Two-Great-Holidays/ Tradition K-Culture Cultural Tips How Korean traditional markets are organised, which ones are worth a visit, the street foods to know, and how ordering, paying and standing to eat work. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Street-Food-And-Traditional-Markets/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Street-Food-And-Traditional-Markets/ Food Seoul Food & Dining How to stay online in Korea: choosing between a prepaid SIM, an eSIM and pocket wifi, plus the map, messaging and translation apps Koreans actually use. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Staying-Connected-In-Korea-SIM-Wifi-And-Apps/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Staying-Connected-In-Korea-SIM-Wifi-And-Apps/ Practical Daily Life A first-timer's guide to Korean bathhouses: how a mogyoktang differs from a jjimjilbang, how the wristband works, and the etiquette that genuinely matters. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Jjimjilbang-And-Bathhouse-Etiquette/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Jjimjilbang-And-Bathhouse-Etiquette/ Etiquette Tradition Cultural Tips Why Korea has so many cafes, what people actually use them for, and how ordering, table time, outlets and iced americano culture really work. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Cafe-Culture-Explained/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Cafe-Culture-Explained/ Food Seoul Food & Dining A practical guide to Korean convenience stores: the main chains, hot food and microwaves, transit card top-ups, ATMs, parcels and in-store etiquette. Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Convenience-Stores-A-Practical-Guide/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/Korean-Convenience-Stores-A-Practical-Guide/ Practical Food Daily Life How a Korean prenatal nickname becomes a name: what kkum means, why families give a baby a taemyeong before birth, and how INa became Jelly GGumi. Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/the-reason-is-why-my-parent-call-me-jelly-ggumi/ https://jellyggumi.github.io/journal/the-reason-is-why-my-parent-call-me-jelly-ggumi/ Family JellyGGumi Family Diary