Enjoy everything Seoul has to offer without breaking the bank

As a student, I find myself frequently worrying about living expenses. Living in Seoul made such a dent in my student budget that I began to think of ways to have fun without spending much.

Samcheong-dong Street in central Seoul is a wonderful option for those interested in a more intimate view of the Korean art scene. [JOO DA-HAE]

Seoul is the world's 14th most expensive city to live in, and for students the weight of that financial burden can be especially difficult to deal with. For international students, with higher tuition fees, less opportunities for part-time work and little local support, that burden can be crushing.

Seoul came in at No. 14 on the Cost of Living Index 2022 released by asset management company Mercer. The index is based on the cost of food, housing and household goods.

Joo Da-hae

As a student, I find myself frequently worrying about living expenses. Can I really afford an 8,000 won ($6) latte? Is dining in a nice part of town and spending more than my hourly wage really worth it? Living in Seoul made such a dent in my student budget that I began to think of ways to have fun without spending much, and it seems like others have also set frugal living as their personal challenge.

In the early 2000s, a reality show that roughly translates to “Happiness of 10,000 Won” began to air on MBC. The premise was for celebrities to survive an entire week with the aforementioned budget cap.

Inflation rates show that the 10,000 won of the 2000s would not get you very far today, but this one-day itinerary proves that students can still enjoy Seoul on a tight budget.

A few friends agreed to accompany me on my journey, and we began the day from our university campus before traveling to a range of cheap locations nearby.

━ Starting point: Sinchon-dong

Seoul has a great public transportation system and it does not cost much to get around various parts of the city. My friends and I began our journey at Yonsei University in Sinchon-dong, western Seoul, with the first destination being Samcheong-dong Street in Jongno District, central Seoul.

We opted to take maeul (village) buses for convenience, but you could easily ride the subway if you do not mind transferring lines. The maeul bus fare is 1,200 won, while the subway costs around 1,250 to 1,350 won for the first 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the journey.

More adventurous types can rent a Seoul Bike or ttareungi,an excellent way to sightsee. You can simply download the Seoul Bike app and input your bank account details and all the available bicycles around the city will be made accessible. Bike voucher prices range from 1,000 won for one hour to 5,000 won for 24 hours.

In terms of transport, the entire day trip starting and finishing at Yonsei University cost precisely 3,600 won, and that actually turned out to be the biggest expenses of the day.

Spending Village bus: 1,200 won

━ Samcheong-dong Street

The first part of the day’s itinerary took us to Samcheong-dong Street, a small neighborhood east of Gyeongbok Palace that is filled with hanok (traditional Korean homes) and picturesque walkways.

Hidden behind major museums such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Kumho Museum of Art, few are aware of the true artist’s quarter that is Samcheong-dong Street. It is a wonderful option for those interested in a more intimate view of the Korean art scene. The neighborhood is peaceful compared to the bustling city-center and its collection of museums and private galleries make it an artistic oasis in the heart of Seoul.

From early July to late November, Samcheong-dong hosts an annual fine art festival where its galleries, museums, restaurants, cafes and stores are widely promoted through brochures and advertisements around the neighborhood. We visited several admission-free galleries and decided on three standout options in terms of the displayed art and general atmosphere.

1. MGFS100 An abbreviation for “My Good Friends,” MGFS100 is a gallery that displays vibrant and engaging art. It focuses on positivity by collaborating with artists that specialize in bright colors and caricatures. We were able to take complimentary postcards before leaving. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closes every Monday and Tuesday.

MGFS100 [JOO DA-HAE]

2. Beka Gallery A stripped-down and open space that showcases modern art, it often endorses Korean artists who are relatively unknown to the public. Beka Gallery hosts a variety of different exhibits, all of which last for less than a month. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closes every Monday.

Beka Gallery [JOO DA-HAE]

3. The ART9 Gallery-Jeongsu Art Center A gallery with a diverse portfolio, Jeongsu Art Center partners with artists to display different genres ranging from abstract to impressionism. The deliberate flow of the art leads you up to a glass-roofed stairway, and to its second floor where even more pieces are on display. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closes every Monday.

The ART9 Gallery-Jeongsu Art Center [JOO DA-HAE]

Spending None Total spent: 1,200 won

━ Bukchon Hanok Village

The carefully preserved streets of Bukchon Hanok Village offer visitors a glimpse of the past. [JOO DA-HAE]

After our tour of Samcheong-dong Street, we took a 14-minute walk toward Bukchon Hanok Village, a tourist destination in the city where the occasional crowd forms in peak hours, but its beauty is well worth the inconvenience. The 600-year-old village dates back to the Joseon Dynasty and was home to high-ranking officials and nobles.

Careful preservation allows us to see many of the homes’ traditional architecture. The walk uphill provided us with an idyllic view of the city, and as we trekked deeper into the village, we felt thrown back into the past. The streets were filled with traditional culture centers that display Korean art and history.

For those willing to go over budget, there were several teahouses and restaurants that offer authentic Korean dishes. We even came across custom jewelry and fragrance workshops where you can learn the craft from the experts, and hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) rental services which many tourists use to fully immerse themselves in the village.

It was an immersive experience, and we left feeling fulfilled despite not spending any money.

Spending Village bus: 1,200 won Total spent: 2,400 won

━ Ichon Han River Park

Fields at Ichon Han River Park [JOO DA-HAE]

It was late afternoon by the time we traveled to our final destination: Ichon Han River Park. Seoul may become overwhelming at times with its fast pace and constant movement, especially for newcomers in the city, so outdoor spaces are an excellent way to relax in the midst of all the chaos.

Ichon Park is a convenient distance from Bukchon Hanok Village and does not get as crowded as its more popular counterparts of Yeouido Han River Park and Banpo Han River Park. We headed south on a bus to the edge of Yongsan District and arrived at a spot between Jungrangcheon Bridge and Wonhyo Bridge where there are several staircases that lead down to the park.

Like all 12 of the Han River parks in the city, Ichon Han River Park is a strip of recreational space right by the water with extensive walking courses and bike lanes. It has a large convenience store that sells a variety of food and drinks along with picnic supplies.

You can settle on the grass and eat snacks or order a large meal to share with friends. Eating chimaek (fried chicken and beer) by the Han River has even become a food trend in recent years.

Unique to Ichon Han River Park are the variety of different amenities that are publicly available such as an inline skating rink and skate parks.

The park even offers a rafting service that they advertise as a “team building activity” where groups are challenged to navigate a section of the Han River.

A bike rental center at the park [JOO DA-HAE]

We first decided to rent bikes from the park’s bike rental booth. Rates vary with 3,000 won for an hour and 5,000 won for two hours. They are significantly more expensive than Seoul Bike, so it is encouraged to use the latter instead.

We began to pedal along the bike lanes and cross the entire park from end to end, which was about two miles. It was a tiring but fun activity that quickly had us ready for dinner. We returned our bikes and headed to the nearest convenience store.

Most items in convenience stores are affordable, so we were able to purchase snacks such as cup noodles and chips while still staying under budget. It was not long before we chose a quiet part of the park and spread out our picnic mat to eat. The park allows people to camp out in tents until 7 p.m. so that would be a great option for somebody looking to stay a little longer.

We hung out for a few hours before finally calling it a day and returning home.

Spending Ichon Han River Park bike rental: 3,000 won Cup noodles: 900 won Village bus: 1,200 won Total spent: 7,500 won

BY STUDENT REPORTER JOO DA-HAE [kjd.kcampus@joongang.co.kr]