Half day In Seoul with a local

What a wonderful day spent touring Seoul with JeeEun as our guide. We toured the Palace, the markets, the museums, Olive Young and had lunch at a fantastic delicious Noodle/Dumpling restaurant Great Day

I had 24 hours in Seoul, and I wanted to pack in as much as could in a half day tour. I booked this tour, and was matched with tour guide Paul Koo. Paul promptly sent me a welcome email and a detailed itinerary which I appreciated and approved. As a higher education professional and instructor, I was ecstatic to be matched with Paul as my guided. Before we started the tour of the palace grounds, we sat down and chatted. As a teacher, I like when lessons begin with an overview and preview of what we’ll learn and why it’s important with opportunities to ask tons of questions along The way. Paul shared his expertise and knowledge of Confucian philosophy and its roots in Joseon period architectural history. Sound heady? Thank goodness! The way he structured and explained Korean history and its foundation in Confucianism allowed me to appreciate all of the beautiful details of the palace architecture and grounds amidst the throngs of tourists dressed in traditional Joseon dynasty costumes. Paul introduced me to the soul of Seoul. Not only did I have a greater understanding the palace and Korean folk life, I felt that I had a better understanding the beauty of Seoul navigating the subway, walking the streets of Gangnam, and connecting with local Koreans in my short time in Seoul. Also watching k-dramas set in Joseon era, make more sense to me now (with a critical eye and better understanding of culture and history). As a result of Paul’s half day tour, I left Seoul hoping to study more about Korean history and culture. I even hope to study more Korean language when I return to visit again with family. If you’re looking for a tour to learn about the foundations of Korean history and culture in Confucianism and architectural history, I enthusiastically recommend Paul Koo. I’ll surely be back and with more time take longer tour.

GJ was an excellent guide. I chose the Hidden Gems option vs the more "touristy" option and she did not disappoint. It was well worth the investment to have local knowledge to expand on the history and significance as well as provide inside data on living in Seoul. Plus, I feel like I made a new friend and hope to do it again on my next trip!

My four hours with GJ was absolutely excellent. It was a Hidden Gems Tour and she took me off the beaten path exactly as promised. I felt like I made a new friend and learned so much about new areas of Seoul. It was exactly what I asked for.

We also needed help with buses extra and she willingly helped us.

We chose this tour for our second day in Seoul to get an introduction to the city. GJ was our tour guide and we were so lucky to get her. We saw so many sites and wandered through special backroads. She knew where to take pictures that were meaningful and we now have some fantastic iconic photos of us in the city. She gave us suggestions for the rest of the trip. It was a wonderful introduction to Seoul.