The alley no guidebook knows, the scene that opens at one hour of the day. The person who knows it is you. Apply for the first Buddy's Eye writer interview.
A local meeting a traveler at Gyeongbokgung Palace. (Sample image — replaced by real writers at launch)
Why makgeolli classes are filling with foreigners
Seoul is in its alley-café season
A trip where you already have a friend before landing
If only I'd known: skip Gyeongbokgung, book the Secret Garden
Your second Korea is regional — Jeonju, Gangneung, Tongyeong
Why 30 Korean phrases are enough
Hongdae Entrance Station (홍대입구역) · · Source: Hongdae Live · YouTube
Haeundae Beach, Busan (해운대) · · Source: Busan Haeundae Live · YouTube
Gwangalli Beach · Gwangan Bridge, Busan (광안리 · 광안대교) · · Source: Busan Live Cam · YouTube
Gwangalli Beach crossing, Busan (부산 광안리) · · Crosswalk by the sand — see what people are wearing · Source: Busan ITS Center CCTV
Yeon-dong, Jeju City (제주시 연동) · · Source: Jeju MBC disaster CCTV · YouTube
Seomyeon, Busan — Seojeon-ro shopping street (부산 서면) · · Crosswalk, live · Source: Busan ITS Center CCTV
Cheonjiyeon Falls plaza, Seogwipo (서귀포 천지연폭포) · · Visitors at the falls, live · Source: Seogwipo City disaster-safety CCTV
Road to Incheon Airport ICN (인천공항 가는 길) · Airport access road, live · Source: National Transport Information Center (ITS)
Road to Gimpo Airport GMP (김포공항 가는 길) · Airport access road, live · Source: National Transport Information Center (ITS)
Road to Gimhae Airport PUS, Busan (김해공항 가는 길) · Airport access road, live · Source: National Transport Information Center (ITS)
Gyeongbokgung Palace · Gwanghwamun (경복궁 · 광화문) · Source: GiGAeyes Live TV · YouTube
Namsan Seoul Tower · Seoul skyline (남산서울타워) · Source: 한강 라이브 365 · YouTube
Han River · Banpo Bridge (한강 · 반포대교) · Source: Daily Seoul Live Camera · YouTube
Incheon Airport T1 departure hall congestion (인천공항 제1터미널) · · Source: Incheon International Airport Corp. public data (data.go.kr) · Auto-refreshes every minute
Want to drop your luggage first? → Read our luggage storage guide
💡 Before arrival: complete the e-Arrival card online before departure · Need help in Korea? Call 1330 (24h, multilingual)
A reader column that re-ties the connections you made — and lost.
The #1 regret of past visitors: places you can only enter by reservation.
A second map, for you who have already seen Seoul.
Late returns, all-night pharmacies, 112/119 interpreting — and checking trust scores before you meet.
Traditional liquor classes at 40-plus venues this month — half taught in English.
Seochon, Haebangchon, Seongsu — where locals actually queue.
Snow on hanok roofs in December, hot springs in January — the insiders' season.
The moment you book a flight, a conversation with a local buddy begins.
Not perfect language — one perfect sentence: "Let's go together."
SEOULSeven viewpoints locals keep to themselves — half reachable by subway.
Meet a Seoul buddy →
BUSANTravelers are already looking for a buddy to watch the night of November 7 with.
Meet a Busan buddy →
JEJUWe asked local buddies how to link three volcanic hills without a rental car.
Meet a Jeju buddy →
JEONJUThe tourist's Jeonju and the local's Jeonju are ten minutes apart on foot.
Meet a Jeonju buddy →
INCHEONHow to start day one light.
Meet an Incheon buddy →The alley the guidebook doesn't know. The scene that only opens at one hour of the day. The people who know those things are the heart of this paper — our first verified writers are being interviewed now.
One line about your city and a scene you'd show a traveler is enough. Our editors will reach out.
FROM THE PAPER TO A PERSON
Every story in this paper is written city-first. When a story moves you, a verified local buddy is waiting in that city — trust score out of 640, with exactly what's verified shown transparently.
Get the Trustbuddies appCurated stories link the original. We summarize; you judge.
Unverified figures don't run. When we don't know, we say so.
Festival dates and countdowns are re-verified with organizers before every edition.
Paid space is always labeled. Buddy recommendations are never for sale.
Buddy's Eye writers publish with their trust score and verifications. No anonymous authority.
Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian — in your language at launch.
Before your trip or while you are here, tell us what you need to know. We answer what we can, and when something deserves reporting we go and report it. No mail app required.