I have a confession: I’m a travel addict. There’s nothing like that first gulp of foreign air—Seoul’s summer smells like rain on hot pavement, steamed buns, and something sweet I can’t name yet. But last year, standing on a beach strewn with plastic straws (the same color as the tropical fish they’re choking), I realized something: love shouldn’t leave scars.
So here’s my messy, imperfect plan to romance South Korea sustainably this summer:
1. I’ll Be That Person
You know the one—clinking with reusable containers, awkwardly hand-washing Ziplocs in hostel sinks. Yes, I’ll get eye rolls when I refuse disposable chopsticks. No, I won’t stop explaining “but the sea turtles—” through a mouthful of kimbap.
2. My Feet Are My Favorite Transport
I’ll get blisters from hiking Bukhansan in secondhand sneakers and blisters from dancing in Hongdae until 3 AM. The subway will be my trusty steed (and I’ll probably still get lost). But airplanes? Only when there’s an ocean in the way.
3. I’ll Eat My Values
That street food ajumma’s crispy hotteok tastes better knowing her flour comes from Korean fields. I’ll try silkworm pupas (bravery points!) but never, ever take more than I can finish. Food waste is a language even Google Translate can’t justify.
4. I’ll Collect Moments, Not Things
My suitcase will be half-empty on the way there—room for spontaneous bus trips to Boseong’s tea fields. The only souvenirs? A hanji paper notebook, a heart full of late-night conversations, and maybe a cute barista’s number (recyclable paper, of course).
The Ugly Truth
I’ll probably fail sometimes. Take a taxi when exhausted. Buy a bottled drink during a heatwave. But sustainable travel isn’t about perfection—it’s about millions of us trying, together.
So if you see a sunburnt foreigner refilling her bottle at a Seoul Station water fountain… hi, that’s me. Let’s get imperfectly eco-friendly together.
P.S.Yes, I’ll still use Instagram. But #NoGeotagging on fragile places—some love affairs need privacy.
