Open Afternoon Roamer · 35 stories

An Open Afternoon

I write about places I visit and things I try in Daejeon and Chungcheong. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Stays · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok posture studio: leg length change in 1 visit, Wellkairomotion

Wellkairomotion is a posture correction studio in the SK Hub Green officetel near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, that also offers height growth and facial asymmetry contouring programs. The writer had forward head posture, rounded shoulders and knee pain from uneven leg length, and after one Wellmotion Core session at Wellkairomotion, before-and-after photos showed changes in shoulder height, leg length and face line. With a homey atmosphere and a director who explains everything in detail, Wellkairomotion is an easy choice for anyone trying posture correction for the first time.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Gudi Station izakaya with Kenshi Yonezu songs: grilled meroo at Sodam

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch (로바다야끼소담 구로디지털단지점) is a robatayaki izakaya near Gudi Station in Guro, Seoul, that grills fish and skewers over an open flame as soon as they are ordered. The order was assorted skewers (24,000 won), fire-grilled jjamppong (21,000 won) and grilled meroo (29,000 won), and the seafood-packed jjamppong and the tender meroo, a first for the blogger, stood out most. For a Japanese izakaya feel in Gudi, the grilled meroo at Robatayaki Sodam is well worth ordering.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ at 9pm, staff-grilled for two: Meongseokjip

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch (멍석집 종로3가점) is an outdoor street-style Korean BBQ restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, tucked in the alley behind Mega Coffee near Jongno 3-ga Station. Around 9 to 10pm the blogger ordered 2 portions of aged pork belly (₩18,000 per portion) and a bomb steamed egg (₩5,000). Staff grilled the meat at the table, and the self-serve banchan (side dishes), clean restroom and well-seasoned bomb steamed egg all impressed. Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch is a relaxed, old-school outdoor spot for pork belly and soju.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonStays

Gangneung pension with a foam spa and Netflix in June: Your Anmok 401

Your Anmok (당신의안목) is an ocean-view pension right in front of Anmok Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon, a 30-second walk from the sand. On a mid-June weekday stay in Room 401, the writer soaked in the foam and massage spa while facing the sea, watched Netflix from bed at night, and found toothbrushes, a desk mirror and kitchen tools already provided. Just gazing at the sea from Room 401 was satisfying enough that Your Anmok is the place the writer would book again on a return trip to Gangneung.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung tofu restaurant, sibling's Kyochon-like kodari: Jeong Eunsuk

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu (정은숙초당순두부) is a chodang sundubu (soft tofu) Korean restaurant on Nanseolheon-ro near Gangmun Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. On a Gangneung trip with my younger sibling, we shared the Chodang Premium Table: sundubu hot pot, tofu samhap and sweet-spicy grilled kodari (half-dried pollock). The kodari stood out most, so much that my sibling said its sauce tasted like Kyochon's Red Combo chicken. With adjustable spice levels for the hot pot, high chairs and a big parking lot, Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu is a safe pick for a family trip meal.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Wangsimni hair salon: cut + blow-dry before a photo shoot, Oreudeubi

Oreudeubi Sangwangsimni Station Branch (오르드비 상왕십리역점) is a hair salon in the Centras shopping arcade on Wangsimni-ro in Seongdong, Seoul. The writer had a cut and blow-dry at Oreudeubi Sangwangsimni Station Branch before a snap photo shoot, and despite rain and humidity on the shoot day, the curl and volume held, so the photos came out well. Oreudeubi is worth considering if you want natural, atmospheric hair for a photo shoot.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung cookie café: sibling's coffee, my strawberry—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a butter sand cookie café and dessert shop on Seonggokgoyang-gil in Gangneung, Gangwon. The writer arrived at opening time, bought one box of coffee and one box of strawberry Gangneung Sand, and snacked on them throughout the trip; strawberry was the writer's top pick, while the writer's younger sibling chose coffee. Even with split tastes, Gangneung Sand's rich butter aroma made it a very satisfying Gangneung souvenir snack.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuri, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Guri photo studio passport and ID photos in one visit: Guri Image Shot

Guri Image Shot Photo Studio is an ID and passport photo studio on basement level 1 of the Yeonggang Building on Gyeongchun-ro in Guri, Gyeonggi. The writer, in her 20s, paid extra to add ID card-size photos to her passport photo shoot and was very happy with the photographer's hair tidying, angle coaching and natural retouching done one-on-one, sitting side by side. For an ID photo that isn't overdone and looks like you on a good day, Guri Image Shot Photo Studio is a good fit.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuStays

Party guesthouse in Aewol, Jeju, as a solo introvert: Handamnuri

Handamnuri Guesthouse is a party guesthouse on Iljuseo-ro in Aewol-eup, Jeju, close to a bus stop, with large parking lots and a party reportedly held every evening. The writer, a deeply introverted woman travelling alone, joined the first party, then extended her stay by a night for the second party, a third round at the solo-drinking bar Unstable and a fourth round at a bar. Thanks to clean facilities, fast-moving games and staff who look after solo guests, Handamnuri Guesthouse is an Aewol party guesthouse where going alone never feels awkward.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Udo, Jeju jjamppong restaurant for fishy-seafood skeptics: Seomsonai

Seomsonai (Seomsonai Udo Main Branch) is a jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) Chinese restaurant facing the sea near Hagosudong Beach on Udo, Jeju. On a rainy day the writer swapped the Ujjam for rice (+500 won) and ordered the Baekjjam (cream jjamppong) with hijiki noodles, both at Shin Ramyeon spice level, and finished every piece of abalone, shrimp and squid despite usually picking seafood out of jjamppong. For anyone put off jjamppong by fishy seafood, Seomsonai Udo is worth the wait.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Hyeopjae fish restaurant by bus: solo hairtail stew, no rice, Onjeong

Onjeong Jorim Jeju Hyeopjae Branch (온정조림 제주협재점) is a braised fish restaurant near Hyeopjae Beach in Hallim-eup, Jeju, serving hairtail stew (galchi jorim) for 15,000 won per person. The writer walked from the Hyeopjae Beach bus stop, ordered a 2-person portion of hairtail stew alone, skipped the rice while dieting, and enjoyed the mild seasoning and tender radish. Onjeong Jorim is a good-value Hyeopjae hairtail stew spot that is easy to reach without a car and comfortable for solo diners and families alike.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hannam salon 7-step clinic for sun-damaged surf hair: ONLY FOR YOU

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a hair salon on Dokseodang-ro in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul. After surfing in Bali left her hair badly sun-damaged, the writer asked about a layered perm, but the designer honestly recommended against it. She got a 7-step hair clinic (120,000 won) and a length-keeping cut (35,000 won) instead, and her frizzy hair came out much neater. ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a satisfying, no-pressure choice for anyone with damaged hair who is hesitant about a perm.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored