Pocket Reader · 23 stories

A Pocket Paperback

I write about books and clothing that catch my attention. · Writes about: Books & stationery · Fashion · Beauty products · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Home & living · Food & snacks

ProductDeol meongcheonghage salgi wihan choesohanui cheolhakBooks & stationery

Philosophy book on stupidity as an attitude, not IQ: Lars Svendsen

"A Minimal Philosophy for Living Less Stupidly" (Deol meongcheonghage salgi wihan choesohanui cheolhak) is a philosophy book by Norwegian philosopher Lars Svendsen that treats stupidity as a matter of attitude rather than intelligence. The reviewer, who had been getting angry more often at other people's behavior amid a busy daily life, used the book's discussion of the Eichmann case, the danger of certainty and confirmation bias on social media to reflect on their own foolishness. Verdict: "A Minimal Philosophy for Living Less Stupidly" is a thin but weighty book for anyone who needs to practice admitting they might be wrong before blaming others.

Written Apr 24, 2026Product provided
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguBars

Daegu Dongseongno izakaya, highball & spicy tendon: Gyodong Nakwon

Gyodong Nakwon (교동낙원) is a Japanese-style izakaya in Gyodong, Jung-gu, Daegu, near Dongseongno. On a return visit, the writer arrived right at opening time for a light first round before moving on, ordering a Suntory highball with chicken nanban and spicy beef tendon and scallion stir-fry. With a strong highball and generous portions, Gyodong Nakwon is a good-value pick for a group night out in Daegu.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguBars

Bar near Daegu Station: brisket yukhoe by mistake at Yukyeonjeong

Yukyeonjeong Gyodong Branch is a mungtigi (raw beef sashimi) bar tucked inside the Gyo-dong drinking street near Daegu Station in Jung-gu, Daegu. A traveler from Ulsan ordered mungtigi and hanwoo raw brisket at a patio table and accidentally got the brisket as yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) instead of sashimi, yet the yolk-mixed brisket yukhoe and gopchanggim (thick laver) wraps turned out to be a highlight. Yukyeonjeong Gyodong Branch is a second-round bar worth revisiting on any Daegu trip.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguBars

Daegu Dongseong-ro bar for a third round: soft tofu hot pot, Sangbong

Sangbong Dongseong-ro is a hanok-style Korean pub in an alley off Rodeo Street in Dongseong-ro, Daegu. The writer came for a third round with a friend, waited for a table, sat on the outdoor wooden platform and ordered soft tofu hot pot and cream udon; the refreshing, seafood-like broth of the soft tofu hot pot and a shrimp cream udon as good as any Western restaurant's beat expectations. For good atmosphere and tasty drinking food, Sangbong Dongseong-ro works for any round from the first to the third.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu hangover gukbap revisit: oxtail soup & ttaro-gukbap, Hanwoojang

Hanwoojang (한우장) is a 24-hour ttaro-gukbap (spicy beef soup with rice served on the side) restaurant on Gukchaebosang-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu, run by the second generation since 1968 and selected for the Blue Ribbon guide 12 years running. On a Daegu trip, the writer returned to Hanwoojang for lunch the day after heavy drinking, ordering the ttaro-gukbap enjoyed on a past visit and trying oxtail soup for the first time; the clean, odor-free oxtail soup and the spicy ttaro-gukbap fully settled a hungover stomach. Hanwoojang's kimchi and seokbakji (radish kimchi) are as good as the soup itself, making it a hangover gukbap spot worth coming back to.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguCafés

Dessert café in Suseong, Daegu: coconut coffee & salt bread at Aroke

Aroke Daegu Sigi Branch is a new dessert café near Gosan Station in Suseong, Daegu, offering house-baked pastries plus salt bread, croissants, kouign-amann and bagels. The writer sat on the sofa seats with an iced americano, the signature coconut coffee, a plain salt bread and a Dubai chocolate salt bread, and was happy with both the coffee and the desserts. Aroke Daegu Sigi Branch is a café worth revisiting for anyone who wants good coffee and good desserts in one stop.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan pork galbi house: annex room for family groups, Deungdae Galbi

Taewangam Deungdae Galbi Main Branch (대왕암등대갈비 본점) is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant in Dong-gu, Ulsan, near Daewangam Park and Ilsanji Beach. The writer has been a regular since a first visit 6 years ago. This time the writer held a friends-and-family gathering in the new annex room, with pork galbi, a generous banchan (side dish) spread, naengmyeon and free sikhye. With large hoods over every table and tablet ordering, Taewangam Deungdae Galbi Main Branch is an easy choice for long group meals with elders and kids.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju mochi shop: hot-day wait & frozen ice-mochi tip, Tareudang

Tareudang (타르당) is a giant fruit mochi (rice cake) dessert shop on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. After waiting in line on a hot day, the writer took home 4 Tareudang giant mochi (strawberry, red kiwi, melon and karahyang citrus) in a box at the discounted price of ₩5,000 each, then froze the leftovers on the owner's advice to eat like ice mochi. Tareudang's giant mochi is worth queuing for and makes a good Gyeongju souvenir.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
ProductMeda BagFashion

Zip-top summer rattan shoulder bag, no extra tote needed: Meda Bag

The Meda Bag Resort Rattan Shoulder Bag is a summer rattan bag with a top zip closure and a beige fabric lining. The writer received the dark beige color and carried a long wallet, a pouch, a power bank, a small water bottle and a book in the Meda Bag Resort Rattan Shoulder Bag for daily errands and outings, praising its light weight and neat finish. Verdict: if you always carry everything, this summer rattan bag lets you skip the extra tote.

Written May 30, 2026Product provided
ProductMeomchitBeauty products

Cooling shampoo and body wash for summer scalp odor: Meomchit Biotox

Meomchit Biotox Cooling Shampoo & Body Wash is a new 1,000ml cooling duo from Meomchit (Meomchit), a Korean brand known for its fragrances. The writer used both products every day through a summer of sweat, greasy hair and body odor, and found the green forest scent pleasant, the cooling instant, scalp odor under control and hair volume lasting. Verdict: Meomchit Biotox feels cool without a strong menthol smell and is gentle on the skin, making it the writer's summer staple.

Written Jul 6, 2026Product provided
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon pizza restaurant for solo dining, no wait at 5pm: Pickles

Pickles is a pizza and pasta restaurant on the ground floor at the entrance to Jeonpo Café Street in Seomyeon, Busan. Visiting alone at 5pm on a day off, the writer was seated right away at a 2-person table and cleared every plate of a set with a jambon-beurre and beef cheeseburger half-and-half pizza and puttanesca pasta. Pickles is a relaxed place to enjoy pizza and pasta together, even when dining solo.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae Chinese restaurant, car-free daytime soju lunch: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch (부엌간 차이니즈 해운대점) is a Chinese restaurant on Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae, Busan, near Dongbaek Elementary School, with Chinese dining on the 1st floor and the Western restaurant Bueokgan on the 2nd. The writer left the car behind on a Busan trip, took the bus and had chili ganjjajang (dry-fried black bean noodles, ₩10,000), beef brisket jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup, ₩12,000) and black vinegar pork tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, ₩28,000) with ₩5,000 soju, and the portions felt like 1.5 servings each. Atmosphere, flavor and friendly service all impressed, making Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch a place worth revisiting for a date or a meal with friends.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored