Loose Thread, Seoul-Gyeonggi-Gangwon-Gwangju/Jeolla Shopping and Things to Do

Gangneung souvenir shop at sunset: coffee vs corn sand—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a Santorini-style dessert and souvenir shop on Seonggokgoyang-gil near Ojukheon in Gangneung, Gangwon. The writer visited at dusk to see the lit-up building and its Christmas tree, then bought a box of Gangneung Sand Coffee and a box of Chodang Corn to share at home with her husband. She preferred the Chodang corn sand and her husband preferred the coffee cream sand, so Gangneung Sand is an easy Gangneung travel gift to pick by taste.

Written Dec 7, 2025Sponsored

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon café after Yeonmudae archery and kite flying: Caffeine Focus

Caffeine Focus is a Hwaseong Fortress-view café on Changnyong-daero in Paldal-gu, Suwon, near Yeonmudae and Changnyongmun Gate. After traditional Korean archery at Yeonmudae and kite flying in front of Changnyongmun, the writer visited Caffeine Focus around 2 p.m. on a weekday and ordered an iced vanilla latte, hibiscus lemonade, blueberry yogurt smoothie and banana muffin, waiting in a corner of the full 3rd floor before luckily landing a 2nd-floor window seat. The coffee and bread were both good, making Caffeine Focus a great place to catch your breath after a Changnyongmun outing.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon chicken restaurant before the Media Art Show: corn cheese gratin

Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak is a chicken restaurant near Suwon's Chicken Street in front of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, where whole chickens are roasted over oak wood. On the last day of the Chuseok holiday, three diners booked ahead for the 17:00 opening and added sausage and mozzarella to the corn cheese gratin seasoned oak-fired chicken (27,000 won); the hot stone plate kept it warm to the end, and the sticky rice and nurungji (crispy scorched rice) under the chicken were delicious too. Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak is a filling stop before the Hwaseong Haenggung night opening and the Suwon Media Art Show.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored