I was hunting for a quiet coastal stay between Ulsan and Busan when a friend mentioned a brand-new pool villa resort near Ganjeolgot Cape. The place is called Ocean Bliss Urban Resort, and the sell was simple: every room faces the sea, there’s a 20m infinity pool, and you can basically eat all three meals without leaving the property. I went for one night. Aside from the time it took to unpack and pack, I barely stepped outside the resort. That tells you most of what you need to know - but I’ll go through the details anyway. ...

Are you comparing yourself to others on social media? Yeah, I do it too sometimes. Probably more than I should. Living as yourself, though. That might actually be enough. This is just me thinking out loud. Nothing smart, nothing polished. ...

If you visit Miryang and only have time for one bowl, my pick is always dwaeji-gukbap — Korean pork soup with rice. Busan’s milky white version gets all the attention, but Miryang’s clear, lighter style has a charm of its own. On my latest trip I finally made it to Jeilsikdang, a small shop tucked into Susanjungang-ro in Hanam-eup. It’s well known to locals since being featured on cartoonist Heo Young-man’s TV show Baekban Travels, but the place has the kind of quiet, lived-in feel that only a thirty-year-old neighborhood spot can pull off. ...

If you’ve ever wandered through the Westin Josun Busan lobby and caught a glimpse of that ocean view, you’ve probably wondered about the cozy Irish pub tucked right there on the first floor. That’s O’Kim’s—a name that mashes up the most common surnames in Ireland (“O”) and Korea (“Kim”). I finally checked it off my list with a lunch date and, honestly, the Haeundae Beach view alone makes the visit worth it. Plenty of photos below, so settle in. ...

Trust builds good relationships. And the value of good relationships only grows over time. Games where you win alone might bring short-term victories, but they never last. I’ve come to feel this more and more. Real winning only happens when we win together. ...

I used to think of sashimi and grilled hagfish whenever Haeundae came up, but this trip I was craving something different—a steaming pot of clams. My Busan friend told me Dapeojuneunjip was the spot. Loved by Korean celebrities, featured on multiple TV shows, this old-school clam hot pot place is a local institution. Bottom line: of every clam hot pot I’ve ever had, this had the deepest, cleanest broth. Their signature scallion-soy dipping sauce is a total game changer. Scroll on through—lots of photos below. ...

Happiness isn’t somewhere far away. We become happier when we recognize the small things in our daily lives. This is a story about scattering thumbtacks of happiness and finding joy in the ordinary, like three-leaf clovers all around us. ...

It was day two of our Busan trip, and after a night of fresh sashimi and cold beer, my stomach was begging for something gentle. We were staying in Haeundae, so I started searching for places open early in the morning. That’s when I stumbled across Wonjo Jeonbokjuk—an abalone porridge institution that’s been holding down the same corner since 1967. Spoiler: the green-tinted porridge, rich with house-blended abalone innards, was the real deal. Plenty of photos below, so take your time scrolling. ...

If you walk through the Samsan-dong food street in Ulsan, one Korean BBQ place keeps catching your eye — Suksungdoma. I went there after a friend told me about a spot serving aged pork belly for around $2.30 per 100g, and ended up coming back the very next week. This is my honest review of one of the most talked-about budget Korean BBQ restaurants in Ulsan. ...

If you ever spend a few days in Ulsan, there is one restaurant locals will keep telling you about — Onggigol Sikdang. I had heard about this place near Gongeoptap (the industrial monument roundabout) for ages before I finally made it through the door, and I left wondering why I waited so long. This is one of those rare places that gives you a 20-dish Korean meal for the price of a single takeaway pizza back home. ...