00:00South Korea has a rich culture, but some of their museums are far from being traditional.
00:06They even have a place called Poo Poo Land.
00:09You got me right, this museum is all about feces, human gases, and more.
00:15It's three floors of wacky and colorful exhibits that will make your Instagram followers go
00:19wild.
00:21The bravest ones can eat out of a fake toilet pot while in this museum.
00:25But the real fun begins when it's time to leave.
00:28You'll have to slide your way out through a dark room that mimics your digestive system.
00:34South Korea houses the blackest building you'll ever see.
00:38The Vantablack Hyundai Pavilion is covered with Vantablack paint, which is like the ninja
00:43of all paints.
00:45It's super black and reflects less than 1% of light.
00:49The pavilion was created for the crisp, white backdrop of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
00:55Standing at 33 feet tall and 115 feet long, this building sucks up over 99.96% of light,
01:04so it's as black as a black hole.
01:08South Korea is known for its awesome cafe culture, and their Starbucks outlets are no
01:13exception.
01:15Take Starbucks Wave Seoul, for example.
01:17It literally looks like it's floating on water.
01:20This cool spot is located in Seoul Wave Art Center, a place where you can enjoy art galleries
01:26and exhibitions.
01:27If you feel like you've seen this place before, it might be because K-pop stars have filmed
01:32music videos here.
01:35Back in 2011, Tesco, the British chain, set up virtual grocery stores in subway stations
01:41and bus stops in Seoul.
01:43It's like shopping in a real store, but on your phone.
01:47Visitors can scan and buy virtual items that will be delivered right to their door.
01:52Imagine walking into a subway station and seeing walls filled with pictures of food
01:56and other items you can buy.
01:58You can just scan special QR codes with your HomePlus app, and boom!
02:03Your groceries are on their way to your house!
02:05Order by 1pm, and you'll have your stuff that same day.
02:10You must have heard about the main star of Korean cuisine.
02:14I'm talking kimchi.
02:16The real question is, where is the element of surprise?
02:20This zesty, tangy, sweet, and sour dish has been around for over 1,500 years, and comes
02:26in over 200 different varieties across the country.
02:29You'll never run out of new kimchi dishes to try.
02:32It can be served as a side dish, main dish, snack, appetizer, and if you're feeling daring,
02:38even a dessert!
02:40Ever heard of kimchi and banana?
02:42Yeah, that was actually a thing for a while.
02:45By the way, they say kimchi might be perfectly matched with cheese.
02:49Actually, kimchi can be matched with pretty much anything.
02:52They even produced kimchi-flavored chocolate in Korea!
02:56Seoul, the buzzing hub of South Korea, is jam-packed with around 10 million people.
03:03You'll find narrow alleyways and bustling streets at every turn, making personal space
03:08a rare commodity.
03:10If you're strolling through the city, expect to dodge pedestrians on the sidewalk, squeeze
03:14onto crowded subway trains, and feel a bit cramped compared to the wide-open spaces
03:19in the U.S.
03:21South Koreans are pros at sharing public areas, so don't be surprised if someone bumps into
03:26you without apologizing.
03:28It's just part of the hustle and bustle of city life, especially in busier areas.
03:33Just roll with the punches, literally, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Seoul.
03:40In South Korea, taking off your shoes is kind of a big deal.
03:44Some locals might even get a little miffed if you make a fuss about it.
03:48Most traditional restaurants will require you to kick off your shoes before chowing
03:52down.
03:53Make sure to keep an eye out for a shoe shelf.
03:56It's also a good idea to wear easy-on, easy-off shoes like sandals.
04:01And please, for the love of all things holy, check your socks for holes.
04:05Nobody wants to see that!
04:07PDA is not really a thing in South Korea, even in hip cities like Seoul.
04:14You might catch a glimpse of couples holding hands while strolling the streets, but that's
04:18usually where the lovey-dovey stuff ends.
04:21Public displays of affection make South Koreans a bit uncomfortable.
04:25If you're a tourist, keep them at a minimum, even in party zones like Hongdae or Sinchon.
04:33Here's a tip for when you're dining out in South Korea.
04:36Don't wait around for the waitstaff to come to you.
04:38They won't.
04:39Instead, give a shout of, "'Yogi yo!" to get their attention.
04:43Yep, it means, over here in Korean.
04:46And if you happen to come across a self-service bar, don't be shy about picking up your
04:51own water and utensils.
04:53It's all about DIY in some places, so get ready to take matters into your own hands.
05:01South Koreans are not afraid to dive deep with their questions.
05:05I mean, people you barely know may ask about your personal life or how much dough you bring
05:10in.
05:11So, if someone starts getting all up in your personal biz or you feel like they're crossing
05:15the line, just remember, they're probably just curious and looking to connect.
05:20Don't sweat it.
05:21They're not being rude, just eager to get the convo going.
05:27In the US, it's totally cool to ask chefs to switch up ingredients for allergies or
05:32preferences.
05:33But in South Korea, it's a different story.
05:36Traditional Korean dishes are cooked up with specific ingredients for hours, so don't
05:41expect them to just switch out meat for veggies.
05:44It's not that chefs are being difficult, it's just that they put a lot of effort into making
05:49that perfect dish.
05:50So when you're chowing down in South Korea, make sure you pick something that matches
05:54your dietary needs.
05:57In South Korea, toilets are seriously next-level cool.
06:01They've got cozy heated seats, they actually play a little jam for you while you do your
06:05business, and they've got these handy wands that spray warm water to give you a nice refreshing
06:11clean.
06:12Some of them even have built-in dryers that blow warm air to get you all nice and dry
06:17afterwards.
06:20Just like any other country, South Korea has some issues.
06:25They're facing a spy camera problem.
06:27It's still a big issue, despite tough laws.
06:30It seems like spy cameras are way too easy to get a hold of, with students even using
06:35them to film teachers and classmates.
06:38Efforts to regulate them haven't been very successful yet, but people are pushing for
06:42stricter rules and penalties.
06:46Ever been to Italy and witnessed the lively debates that turn out to be just friendly
06:51conversations with a side of dramatic arm gestures?
06:54Well, get ready for a similar revelation in Korea!
06:58Korean conversations are full of deep voices, power-packed expressions, and the occasional
07:03shock factor.
07:05That lady at the restaurant who seems like she's about to yell at you?
07:09Don't worry, she's just super excited to show you the menu.
07:12It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, Koreans are some of the friendliest
07:17folks you'll ever meet.
07:19Soak in the melodic flow of their language and let yourself be swept away by the welcoming
07:24vibes of this vibrant culture.
07:27Still, even though the Korean language is expressive, when you hop on a bus or train
07:34in South Korea, don't be surprised if it's quieter than a library.
07:38Locals are all about their headphones, jamming out to their favorite tunes instead of chit-chatting.
07:44It's a stark contrast to the West, where everyone's gabbing away or catching up with loved ones
07:49on the phone.
07:51So if you're cruising through Seoul and feel the urge to crank up the volume and start
07:55a lively convo, think again.
07:58Being loud on public transit is a dead giveaway that you're not from around these parts.
08:03While no one will hush you outright, expect some disapproving glares and whispers from
08:08the elderly squad if you take it too far.
08:11Better keep it cool and blend in like a true South Korean, right?
Comments