Haps Korea

Shorts & Stories

the best of what's happening — quick looks and longer stories

This week in Korea: a shark is spotted in the waterway at Busan's North Port Waterfront Park, the city's beaches close out a record 22.5 million-visitor summer, Seoul gears up for Chuseok with a moonlit night run and its autumn Welcome Week, and a Yangsan trail gets new night lighting. Plus, a closer look at Seoul Welcome Week as it rolls out ahead of the Chuseok holiday, and the best events happening across Busan and Seoul this week.

New episodes post every Sunday night. Please consider subscribing to catch every episode as soon as it's out.

Read more at hapskorea.com

#ThisWeekInKorea #Busan #Seoul #Korea #KoreaNews #VisitKorea #Chuseok

This Week in Korea: News, Events & What's Coming Up -- September 21-27

Check out the 5 best events happening in Seoul this week for September 21-27.

Help us reach our goal of 1,000 subscribers and follow!

You can check out the full listing of events this week in Seoul on hapskorea.com

5 Best Events in Seoul This Week: September 21-27 #korea #seoul #travel

Foreign visitors in Busan can now pay city bus fares using overseas mobile payment apps — no transit card or cash needed.

🚌 What you need to know:

Available from September 21, 2026
Supported apps: Alipay · WeChat Pay · ZeroPay QR system
How it works: Scan the QR code inside the bus · Confirm payment · Show the screen to the driver
Fare: ₩1,700 per person · Automatic currency conversion
Each passenger in a group pays separately

⚠️ Important notes:

QR payments do NOT qualify for transfer discounts
Children and teenagers pay the full ₩1,700 fare
Multilingual instructions will be posted inside buses and at major stops near tourist attractions

─────────────────────────────
🔗 More Busan travel tips → https://www.hapskorea.com/busan-events/

─────────────────────────────
Follow for more Busan and Korea travel updates. See you in the next one.

Pay Busan City Buses with Alipay & WeChat Pay — No Transit Card Needed #korea #busan #travel

Seoul is rolling out the welcome mat for foreign visitors — 23 days of free passes, cultural events, and travel discounts across the city.

🇰🇷 Seoul Welcome Week 2026:

Dates: September 19 – October 11 · 23 days
Timed to coincide with Japan's Silver Week and China's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays

🎁 Key highlights:

Free Discover Seoul Pass Heritage Edition for select foreign arrivals at Incheon and Gimpo airports — free entry to 12 heritage sites including Seoul's four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and Joseon royal tombs · Plus discounts at 110+ participating facilities

Seoul Welcome Center @ Myeongdong Exit 6 — October 1–8 · Multilingual tourism assistance · K-pop performances · Lucky draws · Interactive art

Seoul Culture Lounge @ Seoul Tourism Plaza — September 19–October 10 · Traditional dance lessons · Songpyeon making · Korean cultural experiences

20% off Seoul Cruise tickets throughout Welcome Week · Special programs at Yeouido Cruise Terminal including K-pop performances, traditional cultural activities, and a rooftop night market overlooking the Han River
Welcome events at 13 tourist information centers and booths citywide including Incheon and Gimpo airports from September 19

─────────────────────────────
🔗 More Seoul travel tips → https://www.hapskorea.com/seoul-events/

─────────────────────────────
Follow for more Seoul and Korea travel updates. See you in the next one.

Hashtags:
#Seoul #SeoulWelcomeWeek #VisitSeoul #KoreaTravel #서울 #SeoulPass #DiscoverSeoul #SeoulAutumn #KoreaAutumn #서울여행 #SeoulEvents #Korea2026 #MyeongdongSeoul #SeoulCruise #KoreaHoliday

Seoul Welcome Week 2026 — Free Passes & Discounts for Foreign Visitors #korea #seoul #travel

Korea is having a record year for tourism, and with more visitors comes more friction. I pulled the real complaint data from the Korea Tourism Organization and an official Busan tourist survey to see what is actually tripping people up this year, from taxi drivers skipping the meter to accommodation cancellation fees during major events.

This is not a "don't come here" video. It is the opposite. Know what to expect ahead of time and you will not be the one dealing with it.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:20 What this video is based on 0:40 #10 Airport and airline hassles 1:00 #9 Taxis skipping the meter 1:25 #8 Overcharging and unfriendly service 1:50 #7 Accommodation cancellation fees 2:20 #6 Payment fragmentation 2:45 #5 Map and app gaps 3:05 #4 Restrooms and street level cleanliness 3:25 #3 Not enough trash cans 3:45 #2 Nobody knows about the tourist passes 4:05 #1 The Busan spike 4:50 From 30 years here 5:30 Final thoughts

SOURCES Korea Tourism Organization complaint data, January through July 2026 City of Busan tourist survey, conducted August 22 to 24, 2026 at Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Yongdusan Park, and other locations

If you found this useful, a like helps it reach more people planning a trip here, and subscribing means the next one will be waiting for you.

#Korea #Busan #TravelTips #KoreaTravel #VisitKorea #TouristTips #SouthKorea #TravelGuide

The Top 10 Korea Travel Complaints, According to Real Data

Here are the top 5 events to check out in Busan, South Korea this week for September 14-20.

Help us reach our goal of 1,000 subscribers!

Check out the full list of events on hapskorea.com

5 Best Events in Busan This Week: September 14-20 #korea #busan #travel

Haps Korea Magazine features stories of people from all walks of life in Korea, covering news and trends in lifestyle, society and whatever else is happening on the peninsula.

Korea's #1 expat magazine

Since 2009

learn more

Haps Staff

Busan Offers Free Tolls, 15% Dongbaekjeon Cashback for Chuseok

부산시립미술관 다시 같이 합니다 재개관!

Nodeul Island Opens New Han River Waterfront Spaces

New Busan Flights to Chengdu, Harbin and Hangzhou

French Icon Charlotte Gainsbourg to Attend BIFF 2026

Orchestre National de Metz Grand Est Chamber Ensemble

What’s On in Busan: September 21 – September 27

Jinju Brings Forest Wellness Programs to City Trails

Geojedo’s Soopsori Park Reopens September 23

Shark Spotted at Busan North Port Waterfront Park

Shorts & Stories

Korea's #1 expat magazine