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How Do Koreans Celebrate a Baby’s First Birthday? A Guide to the Korean Doljanchi Tradition
In Korea, a baby’s first birthday is much more than an ordinary birthday. It is a special family occasion filled with traditional food, beautiful outfits, carefully decorated tables, and celebrations shared with loved ones. In Korean, a baby’s first birthday is called dol (돌), and the celebration is known as Doljanchi (돌잔치). Family members, relatives,…
Visiting a Korean Family with Kids: What Foreign Parents Should Know
Being invited to a Korean family’s home can be a lovely opportunity to get to know local culture and build friendships. But if you’re visiting with a young child, you may have a few questions. Should you bring a gift? Do you need to take off your shoes? Is it okay for your child to…
Why Do Koreans Call Everyone “Imo”?
A Korean Local’s Perspective on a Familiar Word That Means More Than Just “Aunt” If you spend time in Korea, especially around young children, you might hear the word imo (이모) surprisingly often. Children call their mother’s friends imo. A close friend’s child might call me imo, too. Parents sometimes refer to their babysitter as…
Everland with a Toddler: Safari World, Strollers & Baby Care Facilities
Planning a visit to Everland with a toddler? A full day at a theme park can feel like a big adventure when you’re traveling with a little one. From animal encounters to stroller naps and diaper-changing facilities, a little planning can make the day much easier. We visited Everland with our 22-month-old toddler and spent…
Why Do Koreans Eat Seaweed Soup on Their Birthdays?
Korean Birthday Traditions & Postpartum Culture in a Single Bowl When you think of birthdays, cake and presents probably come to mind first. But in Korea, a special soup always finds its way onto the morning birthday table: Miyeok-guk (Seaweed Soup). Miyeok-guk is a traditional Korean soup made with miyeok—an edible sea vegetable harvested from…
Don Go Don Rak: A Toddler-Friendly Korean BBQ Restaurant Near Seokchon Lake
Looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant where you can enjoy a meal with your toddler in Seoul? We recently visited Don Go Don Rak (돈고돈락 본점), a Korean pork barbecue restaurant in Songpa-gu, near Seokchon Lake. We ordered aged pork belly and aged pork neck, and the staff grilled the meat for us at the…
Sadang Station Cake Shop: Wevave Bake Shop Review
Looking for a cake shop near Sadang Station in Seoul? If you enjoy exploring local bakeries and trying different desserts, Wevave Bake Shop (위베이브베이크샵) is worth adding to your list. I recently visited the Sadang branch and tried three different cakes: Peach Yogurt Cheesecake, Ferrero Rocher Cake, and Raspberry Chocolate Gâteau. Each had a different…
Baby-Friendly Restaurant in Gwacheon: Our Honest Visit to Unamjung
Looking for a baby-friendly restaurant in Gwacheon? We visited Unamjung with our toddler and found it surprisingly convenient for a family meal, with a high chair, baby utensils, spacious seating, and unseasoned seolleongtang. Our honest, first-hand experience: This was not a sponsored visit. We paid for our own meal and are sharing what we actually…
Baby Yoga in Seoul: Our First Class with a 21-Month-Old
Finding new activities to enjoy with a toddler in Seoul can be surprisingly difficult. We wanted to try something different this time, so we decided to give baby yoga in Seoul a try. Our little one was 21 months old at the time, and she usually takes a little while to warm up to new…
Arisu Nara with a Toddler: A Real Visit with Our 21-Month-Old
💧 What Is Arisu Nara? Arisu Nara is a children’s water experience center in Seoul, focused on Arisu, Seoul’s tap water. Instead of simply looking at exhibits, children can explore interactive play areas, games, coloring activities, and physical play equipment. The official recommended age is 3 to 9 years old, although younger children can also…
What to Eat at Gwangjang Market: Yukhoe, Bindaetteok & More
If you’re planning a visit to Gwangjang Market and wondering what to eat, Parkgane Bindaetteok (박가네 빈대떡) is one place to consider if you want to try several classic Korean market dishes in one meal. Located in the food area of Gwangjang Market, Parkgane serves dishes such as bindaetteok, meatballs, and yukhoe. The menu is…
A Glimpse Into Korean Daycare Life
What is daycare like in Korea? 🇰🇷 If you’re a foreign parent living in Korea, you may be curious about what a typical day at a Korean daycare looks like. While every daycare center is different, toddlers usually spend their days learning, playing, eating, resting, and building friendships. At my child’s daycare, everyday activities can…
Daycare in Korea: A Korean Parent Explains What Foreign Parents Should Know
If you’re a foreign parent raising a child in Korea, you may find the Korean daycare system a little confusing at first. What exactly is the difference between daycare and kindergarten? How does enrollment work? How much does it cost? And what is everyday life at a Korean daycare actually like? I’m a Korean parent,…
DDP DiKi DiKi: A 21-Month-Old’s Visit + Prices, Reservations & Parking
Looking for things to do with a toddler in Seoul? We visited DiKi DiKi at DDP with our 21-month-old after visiting the Baby Shark: Secret Invitation exhibition. Here’s everything you need to know, including prices, Naver reservations, discounts, parking, play zones, and what it was actually like with a toddler. DDP DiKi DiKi: A Sensory…
Pororo Theme Park Dasan: A Parent’s Guide for Toddlers and Young Kids
If you’re looking for an indoor place where your toddler can run, play, and burn off some energy, Pororo Theme Park Dasan is worth considering—especially if you live in the Seoul or Gyeonggi area and have access to a car. I visited with my 21-month-old toddler on a weekday with a friend and her child,…
Toddler-Friendly Restaurant in Jamsil, Seoul: A Local Favorite Since 1984
If you’re looking for a toddler-friendly restaurant in Jamsil, Seoul, here’s a place I recently visited with my 21-month-old daughter. Donkkaseu-ui Jip (돈까스의 집) is a long-running Korean-style Western restaurant near Jamsil, known for its classic pork cutlet dishes. But for me, this restaurant is more than just a place to eat. I first visited…
Baby Music Toys My Music-Loving Toddler Actually Loved
📌 Affiliate Disclosure This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.This post contains Coupang Partners affiliate links, and I receive a commission from qualifying purchases. If you’ve been raising a baby for a while, you know the drill: you research a toy carefully, buy it with high hopes… and…
Having a Baby in Seoul 2027? Here’s What Foreign Parents Need to Know
If you are having a baby in Seoul in 2027, you may have heard some big numbers recently. Under the Korean government’s proposed 2027 childcare benefit reform, families could receive ₩10 million for a first child, ₩12 million for a second child, and ₩15 million for a third or later child. That sounds straightforward—but if…
TABLES Lounge Bukhangang: A Mega Café Guide for Families with a Toddler
If you’re raising a baby in Korea, you’ve probably already noticed the “mega café” phenomenon — enormous cafés with huge indoor spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and views of rivers, mountains, or the countryside. Korean families love these cafés for weekend outings, and they’re especially interesting when you’re looking for places to go with a baby or…
Yongsan I’Park Mall with a Baby: Baby Lounge & Baby-Friendly Dining
Yongsan I’Park Mall is a convenient place to visit with a baby in Seoul, thanks to its baby lounge, nursing rooms, stroller rental, and family-friendly restaurants. Here’s a quick guide based on our visit. Baby Lounge at Yongsan I’Park Mall 📍 Living Park, 6th Floor The baby lounge at Yongsan I’Park Mall is a convenient…
