Join our Patreon to get more stuff

https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul

Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Devon Hiphner
Gabi Palomino
Steve Marsh
Eva Sikora
Ron Chang
Hunter Winter
Cecilia Löfgren Dumas
Ashley Wright
Edward Bradford
Boram Yoon
Chad Struhs
Stewart MacMillan
Louise Dreisig

This or That: Korea Edition – Food, Hiking, and Cultural Showdowns

Sometimes the best way to understand a place is not through a guidebook, but through the small choices people argue about.

This episode takes that idea and runs with it.

What started as a simple “This or That” game turns into a wide-ranging conversation about Korean food, hiking culture, cities, and history. Along the way, it reveals how personal preferences can say a lot about how people experience Korea.

Bukhan-san vs Inwang-san

The conversation starts in the mountains.

Bukhan-san stands out for its scale, depth, and variety of trails. It feels expansive, with enough routes to keep even regular hikers exploring for years.

Inwang-san, on the other hand, offers something different. It is smaller but culturally dense. Its proximity to the old city walls and historical sites gives it a strong sense of place.

The comparison is less about which is better and more about what kind of experience you want. Immersion in nature or immersion in history.

Bibimbap vs Boribap

Food debates get more personal.

Bibimbap is one of Korea’s most recognizable dishes, but even here, there are strong preferences. The sizzling version gets a lot of attention, but the traditional style without crispy rice has its own appeal.

Boribap, made with barley and rice, adds another layer. It is heartier, more textured, and often feels more satisfying as a full meal rather than a presentation piece.

What comes through clearly is that Korean food is not just about the dish itself, but how and why people choose to eat it.

Taxi Buffets vs Mountain Restaurants

This is where things get very local.

Taxi buffets sit on the edges of cities, built for drivers who need fast, filling meals. They are practical, efficient, and often overlooked by visitors.

Mountain restaurants are the opposite. Larger portions, rustic dishes, and a slower pace. These are places where the setting becomes part of the meal.

Both serve a purpose, but they represent completely different sides of everyday Korean dining culture.

Cooking at Home vs Eating Out

For long-term residents, this becomes a real question.

Cooking at home offers control, creativity, and a way to recreate dishes that are hard to find locally. It can also be a way to relax and reset.

Eating out, on the other hand, connects you to the rhythm of Korean life. It is social, convenient, and constantly changing.

The balance between the two says a lot about how someone has adapted to living in Korea.

Goryeo vs Joseon

History makes its way into the conversation as well.

The Goryeo period stands out for its artistic and cultural depth. It is often seen as more expressive and creatively rich.

The Joseon period, while more widely represented in modern Korea, carries a different tone with its structure and Confucian influence.

Choosing between them is less about accuracy and more about which version of Korea resonates more.

Seoul vs Busan

This might be the biggest divide.

Seoul offers scale, energy, and access to everything. It is where most people start and where much of modern Korea is concentrated.

Busan, though, has its own appeal. The combination of mountains, ocean, and a different food culture creates a slower, more relaxed experience that many people end up preferring.

It is not a clean win either way, but the contrast is revealing.

How Korea Has Changed

The conversation closes with a look at how Korea has evolved over the past couple of decades.

There is nostalgia for an earlier period that felt rougher and more experimental. At the same time, there is recognition that food quality and ingredients have improved significantly.

Like many places, Korea has become more polished. Whether that is a gain or a loss depends on what you value.

Final Thoughts

A simple game turns into something more.

These choices are not just about preference. They reflect how people move through Korea, what they notice, and what they hold onto.

And once you start thinking about it, you may find yourself making your own list.