Would you like to escape the maddening crowds in your area? Trying to find a unique day trip from Seoul? Maybe you are a tourist looking to get outside Seoul, into a small town to try the food in a non-tourist area? Consider spending the weekend in Dunnae. Here are our absolute favorite spots in a town that feels like home. A Peaceful Place to Explore Korean Cuisine We often tell people to get outside Seoul or Busan and into the little towns. However, this is kind of a wild thing for us to say if we don’t follow it up with a way to make it possible. That’s why we want to shed some light on this sleepy and easily accessible little town of Dunnae. The town has a variety of Korean restaurants within walking distance or a short taxi ride from each other. This makes it an ideal spot for a weekend of countryside food exploration. About Dunnae Tucked into the mountains of Gangwon-do near WelliHilli Resort, this little town offers big flavors and warm hospitality that reflect Korea’s deep culinary traditions. They don’t have many international tourists, but they do have international residents from Vietnam, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Canada, Australia, and more. Dunnae isn’t for people looking for entertainment. It’s for anyone looking to lazy about eating, drinking coffee, and enjoying the countryside. It’s a day in a small town. If you need others to generate your fun, this day trip is NOT for you. We LOVE it here, but we also enjoy spending the whole day reading a book on the rock path that crosses the river through town. We find peace with ourselves and enjoy existing in rural spaces. Accessible by KTX Since Dunnae has a KTX station in town, it’s easy to access from Seoul and other parts of the country. The KTX station sits on the edge of town, making most of the restaurants walkable in about 10-20 minutes. In winter, a free bus runs from the KTX station to the local ski resort and then back through town. Perfect Foodie Day Trip from Seoul The KTX station makes Dunnae perfect for a day trip from Seoul or the surrounding areas. Wake up in the morning to take the KTX to this sleepy little town and laze about for the day. Also, you might want to arrive around 9:30 – 10:00 since most restaurants will open between 10 am-11 am. If you do this, you can eat all day, do a little hike or visit the WelliHilli resort for activities, and then grab the KTX back to Seoul in the evening. Perfect for tourists or Seoul residents who need a break from all the hustle and bustle. Attend the 5-Day Market If you visit Dunnae on a day with a 5 or a 0 in it, you will be able to see a traveling traditional market that comes to town every 5 days. This gives you deeper insight in small-town life in South Korea. Remember, this market is not designed for tourists; it’s designed for the community. (Market Days: 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th) Recommend Korean Lunch Restaurants Lunch will start between 10 am and 11 am. Don’t eat too late in the day or it will cut into your dinner, which will need to happen between 6 pm and 7 pm for best results. Dunnae Restaurants For Dinner Once you have worked off lunch, it’s time for a big dinner. Remember that you need to be seated no later than 7:00pm. Many restaurants may close by 8:00pm, and you don’t want to miss your chance for more deliciousness. Also, remember this is the countryside, which means restaurants might close early if they don’t see people out and about. By showing up for dinner around 6pm, you can avoid most of these types of inconveniences. With that said, the following are excellent dinner options: Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net