Places You Can Visit In Korea As Seen In ‘Kimchi Untuk Awak’

Since the K-Pop and K-Drama wave took Malaysia by storm a few years back, we’ve seen more and more Malaysians taking interest in the Korean culture. Which is probably why a lot of Korean elements and culture have slowly been adopted into our local novels, books, music, and even fashion.

Kimchi Untuk Awak is one of the novels in the market that has embraced this culture assimilation.

This novel, penned by author, Suri Ryana, has recently been adapted into the silver screen.

Helmed by popular local director, Michael Ang, who has previously directed hit TV series such as Suri Hati Mr. Pilot, the movie tells the tale of a Malaysian student studying in South Korea, Bella (Emma Maembong) who bumps into a rude Korean-Malaysian lad, Danial Lee (Aiman Hakim) at the Incheon airport on her way back to Malaysia.

Little did Bella know when she arrived in Malaysia she would end up meeting Danial in the least likely of circumstances – at a welcoming soiree of her sister’s new boss, who turns out to be Danial.

On top of that, Bella had to prepare kimchi for him during the event. Watch the trailer below:

The filming of this film was carried out in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and various parts in South Korea. Those who have watched the trailer or seen the movie will know how breathtaking the scenery looks, especially the scenes set in Korea.

If you’ve got the urge to pack your bags and leave for Korea almost immediately after watching the movie, we’ve got great news for you.

We’ve listed down the places you can visit in Korea as seen in Kimchi Untuk Awak. Your dreams of bumping into Korean oppas who might turn out to be the love of your life is just one step closer!

NAMI ISLAND

Nami Island is not your average island. The island boasts 430,000 square meters of area consisting of chestnut trees, mulberry trees, poplar trees, and many more, creating surreal settings perfect for plenty of photo opportunities.

The island gained great popularity and became a part of pop culture after appearing in the popular K-drama, Winter Sonata. You can even find a statue of the main characters reenacting a scene on the island.

Visit the island during any season and you’ll be equally in awe of its beauty. From spring where cherry blossoms gracefully adorn the trees to winter where everything is covered in a blanket of silky, white snow, it's just a great place to be.

And don’t get us started on autumn. Your inner child will be screaming inside to kick or jump into a pool of fallen auburn red autumn leaves.

Activities: Bike riding, picnic, watch cultural performances, visit their library, eat at various restaurants and cafes.

How to get there: You can take a direct bus to Nami Island or take the subway and alight at Gapyeong Station, Nami Island. From the subway station, take a cab to the ferry port. Alternatively, if you’re feeling adventurous you can also take the zipline directly to the island! For more info, click here.

MYEONG-DONG

Myeong-dong is basically every shopaholic’s haven. The streets become more lively during the night as thousands of lights and signboards light up the popular shopping street in Seoul.

You can find almost everything; from Korean skin cares to designer labels and popular department stores. In addition to those stores, there are also pop-up stores along the alleys and streets where people sell all kinds of food, souvenirs, clothing, and many more. It’s definitely one place all you kaki shopping don’t mind getting lost in.

Activities: Literally shop till you drop, try out the unique Korean street food, prance around the streets in the traditional gown, Hanbok, as seen in the movie.

How to get there: If you’re taking the subway, you can alight at Myeong-dong Station or Euljiro 1-ga Station. If you opt to go by bus, you can choose to stop at one of these bus stops – Myeong-dong Station, Euljiro 1-ga Station, or the Lotte Department Store bus stop.

BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE

If you’re wondering how Koreans lived centuries ago, then take a trip to Bukchon Hanok Village, where you can find hundreds of traditional Korean houses called hanok that dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. The area has been well preserved to emulate a 600-year-old environment.

The beautiful traditional architecture, the aged bricks and wooden doors give off a nostalgic vibe. It’s definitely a place not only you but also your Instagram feed will love.

The village is strategically located between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeok Palace, and Jongmyo Royal Shrine. How convenient, right?

The best part about the village is, there is no admission fee. Hurray to saving money for more shopping!

Activities: Try out traditional Korean delicacies, watch and listen to cultural performances, visit their art and crafts center, rent out the traditional hanbok.

How to get there: Alight at Anguk Station if you’re taking the subway and walk straight for 300m until you arrive at the village. You can also take the bus and get off at Bukchon Hanok Village Bus Stop.