Korea Now: Seoul Events, K-pop & Local Guide | NowHitz · 25

Water curves around Museom, placing hanok roofs beside a broad sandbank. Korea’s heritage register dates the village to the mid-17th century. Its shape is easiest to see from the riverbank before entering the lanes.

The narrow timber bridge once linked the village with the outside world. Sudo Bridge opened in 1979, and the old crossing was later recreated in its traditional form. It can be seen from the bank without crossing.

The low walls lead toward houses such as Manjukje. This is a living village: respect closed gates and follow signs before entering a courtyard.

Only Here

River, sandbank, timber crossing and tiled and thatched roofs sit together in a compact landscape.

Best Time

Visit in daylight and check local restrictions after rain. All three photographs date from 2015 and do not show today’s foliage or bridge condition.

How Long

Allow 60–90 minutes for the riverbank and lanes, excluding house visits or activities. This is an editorial estimate.

Getting There

KTO lists the address as 31-12 Museom-ro 234beon-gil, Yeongju, with parking and restrooms. Check onward transport and the return trip separately; no current bus timetable or exact map pin was verified.

A stone carried off by a storm

In the publisher’s outline, a storm carries the stone away from its familiar place. Other stones come from the waters off Jangmok and from Jisimdo, giving each a different starting point within Geoje.

Looking up the place names on a map ties the sea on the cover to real locations.

Questions for reading together

Readers can ask what the stone might miss, and whether the same waves feel different to each stone. These are the editors’ suggested prompts, not quotations from the book.

They can open a conversation about unfamiliar surroundings without requiring anyone to share a personal experience.

The cover and book details

The blue cover places large Korean lettering above the sea and rounded stones. Korean learners could begin with 파도, “wave,” and 지나가다, “to pass.”

The publisher lists a 40-page, 210 × 210 mm hardcover at a cover price of ₩15,000, published September 20, 2026; ISBN 9791138867252. The link below leads to the book description and retailers. The English title is an editorial translation, not a verified English edition.

Fried soboro

Sungsimdang describes fried soboro as three familiar breads in one: a sweet red-bean filling, a soboro crumb topping and doughnut-style frying. The official timeline dates its creation to May 1980.

It is the natural first purchase. Cut open, it shows how the crumb topping meets the bean filling.

Other breads

Pantalong chive bread, listed in the brand’s timeline as a 1986 creation, is another signature item. Bomunsan Meari is a rolled pastry, and the myeongnan baguette is filled with pollock roe.

Separating what to eat now from what to share later keeps bags manageable on a day trip.

1956 founding, today’s main store

Sungsimdang began as a steamed-bun shop in front of Daejeon Station in October 1956. Its main store today is at 15 Daejong-ro 480beon-gil in Eunhaeng-dong, a different location from where it started.

This route centers on the Eunhaeng-dong main store and links bread, dessert and the brand’s story within one neighborhood.

Main store → Cake Boutique → Cultural Center

The suggested route runs from the main store to Cake Boutique at 480 Daejong-ro, then to Sungsimdang Cultural Center at 11 Junggyo-ro 73beon-gil. Cake Boutique is a separate cake shop; the Cultural Center houses Meari Shop, Meari Lounge and Gallery La Rue.

Check separate notices for specific exhibitions or activities. Cake buyers may want to stop there last, given storage requirements and the trip home.

Save these details before you go

Main store: 15 Daejong-ro 480beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon; daily 08:00–22:00. Cake Boutique: 480 Daejong-ro, Jung-gu; Monday–Thursday and Sunday 08:00–21:30, Friday–Saturday 08:00–22:00. Cultural Center: 11 Junggyo-ro 73beon-gil, Jung-gu; weekdays 08:30–21:00, weekends 08:00–21:00.

All three are officially open year-round; contact 1588-8069. Check official notices for temporary changes. Opening hours do not guarantee stock or waiting times.

Leave a buffer before your train, follow each product’s storage instructions, and check prices at the shop.

Seoul, Tokyo and Phnom Penh lead

Condé Nast Traveler released its 2026 results on October 6, U.S. time, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the result on October 8. Tokyo and Phnom Penh placed second and third, followed by Shanghai and Sydney.

Decided by readers

The 39th Readers’ Choice Awards drew 798,867 votes across all categories, including cities, hotels and resorts. That figure is the overall total, not Seoul’s vote count. Seoul placed fifth last year.

Related interview

On October 8, YTN Radio interviewed the head of the Seoul Tourism Organization about the award and tourism in the city. The Korean-language interview is available at the official source link below.

Screening and booking

The film runs 119 minutes. General booking covers seats left after advance registration for viewers with visual or hearing disabilities; remaining seats are shown on the official booking page.

The venue is the Korean Film Archive at 400 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Entry is not permitted after the film starts.

Q&A in Los Angeles

KOFIC’s KoBiz reported on October 8 that Yoon and actor Seo Su-bin took part in a Q&A at Harmony Gold Preview House. Presented by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, the September 24–26 festival screened 19 films, including independent features and shorts.

Yoon’s third feature

The film is Yoon’s third feature, after The World of Us (2016) and The House of Us (2019). It opened in Korea in October 2025 and follows high-school student Ju-in and her relationships.

Japanese release

Distributor Bitters End will release the film in Japan as “ジュインはリンゴが嫌い” (“Ju-in Doesn’t Like Apples”) on Friday, December 11, 2026. Venues include Tokyo’s Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho and Bunkamura Le Cinéma Shibuya Miyashita. Showtimes and ticket dates have not yet been announced.

Ministry announcement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in an October 8 statement issued by its Korean Peninsula Policy and European Affairs bureaus.

Talks to continue

The government said it hoped outstanding bilateral issues could be resolved amicably and that it would continue consultations with Ukraine. The statement did not say when the ambassador would return home or whether he would later resume the post.

Prices and colors

The SmartTag3 attaches to belongings such as keys or bags. Samsung says iOS users can also view and share a tag’s location.

Launch prices are KRW 44,000 for one tag or KRW 149,600 for a four-pack, in white or black.

Feature availability

Compass View shows direction and distance from up to 60m away, depending on surroundings. Samsung lists the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, S26 Ultra and S26+ as supported models. Not every finding feature works the same way on iPhone.