Adventures With Jenny: A First-Timer's Guide to Korea

I’ve done a lot of things in my five years of working in K-pop. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Name it, and I’ve done it. Front row as press at concerts? Check. Cracking jokes with Kim Jong Kook about his abs at press conferences? Check. Interviews that involve questions that may or may not have something to do with zombie apocalypses? Check. Getting into an elevator with two members of a certain boy band I can’t mention, while their manager stares me down before covertly putting his hands defensively around their butts? Check. (I swear I didn’t do anything to give off that impression).

But there is one thing that I have still yet to do, it’s visiting a ~faraway~ land that is the birthplace of K-entertainment, and everything I love about it: South Korea. (Okay, so I did transfer through South Korea once on a layover flight to Shanghai, but running around for an hour trying to stuff my bags with as many Korean makeup products as I can find doesn’t count.)

A while back, Soompi was honored with an invitation to visit South Korea with the lovely people over at the Korean Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) for their first annual Korea Joa Project, and because everyone at Soompi is freaking awesome, I was given the opportunity to be your guide to through this whole experience. What does this mean? Well, as a first-timer to Korea, I’ll be noting down my first impressions of landmarks around the city, and after all that’s said and done, impart some sage wisdom on you should you ever choose to also stalk your oppas around Gangnam. Just kidding (kind of), no stalking shall be done, but for the next 10 or so days, check back to this column for the inside scoop on the annual Busan International Film Festival, iKON‘s debut showcase, and of course, landmarks from cities you recognize from your favorite dramas.

If you’re even remotely curious of the ramblings of a K-pop fangirl in Korea, follow us on Instagram, Snapchat, and of course, check back here daily! I promise you a whirlwind adventure through South Korea. And lots of gifs.