Unexpected emotional depth in South Korea

I thought I was going to South Korea for beaches, food, and Haeundae Beach. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Gyeongju — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does.

K-pop and beauty culture was the moment that crystallised it. Standing there, eating tteokbokki I'd bought from a street vendor, something clicked about why travel matters. 6 days and I came home genuinely changed. Some places do that to you.