About Me

Yo! I’m Ian

My love of travel started a lot earlier than Wander Seoul. One of my first big trips was a family vacation to Italy and Germany, and it gave me a taste for seeing places outside the U.S. But it wasn’t until 2020 that I took my first trip completely on my own.

I was still working at a marketing agency in Georgia when I took a two-week solo trip to Colombia. It was supposed to be a vacation, but traveling on my own completely changed the way I looked at travel. I came home wanting to see more of the world, and eventually decided to make that possible by leaving the agency and starting my own freelance career.

Since then, I’ve traveled to 37 countries across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. I’ve spent months traveling through places like Mexico and Guatemala, explored Europe, and eventually made my way across Asia.

It was during one of those trips, in Malaysia, that I met Minju. What started as a chance meeting while traveling turned into a relationship, and eventually marriage. Now she’s my wife, and Seoul is home.

South Korea was originally just another stop on my travels, but it quickly became one of my favorite places in the world. I fell in love with the food, nightlife, mountains, neighborhoods, public transportation, and the fact that there always seems to be something new to discover.

That’s why I created Wander Seoul.

This site is about the places Minju and I actually enjoy: the restaurants we keep going back to, late-night pochas, hidden bars, interesting neighborhoods, day trips, and the random discoveries that make living in Seoul so much fun.

You won’t find a generic list of every tourist attraction here. I want Wander Seoul to feel like getting recommendations from someone who actually lives here and wants you to have a great time.

Whether you’re visiting Korea for the first time or already calling Seoul home, I hope you find something here worth wandering into.

Explore the blog and discover Korea through my eyes.

Travel FAQs

1. How can I afford to travel so often?

I work in SEO, which gives me the flexibility to work remotely from pretty much anywhere with a good internet connection. I started freelancing so I could have more freedom to travel, and I’ve been fortunate enough to build long-term relationships with clients along the way.

That flexibility has allowed me to travel extensively without having to put my career on hold.

3. Have I ever been in danger?

Thankfully, I’ve never had a major incident while traveling.
That doesn’t mean I ignore common-sense precautions. I pay attention to local advice, listen to accommodation staff and other travelers, and do a little research before visiting places where there are known safety concerns.

Travel isn’t completely risk-free, but being aware of your surroundings and knowing what to expect can go a long way.

2. Where do I stay when I travel?

It really depends on the trip. I’ve stayed everywhere from hostels and guesthouses to hotels and apartments.
When I’m traveling for longer periods, reliable Wi-Fi and a comfortable place to work are pretty important. I usually check Booking.com and Airbnb reviews for information about internet quality before booking.

I also love staying in hostels when I want to meet other travelers, especially on shorter trips or weekends. Hostelworld is great for researching them, even if I sometimes end up booking elsewhere.

These days, I’m also much more likely to choose a private room or apartment when I’m traveling with Minju.

4. What are my best travel tips?

Pack lighter than you think you need to. Seriously.
You can buy most things you forget once you arrive, but carrying a giant backpack through a hot city is something you’ll regret pretty quickly.

A few other things I’ve learned after years of traveling:
– Bring a small amount of laundry detergent. Washing underwear and socks in the sink can save space and keep you from doing laundry constantly.
– Don’t overplan every day. Some of my favorite travel experiences have come from wandering around without a specific plan.
– Give yourself time to actually experience a place instead of trying to check every attraction off a list.
– If you’re working remotely, never underestimate the importance of good Wi-Fi and always have enough data on your phone in case you need to use a hotspot.
– And perhaps most importantly, leave some room for spontaneity. The best stories usually aren’t the ones you planned six months in advance.