Hongdae, Sinchon, cuisine coréenne

I had a wonderful stay with Ajumma in Seoul. Right off the bat she waited for me outside and got me settled; I felt right at home in her place. She also showed me around the neighborhood, which is a great area to stay. There are many buses that connect with the metro system and city center. But what I enjoy is the beauty of the area with the river's walking path and mountainous trails nearby. It's been lovely getting to talk with Ajumma, albeit in minimal Korean. She helps practice Korean phrases, knows some basic English, and for all else there is google translate. She is a kind and genuine soul and takes an interest in her guests and ensuring they have a good stay--which is made even better by her cooking. I am grateful for the time to connect with her as it has certainly enriched my experience of Korea.

I stayed at Ajumma's place for a week and it was a really good time! She is a really friendly person, that will always make you feel at home. She showed me all the neighborhood, we walked together along the river and we went on a bicycle tour! I liked our routine every night watching dramas together! I didn't speak korean at all but it wasn't a problem ! I loved sharing meals together and liked her cooking very much! Thanks for the great time I spent with you during my travel! Wish you a happy life Ajumma!

I had a great stay at this homestay! Shinyoung (the daughter) was very friendly and responsive, always making sure I was comfortable, even though we didn’t meet in person. Instead, I met her mother, and she was absolutely wonderful.

Ajuma is incredibly kind and caring. She took me around the neighborhood, showed me which buses to take, and even brought me to a nearby waterfall, the market, and all the best restaurants. She really took great care of me! Meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) are 8,000 KRW each, paid in cash directly to her. Her cooking is AMAZING.

One night, I got lost and called Ajuma, and she came to get me within three minutes. It was such a relief because I was panicking. She is truly so sweet!

That said, I do have a few things to note:
1. The bed was quite hard, and I woke up with some back pain everyday.
2. The streets leading to the house are very dark at night. The main road is well-lit, but the smaller streets get progressively darker, and the one right below the house is completely dark. The staircase lights are motion-activated, so until you step into the right spot, it's pitch black in front of you. It made walking home at night scary. Not sure if it's normal in korea though.
3. Ajuma kept trying to sell me a book. It seemed interesting, but my Korean isn't good enough to read it. She asked me several times and also asked me to promise to leave a 5-star review, haha. But honestly, she had such a warm and friendly vibe that I didn’t feel too pressured—just a typical ajuma!

Would I stay here again? Probably yes, because of Ajuma’s love and warmth, and her cooking!!

Overall, despite the minor issues, my experience was really positive, thanks to Ajuma’s hospitality. If you don’t mind a firm bed and a darker walk home, it’s a great place to stay!

I would give this homestay 6 stars if I could! When I come back to Korea I will be living with her again. 아주머님 is such a wonderful person and living with her made my experience in Korea so much more pleasant. If you have any problems 아주머님 will go out of her way to help you through them. She loves to talk, so if you are an extrovert you won’t feel so alone and if you want to work on your Korean she is so patient and kind with mistakes. She also keeps the apartment so clean! You will feel so at home with her. If you want her to cook you meals like breakfast and dinner (I highly recommend it because they are so delicious and cheaper than eating out!) you just discuss what you would like in advance and pay her meal fee. If you are a student going to any school near Ewha I highly recommend living here as there is a short bus ride (15-20 min) directly to school. Also there are cafes, gyms, artificial waterfalls and a walking trail nearby. I would say if you come during summer just be prepared for it to be a little hot. 아주머님 정말 정말 감사합니다 <3 <3 재미있고 안전하게 사세요! 좋은 시간 계속 계속 보내기 바랍니다.

I stayed for 2 weeks and Adjumma was very nice. You probably won’t find a nicer host. I was able to come and go as i needed, without any pressure, and I appreciated that.

The location was a bit far away for me, but i think that if you are studying at one of the local universities, it’s very convenient by bus.

For those who are thinking of staying here, there are a few things that you may make note of, taking into consideration what your plans are, how long you intend to stay, your budget, and your personal travel needs.

If you’re a student in the area, this will probably be a great option. The universities are about 15 min away by bus, and the monthly homestay fee is low.

If you plan to go into Seoul or other points east, this location may be a bit far. It takes about 45 min by bus into Seoul and about 1:15-1:30 to Gangnam. As I visited those places frequently, the location was a bit far for me.

The rooms are spacious and you’ll have a twin bed. It only had one pillow and the mattress was firm for me, but those are personal preferences that might be fine for another person.

The apartment is on the 4th floor. There isn’t an elevator. Good exercise…

The neighborhood is nice, quiet, with some good cafes. Not a ton of food options, but a sweet dumpling kiosk that makes the best dumplings for about 5000 won. Delicious!

If you’re sensitive to smells, Adjumma will occasionally cook in the morning and the smell may drift into your room. And while I was there, you could smell sewage through the bathroom floor drains, which she tried to keep at bay with fresh coffee grounds, which was definitely helpful. This sort of smell isn’t uncommon in Seoul, as you’ll often smell this while you’re standing near a drain on the street, so it’s possible that it’s unavoidable in some homes.

All the things mentioned above are minor and if you aren’t bothered by any of them, then this could be a really perfect choice for you. Adjumma is really very nice and even though she doesn’t speak English, she knows some words and uses the translator apps, which works very well. She’s a very kind host!