The fourth day in Seoul
On the fourth day, our tour guide shared that Koreans love compliments and taught us a few basic Korean phrases—like how to say a woman is pretty, a man is handsome, or that the food is delicious. We were also warned to be careful with Korean soju, as it is easy to get heavily intoxicated. In Korea, drinking is a primary way to bond; companies across all departments have a deep-seated drinking culture. Heavily influenced by Confucian tradition, drinking with elders involves strict etiquette. Remarkably, people in Seoul consume an average of 87 bottles per person every year. Whether eating, singing, or having barbecue, Koreans can get drunk at night and still report to work normally the next morning.
They stay functional by taking liver-protection products. It is said that Korea ranks fifth globally in life expectancy, which is attributed to regular exercise, favorable living conditions, healthy lifestyles, traditional herbal tonic routines for blood and qi, and liver detoxification. Many Asians turn red when drinking alcohol due to a missing enzyme—specifically, aldehyde dehydrogenase (often mistranslated locally as penicillin). Understanding this science, Koreans use targeted solutions to protect the liver. While most medicines carry side effects, Korean liver-care supplements claim to be non-toxic. Manufacturers even offer a full refund if clinical indicators for alcoholic or fatty liver conditions fail to improve after use. Taking them before drinking reportedly increases alcohol tolerance, though heavy drinking remains harmful to health.
Being Monday morning, traffic was heavily congested. By 7:30 AM, the queue of cars was impressive, moving at a steady pace above 60 km/h. Our guide mentioned Jay Y. Lee, the head of Samsung Group, noting that local duty-free shops are owned by the Samsung family. Samsung holds massive wealth and ranks near the top globally. In education, Seoul National University ranks first in Korea and originated as a Confucian academy, while graduates from Sungkyunkwan University often secure jobs directly at Samsung. For dinner tonight, a special barbecue meal was arranged at 350 RMB per person. Extra food incurred an added cost, water was free, and alcohol was self-paid.
In the morning, we visited a Korean Ginseng specialty store. Sales staff introduced four-year, five-year, and six-year roots, explaining the differences between unprocessed ginseng, red ginseng (steamed and dried three times), and black ginseng (steamed and dried nine times). Korean ginseng is "warm" in nature and not suitable for every body type. It is recommended for women during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, while men who take too much may suffer nosebleeds. Processing technology is highly refined now, and several group members made purchases.
Our second stop was a liver-care center. The product, derived from a natural plant, has a sweet-and-sour taste and claims to reduce liver damage markers. Buyers are advised to get a medical checkup before taking it and recheck after four months; if their health markers do not improve, the company guarantees a full refund with a signed contract. A few people bought it, and I purchased a small amount to try.
The third shopping stop was Cosmax, a world-famous skincare OEM manufacturer. However, today they sold their own homegrown brands directly rather than OEM products, offering lower prices than duty-free stores with guaranteed quality. Almost all the women in our group bought something.
Afterward, we went to a riverboat on the Han River for hot pot and boiled dumplings. The dumplings tasted fine—a simple meal overall. Then, we browsed a duty-free shop. I wanted to buy a winter sweater for my mother from a Korean brand named Conversant, but the clerk explained that the floor item was a display sample for live-stream sales and could not be sold directly. It required an advance order to be picked up three days later. Since I would already be leaving Seoul by then, I could not buy it, so I picked out a piece of clothing for myself instead.
Next, we headed to Myeongdong. We briefly stepped into a few luxury stores before going straight into the main shopping streets. After walking for a while, we finally found a clothing shop selling sweaters and bought two lightweight ones for my mother for 457 RMB, which felt reasonable—especially with a tax refund. I also picked up two lipsticks for my cousin. Since international brands have a high price markup, I chose local Korean brands for her.
In the evening, we enjoyed an all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner at 350 RMB per person. The meat quality was good, especially wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves. A friend at my table drank a bottle of soju labeled at 15.7% alcohol content, and I took two small sips. I normally do not drink because I lack alcohol dehydrogenase; even a little alcohol turns my whole body red, resembling an allergic reaction.
We had a great time grilling, eating, and chatting together alongside various side dishes and snacks. Around 8:00 PM, we returned to our hotel to rest.
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The fourth day in Seoul
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