Why Solo Travel is the Ultimate Glow-Up: What South Korea Taught Me
- Noe Heivanui
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
💫 Because becoming your best self starts the moment you stop waiting for someone else to come with you.
✈️ Introduction: From Shelter Island to South Korea – A Solo Glow-Up Journey
There’s something magnetic about South Korea. Maybe it’s the dreamy backdrops I used to watch in K-dramas. Maybe it’s the skincare secrets. Or maybe, it’s the way solo travel here became more than a trip—it became a glow-up for my soul.
If you’re new here, I’m Noe—a solo travel creator empowering others to find their power through travel. I create curated travel guides, soulful vlogs, and offer “Solo Ways” tours that help people kickstart their own self-love journey.
I’ve traveled solo for years, but nothing prepared me for what Korea would unlock in me. Let me share what happened—so you can get inspired to take that one trip that just might change everything.
🧴1. A Glow-Up Isn’t Just About Looks—It’s About Energy
Forget just skincare (although, hello glass skin—yes please). South Korea taught me that true beauty comes from presence.
Whether I was sipping matcha at a calm hanok café in Gyeongju or walking alone through the colorful alleyways of Gamcheon Culture Village, I felt... centered. Not because someone validated me, but because I validated myself.
Here’s the modified content with "SpaLand" replacing "Lavalse Hotel":
💡 Tip: Start your own glow-up by booking a solo wellness spa day in Busan. I loved SpaLand’s amenities — check their weekday deals for solo travelers.
🚶♀️2. When You Walk Alone, You Actually See More
I did a solo hike along the Oryukdo Skywalk Trail in Busan, and it wasn’t just the coastal views that took my breath away—it was the confidence I felt walking in step with my own rhythm.
Nobody rushed me. Nobody slowed me down. It was just me, nature, and that inner voice saying: “You’ve got this.”
🧘♀️3. Self-Love Looks Like Saying “Yes” to Healing Experiences
I spent a morning at a hidden hanok spa in Da Nang and a full day soaking up mountain air in Ulsan—no agenda, no selfies needed.
In Korea, I didn’t feel like I had to do everything. I just had to feel everything. I wrote in my journal, I meditated at Jangansa Temple, I cried happy tears. It was raw, real, and so needed.
💆♀️ Self-Care Moment: Looking for a place that gets solo healing? Try a session at Spa 1899 in Seoul
🍜4. You Learn to Feed Yourself—Literally and Emotionally
I used to worry about eating alone. In Korea? Eating alone is normal. I sat on floor cushions, grilled my own meat, and shared silent smiles with ajummas at noodle shops.
It reminded me: solo travel feeds you. But you have to show up hungry.
🥢 Foodie Tip: Don’t miss Gwangjang Market in Seoul for affordable solo eats. Try the bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) or grab a quick gimbap roll.
🥢 Foodie Tip: Don’t miss Gwangjang Market in Seoul for affordable solo eats. Try the bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) or grab a quick gimbap roll.
Moreover, while in Busan, visit Jagalchi Fish Market for the freshest seafood. Sample live octopus or enjoy a delicious bowl of hoe (sliced raw fish).
💬5. People Will Ask “Why Alone?”—And That’s Your Power
Yes, Koreans asked me why I was alone a lot. But each time, I smiled and said, “Because I love myself enough to travel, even if no one else comes with me.”
The more I said it, the more I believed it. And that’s when I realized: this solo journey isn’t a backup plan. It’s the main storyline.
🌟 Final Thoughts: Your Glow-Up Starts With One Solo Yes
Maybe South Korea isn’t your next stop. Maybe it’s Vermont. Or Vietnam. But wherever it is—don’t wait to glow-up until someone says you’re ready. Say yes now. Book the ticket. Take the class. Hike the trail. Eat the soup alone.
You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be willing.
📌 Save These for Your Own Solo Glow-Up:
My favorite Korean solo spa day experience
Comfy solo hiking shoes I pack every time
Book Lavalse Hotel in Busan – perfect for solo sunsets
My Solo Ways Tour – Come solo, leave changed
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