Seoul

If you’re interested in my Seoul, South Korea travel itinerary without all the basketball nonsense, scroll down to the bottom for travel tips, foods to eat, and things to do!

I recently traveled to South Korea, and the first thing I did was sign up for a DMZ tour, hoping to find a basketball court near North Korea to see if there was any chance of pickup basketball.

There was not. Maybe one day I’ll be able to…

Note: I did see a soccer field but wasn’t allowed to take any photos.

Not disappointed, as that was expected, I decided to spend some time in Seoul to experience everything else Korea had to offer. Everywhere you went, it was either ddu-du ddu-du, I was a ghost I was alone hah, or don’t you want me like I want you baby, played so often they are now forever ingrained in my brain. Sprinkle in some delicious Korean BBQ and kimchi, and you’ll sleep well at night, dreaming of becoming a K-pop star. 

After waking up and surviving a strenuous skincare routine, it was time to focus on the real reason I came to Seoul. While the rest of the world was fixated on K-pop Demon Hunters, I set out to find a place to play some pickup basketball and see what the ‘Korean step’ was all about.

Travel Tip - Google maps will barely work in South Korea so make sure you either download Naver Maps or Kakao Map. I ended up using Naver Maps for everything travel wise in Seoul.

My Korean friends recommended Bampo Sports Complex as the place to play since it seemed to be the hub for all kinds of sports action. There were soccer fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and of course, basketball courts. Supposedly, there would be pickup basketball games at all times, but something felt off when I first arrived.

It turned out that construction had just started that month, and there wouldn’t be any basketball there for the next five years!

I do want to say that other sports were going strong. Soccer and tennis were in full force, and technically basketball was still around since they had moved the basketball hoops to another area. But with no court lines, I figured no serious hoopers would come here to play anymore.

Undeterred, after some research, the internet told me there were plenty (3) of outdoor courts “near the river,” which fortunately was close to the now downgraded Bampo Sports Complex basketball courts. All of these basketball courts were within the Hangang Parks and walkable between them (47 minutes). 

I started with the Hangang Park Basketball Court (on Naver Maps or also known as the Hangang Citizens Park Basketball Court on Google maps) since it looked the most promising with four full courts.

There was definitely potential, most of the courts had some activity, but what I really wanted was to get a game going. Aside from parents, kids, and parents with kids, there was only one guy who looked like there might be a chance to eventually play some kind of game if more people showed up. I asked if I could shoot around with him, and he graciously said yes. We ended up shooting for about 30 minutes, during which I was hoping more people would show up, and one other guy eventually did. I asked if they knew whether more people usually came here to play, but they said they didn’t come often, so they weren’t sure.

Knowing that I could come back later, I decided to make my way downriver to the next court, Banpo Hangang Park Basketball Court (on Naver Maps, or Google Maps only lists the Korean name, 반포한강공원농구장). One thing to note is that all these basketball courts are connected within the one large park filled with people walking, running, biking, going on dates, and doing other typical park activities. There were also plenty of public bathrooms throughout the park, so you’ll always have a place to go if needed.

Not to spend too much time here, but this court didn’t look like it had any potential for pickup basketball, so I quickly moved on to another court which was also called Banpo Hangang Park Basketball Court (same English name on both Naver and Google).

Unfortunately, this court also didn’t seem to have any pickup games happening. Keep in mind that my goal was to find a pickup game to join, but if you’re just looking for a place to shoot around, these spots would be fantastic for that.

I decided to swing back to the first court, Hangang Park Basketball Court, in case more players had shown up during the prime pickup basketball hours in the late afternoon or evening. Unfortunately, there were even fewer people than before. It seemed like pickup basketball might not be too popular at these “near the river” courts. Then again, I went in November when it might have been too cold to play outside, so maybe others will have better luck during warmer times or different seasons.

Not wanting to give up so early, my internet research also mentioned that ‘I could go to any university court and find basketball there’. I wasn’t too sure about this since I didn’t want it to be like the situation at the University of Austin, where you need to be a student to play. Still, I happened to find myself near Sogang University one day and saw that there were indeed basketball courts but no one was playing. Then again, it was around noon on a weekday, so I figured more people would probably show up later in the day. I didn’t check out any other universities since I wasn’t sure what the customs were or whether non-students were allowed to play, or if it would just be weird (Editor’s note: what he’s trying to say is don’t be a creep).

Alrighty, pickup basketball has to be somewhere in Seoul, right? My last shot was with an organization called Project Ball, which caters to basketball players in the international community. I’ve played in plenty of organized pickup groups across Tokyo, Amsterdam, Dubai, New York, and way too many other cities, but this one just felt a bit more ‘organized’.

I DM’d them on Instagram and signed up for their Saturday afternoon pickup session. They also had a Wednesday session that was already full, and a Sunday pickup that seemed to be reserved for league players only, which meant I couldn’t join since I wasn’t part of their league. I actually respect that kind of separation between levels. It probably helps keep their higher level runs competitive and consistent.

Excited that I’d finally get to play some pickup basketball in Seoul, my luck ran out when, just a couple of hours before the pickup session, they announced a cancellation due to not enough sign-ups. If I had more time in Seoul, like I did in Singapore, I would’ve tried again the following week, but I just couldn’t make it happen this time around.

Bummer

Even though I didn’t get to play with Project Ball, just from their website and social media, it really seems like the place for international hoopers in Seoul. Just like in Tokyo, where I missed my chance the first time, I’ll need to make my way back to Seoul and give Project Ball another shot!

Conclusion

I was determined to find pickup basketball in Seoul, but timing, weather, and maybe a bit of luck just weren’t on my side during this trip. While I didn’t get to play, I hope this post helps point you in the right direction for finding pickup basketball in Seoul. 

If there are any locals out there, let me know if there’s a spot I should check out next time!

Travel tips for Seoul

Phone Apps

Naver Map (or Kakao Map) – Google Maps doesn’t fully work in South Korea, so you’ll need one of these to get around the city. 

Uber – for rideshare options (see the transportation section below)

Cash

You’ll need cash for your T-Money card (see the transportation section below). Find an ATM that supports your foreign bank, or exchange currency when you arrive. I found that airport exchange rates aren’t great, so if possible, make your way into the city first before exchanging most of your money and you’ll get a better rate. Otherwise, exchange just enough at the airport to get into the city, and then handle the rest at money exchanges within the city.

Credit Card

Most places accept foreign credit cards, but you’ll still need cash for your T-Money card (see the transportation section below). 

Transportation

Subway or Bus - Go to a convenience store and get a T-Money card. You can load it with cash at any subway station. Use this card for both subways and buses. I recommend making this your main form of transportation since Seoul’s subway and bus systems are extensive and efficient. The system works on a tap-in, tap-out basis, and fares are roughly ₩1,550. 

Without a T-Money card, you can buy single-use tickets for the subway at subway stations for ₩1,550. Note that there’s an additional ₩500 deposit added on top, but you can get that deposit back after your ride by exchanging the single-use ticket in a deposit refund machine. 

Buses accept either the T-Money card or cash. Every bus I took cost ₩1,500. When my T-Money card ran out of balance, I had to pay in cash, and luckily, I had the exact amount. I have no idea what happens if you don’t! 

Uber - While there are supposedly other rideshare options, I only used Uber. Keep in mind that in Seoul, Uber calls regular taxis, so you’ll get into a metered taxi while tracking the fare through the Uber app. The app shows you an estimated price range.  Of the 8 Uber’s I took, 1 was under the range, 3 were within range, and 4 were over (by about 10–30%). 

Within the city, my Uber rides ranged from ₩6,500 to ₩15,000. You’ll also see options for “Taxi” or “Uber Taxi”. I couldn’t tell the difference, but I usually went with Uber Taxi since it felt a bit more official (though I don’t have a great reason why). 

I was in Seoul for four days, and the only time I had trouble getting an Uber was on Saturday late afternoon around 4–5pm. The app couldn’t find me a ride, or it estimated a 20+ minute wait. When that happens, I recommend taking the subway or bus instead. 

To and From the Airport - There is a train to and from the airport, but since I was traveling with family, we opted for Uber. The fare to and from Myeongdong were ₩58,000 and ₩68,000.

My Actual 4-Day Itinerary (Not AI-Generated) - Feel free to take this and make your own schedule! 

Day 1 – Arrival and Chill Day 

• Morning: Arrive at Incheon International Airport (ICN) and take an Uber to your hotel in Myeongdong to drop off luggage. 

• Lunch: Mangwon Market – A large market with tons of food options. There’s not much seating unless you go into a small shop. I tried raw crab here. 

• Afternoon: Check into hotel and rest. 

• Dinner: Hongdae – Ate at a Korean BBQ restaurant. 

Day 2 – DMZ Tour 

• Morning: Book any DMZ full-day tour (around 8 hours). 

• Dinner: Myeongdong – Find a Korean fried chicken restaurant. 

Day 3 – Gyeongbokgung Palace and Shopping Morning

• Morning - Book any tour that includes Gyeongbokgung Palace (4–5 hours). 

• Lunch: Gwangjang Market – Try the raw octopus (still moving) and beef dishes.

• Afternoon: GOTO Mall Underground Shopping Mall – Shop for cheap stuff. 

• Afternoon: Starfield COEX Mall – Shop for expensive stuff. 

• Dinner: Eat at one of the restaurants inside the mall. 

Day 4 – N Seoul Tower and Departure 

• Morning - Hike up to N Seoul Tower. 

• Lunch: Found a small, hole in the wall, local Korean restaurant. 

• Afternoon: Check out music and CD stores for all your K-pop needs. 

• Evening: Take an Uber to ICN and depart Seoul. Note - The check-in counters at Seoul’s airport don’t open until about 3 hours before your flight. I’m not sure if that’s the case for all airlines, but it was definitely different from Singapore, where you can drop off luggage 6–24 hours before departure.

Have fun!