Stop! If a polite Korean approaches you in Hongdae talking about your 'aura,' read this immediately. This is the ultimate Seoul Travel Anti-Haul guide
Welcome back to Dodo's Real Seoul.
Usually, I tell you what to eat or where to go. But today, I am doing an "Anti-Haul."
In the beauty world, an Anti-Haul is a list of products you should never buy. Today, I am giving you the Seoul Travel Anti-Haul.
This "product" is expensive, creepy, and will waste your entire afternoon. It is not a cultural experience. It is a cult. ๐ซ
If you are walking in Hongdae (Exit 8/9) or Gangnam and two polite Koreans approach you with a smile, asking for help or complimenting your "aura,"
DO NOT ENGAGE. ๐ ♂️
Here is exactly how they operate, why it sucks, and how to escape without losing your money.
Part 1. The Lure: How They Hook You
(The Sales Pitch You Should Ignore)
These people are like human pop-up ads. They target foreigners who look lonely, polite, or overly excited to be in Korea. Here are the top 4 lines they use. If you hear these, your alarm bells should ring. ๐จ
1. "You have a benevolent aura/eyes." (The Classic)
Korean: "In-sang-i cham jo-eu-si-ne-yo"
This is the most famous scam line in Korea. They say you have "clear eyes" or "good energy" (Gi-un).
Reality Check: In Seoul, people are busy. No normal Korean stops a stranger to compliment their spiritual energy. If they say this, they see a dollar sign on your forehead. ๐ธ
2. "Can you help me practice English?" / "Survey for University"
They pretend to be innocent students doing a project on "Korean Culture." They might hold a clipboard. ๐
Reality Check: Real university students are too shy or too busy drinking iced Americanos to approach random foreigners on the street.
3. "Do you want a Free Hanbok Experience?"
This is the bait. They promise you can wear a traditional Korean dress (Hanbok) and participate in a Tea Ceremony for free. ๐
Reality Check: Nothing in this world is free. The "Hanbok" is usually cheap polyester, and the "Tea Ceremony" is a trap.
4. "The Dynamic Duo" Rule
They rarely hunt alone. They operate in pairs:
- Male + Female (Looks like a couple)
- Female + Female (Looks harmless)
Target: Solo travelers. They know you are vulnerable and polite.
Part 2. The Case Study: "I Paid $200 to Bow to a Ghost."
(Why This Experience is a Rip-off)
Let’s look at a real "Anti-Haul" case study. This happened to a Reddit user (let's call him Mark from Ohio) who thought he was making local friends.
The Scenario:
Mark followed two "students" to a building. He thought he was going to a cultural center or a cafe. Instead, he was led to a generic apartment building or a basement with a weird smell. ๐️
The "Ceremony" (The Scam):
- The Costume: They made him put on a Hanbok.
- The Ritual: They set up a table with some pears and dried fish. There was a tablet with Chinese characters (Ancestral tablet).
- The Bowing: They made him bow (full body prostration) dozens of times. Mark’s knees were screaming.
- The Burning: They wrote his name and "wishes" on a piece of paper and burned it. They said, "This removes your bad luck." ๐ฅ
The Paywall:
This is where it gets ugly. After the ceremony, the mood changes. They demand "Seong-ui" (Sincerity).
"You need to pay for the ancestors' blessing. If you don't, bad luck will return to your family."
They don't accept "No." They will pressure you. They will follow you to an ATM. Mark ended up withdrawing 200,000 KRW ($150) just to leave.
Then, they forced him to eat the ritual fruit (pears) to "seal the bond," so he wouldn't tell anyone.
Verdict: You paid $150 to do squats in a stranger's basement and eat a slice of old pear. 0/10. Do not recommend. ๐
Part 3. The Ultimate Comparison: Real Friends vs. The Cult
Are you confused? Use this table to check if your new "friend" is a scammer.
| Feature | Normal Korean Friend | The Cult Scammers |
| First Meeting | Meets at a bar, club, or language exchange meetup. | Stops you on the street while you are walking. ๐ |
| Topic | K-Pop, Food, "Is it cold today?", MBTI. | "Ancestors," "Karma," "Spiritual Energy," "Universe." |
| Location | Cafe, Restaurant, PC Bang. | "My study room," "Ceremony house," "Our center." |
| Money | Splits the bill (Dutch Pay) or buys rounds. | Asks for cash donations for "rituals." ๐ฐ |
| Eyes | Looks at their phone half the time. | Intense, unblinking eye contact. (Creepy). |
Part 4. How to Escape (The "Rude" Protocol)
Many tourists fall for this because they are too polite. They think it's rude to ignore a local.
Listen to me: It is NOT rude to ignore pests.
Here are the Reddit-approved methods to repel them. ๐ก️
1. The "No English" Defense
Even if you look like you are from New York, pretend you don't speak English.
- Speak gibberish.
- Speak a random language (German, Russian, Elvish).
- Just yell "NO ENGLISH!" and keep walking.
2. The "Resting B*tch Face" (RBF)
Put on your headphones (even if no music is playing). Look straight ahead. Walk fast. ๐ง
If you make eye contact, you lose. Treat them like invisible ghosts.
3. The Magic Spell: "Are you Daesun Jinrihoe?"
This is the ultimate weapon. This specific cult group is often referred to as Daesun Jinrihoe (or similar offshoots like Daesun).
If they keep following you, stop, look them in the eye, and ask:
"Are you Daesun Jinrihoe?
(๋ ๋์์ง๋ฆฌํ์ผ?)"
They will be shocked that a foreigner knows their name. They will likely deny it and walk away because they know their cover is blown. ๐ฒ
4. The Nuclear Option: "POLICE (112)"
If they touch you or block your path, scream:
"I WILL CALL THE POLICE!" ๐ฎ♂️
In Korea, scammers hate police involvement. They will vanish like cockroaches when the light turns on.
Dudu’s Final Thought
Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. You can leave your laptop on a cafe table, and nobody will steal it. ๐ป
But these "Ancestral Ceremony" people? They steal your time, your trust, and your travel budget.
Don't let your desire for "authentic culture" blind you. Authentic culture is eating Samgyeopsal with Soju, not bowing 50 times in a basement.
Have you ever been approached by these people? Tell me your story in the comments so we can warn others!
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