DO: Boryeong Mud Festival, 18-27 July
There are many festivals in South Korea, but trust it to be the muddy one that attracts the most visitors. The mud in Boryeong, outside the Korean capital Seoul, apparently has beneficial qualities for skin, which means thousands of tourists come to mud wrestle, swim in a mud 'mega tub' and generally slide about in the brown stuff. Our advice: take a spare change of clothes. english.visitkorea.or.kr
STAY: IP Boutique Hotel, 737-32 Hannam-Dong. Rooms from around £128 per night
From the outside, the IP Boutique Hotel looks a bit like a rainbow threw up on it. But appearances can be misleading, as inside the hotel is so white it shines. Art plays a big part in this boutique joint, from the swings in the lobby to the sleek design-led rooms. Its location in trendy Itaewon, close to countless bars and clubs, doesn't hurt either.
EAT: Korean BBQ
This is a BBQ – but not as you know it (so don't bring your firelighters and multipack of sausages to this one). The Korean version is gogi-jip, literally translated as 'meat house'. Dotted all over the city, they essentially involve you grilling fresh strips of meat on a barbecue grill in the middle of your table. Throw in some fresh vegetables, rice and stock, and you've got yourself a nice little stew. (Tip: these joints make a great 3am post-bar crawl stop, too.)
