How to experience South Korea in Singapore

There's nothing quite as sinfully satisfying as a Korean barbeque. Gather round with family members at Chang Korean BBQ on Dempsey Hill. This classy joint has fantastic charcoal barbeque – and the Korean regulars can vouch for the authenticity of the place. The order of meats (try the prime rib) arrive at the table in neat trays. Diners then cook meat on the wells of hotplates at the table. It can get rather smoky, so don’t wear your best Chanel to lunch. If all that sounds like too much hard work, opt for the à la carte menu, including tender chunks of pork cooked in a spicy, vinegarish kim-chi stew. For more amazing Korean BBQ restaurants, check out our hotlist. 

If you're not heading to Korea this year to enjoy autumn or early winter, you can get your kicks right here in Singapore. Stepping into Kreams Krafthouse feels like venturing into an autumnal indoor park; maple trees in varying hues of orange and yellow decorate the ceiling of its roomy interior. Settle down under the canopy of foliage to sip on Korean-inspired drinks; that includes the Summer Latte ($10), where coffee comes served with a scoop of ice cream, and the Dalgona Latte ($8), its version of the whipped coffee fad that took over social media. To satisfy the munchies, try out the dalgona, sweet potato, cranberry or yuzu scones (from $4) as well as cakes. 

Many Singaporeans love heading to Korea to shop for K-beauty products, but thanks to the country's global reach, you can get a pretty good haul without ever stepping foot on a plane. Take your pick from Innisfree's ever-popular green tea range and products inspired by Jeju ingredients, Laneige's super hydrating products and radiance creams like the Radian C Cream, or Etude House's bright and youthful makeup products. 

If you've a penchant for Korean makgeolli, head over to Joo Bar where they do it unlike anyone else in Singapore: they actually brew the Korean rice wine and serve it on tap. You can have it a bunch of ways – frozen as a slushie in dozens of flavours, or in its 'unadulterated' form, which the bar says is more full-bodied and with a higher alcohol content. Pair the slightly sweet spirit with the bar's selection of Korean pub grub. 

Chef Louis Han imbues his travels and memories of growing up into his Korean heritage, creating a modern interpretation of his hometown flavours. Settle down into his cosy 28-seater space and tuck into an episodic menu that offers a glimpse into the personal journey and psyche of the chef. A five-course dinner ($148) might see mulhwae, a celebration of summer-time flavours, where aged fish (either kampachi or seabass) is rolled with daikon, then finished with shavings of raw cuttlefish and brightened with yuzu chilli sauce; or uni somyeon paired with white kimchi bits and creamy uni trapped within tangles of slippery, savoury noodles. Check out NAE:UM's latest menu here. 

Mingle with the stars at renowned waxwork museum Madame Tussauds – and that includes your favourite Korean actors, actresses and idols. Get instantly transported to Korea at the museum's K-wave zone, which has been all decked out in blooming cherry blossom trees and traditional Korean houses. Here, you can cosy up with some of the countries top stars, including Park Hae-jin, Bae Suzy and Song Seung-heon. 

If you prefer to stay at home, there's a ton of Korean content available for streaming. Catch up to the best upcoming TV series in Singapore, including the thrilling mystery Dr. Brain and the action-packed My Name (starring Han So Hee); or for something more light-hearted, the Korean reality show New World, which will pit top stars like Lee Seung-gi, Kim Ji-won, Kim Hee-chul and EXO's Kai against each other to earn virtual currency and score a luxurious stay on a utopian island. 

We confess – Singapore doesn't have a Korean jjimjilbang, which you may know are public bathhouses with Korean traditional kiln saunas, hot and cold pools, sleeping rooms, lounge areas, snack bars and many more amenities. Short of that, you can get a similar bathhouse experience at g.Spa Singapore. This independent spa complex is reminiscent of a Chinese hot springs resort. Upon entering, you’re directed to either the men’s or women’s side and given a locker – swimming trunks, robes and towels are provided, so there’s no need to bring anything. The locker rooms have a hot pool (plus a cold pool for the men – it supposedly improves circulation), sauna and showers. In the common areas, you can relax on comfy couches with personal TV screens, plus there’s an all-you-can eat buffet throughout the day, making it quite easy to spend a full day here.