yuko.
Your friend is here.

If you had a friend in Korea,
what would your trip look like?

2 days before you land, a Korean peer your age starts planning your day — with you.

Meet your YUKO →
Verified peers  ·  Pre-trip chat  ·  Custom day
📍
Namsan남산 · Where locals watch it
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K-BeautyIndie picks, not the brands
📍
K-PopUnderground showcase
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Izakaya이자카야 · 동네 단골집
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Hongdae홍대 · Back alley only
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Indie Bookstore동네 책방 · Quiet corner
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Samgyeopsal삼겹살 · Local BBQ pick
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Gyeongbokgung경복궁 · Dawn, no crowds
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Hangang한강 · Locals-only ride
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Yongsan Park용산 · Quiet brick-wall walk
No group tour✦No flag✦No strangers✦Just a friend
sound familiar?
→You didn't fly 10 hours to do what every tourist does
→Think about your own city — do YOU go to the tourist spots? Exactly.
→You know you're paying tourist price but have no idea how to avoid it
→You saw those YouTube vids of people traveling with a local friend. You wanted that.
→Every travel tiktoker makes it look easy. It's not.
→You know there's a Seoul beyond the tourist version. You just can't find it.
That's why we built YUKO ↓
two seouls

The Seoul you visited.
The Seoul you'd live in.

Tourists see the top 10 list.
Locals live between the lines — in alleys, basements, 30-minute detours.YUKO gives you the second one.

Tourist Seoul

"Myeongdong. Gyeongbokgung. N-Tower. Same 3 spots as the 10 million tourists before you. You flew 10 hours for this?"

↓
If you had a friend here

A rooftop bar in Seongsu that opens 3 weeks a year. Your mate heard about it yesterday. You're on the list.

Tourist Seoul

"Googled 'best Korean food'. Waited 2 hours. Sat down. It was mid. The table next to you? All tourists."

↓
If you had a friend here

Second alley, no sign, plastic chairs. The owner nods at your mate. You eat what locals actually eat. ₩8,000.

Tourist Seoul

"Walked past the same street 4 times. Didn't know the best café in Seoul was behind that parking lot."

↓
If you had a friend here

Your mate texts you: 'trust me, turn left at the laundromat.' You find it. Zero tourists. Just vibes.

Tourist Seoul

"Pointed at the menu. Smiled awkwardly. Got charged ₩18,000 for something locals pay ₩9,000 for."

↓
If you had a friend here

Your mate orders in Korean. Gets the off-menu thing. The owner gives you a free side dish because you came with a local.

Tourist Seoul

"K-pop fan event. The signup page? All Korean. You missed it by 2 days."

↓
If you had a friend here

Your mate booked it before you even landed. And after? The café where fans actually hang — not the one on Google.

Tourist Seoul

"Asked a stranger for a photo. Got your forehead and a trash can. That's your Seoul memory."

↓
If you had a friend here

Your mate finds the golden hour spot, takes 40 shots, and you finally have a photo that looks like the trip felt.

You don't need a tour.
You need a friend.

The Seoul locals actually live in. Not the one on the map.

Meet your YUKO →
Takes 30 seconds
built for you

Not a package.
A day that starts with knowing you.

2 days before you land, your YUKO begins a conversation with you.
They learn what you love, what you hate, what you're here for.
Then they build a day no one else could get.

Chat with your YUKO · 2 days before you land
hiii i land tuesday around 3 🛬
omg ok!! u more into chill cafes or like late night bar vibes
honestly both lol 🥲
haha bet. do u watch any kdramas? also any food u cant eat?
YESSS lovely runner cafe plzzz 🫶 no spicy tho im weak
WAIT i know exactly where that is. ok hear me out theres a ramen spot 4 min from there, zero tourists, ur gonna die 🍜
STOP im so excited already 😭

Your Seoul.
Planned around you. By a real friend.

Meet your YUKO →
Takes 30 seconds
how it works

Meet your YUKO in 5 steps.

1
Apply
Quick 3-step form. Tell us when, who, your vibe.
2
Matched
Hand-picked peer Korean mate within 24h.
3
Chat
Your mate spends 2–3h planning your day, just for you.
4
Hang out
Full day together — designed around your vibe.
5
Remember
Photo pack + Korean phrase card after.
meet the mates

Hand-picked. Peer Korean friends.

FOUNDER
Your Host
Founder of YUKO · Seoul
✦PR Ambassador, Korea University (고려대학교)
✦Beyond Camp — mentored kids abroad
✦Korean, English · Driver (car available)
✦Hidden bars · Han River nights · Local BBQ joints
"I traveled solo wishing I had a local friend. So I became one. That's why I founded YUKO."
MATE
Soyeon
YUKO Mate · Seoul
✦Ewha Womans University (이화여대)
✦Lived in Tokyo for 2 years
✦Korean, English
✦Seongsu cafes · K-beauty · Hangang picnics
"I want to show you the Seoul my friends and I actually live in."
?
Mate #3
coming soon
Hand-picked by founder.
Dropping soon.
← swipe →
real messages

After they came home.

S
sarah.mcc 🇺🇸IG DM
this was my 5th time in seoul and i just realized i never actually experienced it before?? THIS was the real Seoul 😭
soyeon showed me streets i literally walked past 4 times before. locals live so different fr 🫶
H
Haruka 🇯🇵WhatsApp
YouTubeで海外の友達と旅行する動画見て予約した。まさにそのまんまだった🥹
ツアーじゃなくてガチの友達になれた気がする まじで泣いた ✈️
M
美琳 🇨🇳微信
来了5次首尔 才发现之前都在逛旅游区😭 本地人去的地方完全不一样
如果我的国家也有YUKO 我想当mate ❤️
🇫🇷"même dans mon pays on va pas aux spots touristiques. les locaux ont leurs propres endroits. c'est ça YUKO 🙏"
🇪🇸"hice una amiga de verdad, no turismo. ojalá abran otras ciudades 🫶"
🇸🇬"saw those youtube vids of people traveling with local friends. booked it. it was exactly that. no cap"
🇺🇸🇯🇵🇨🇳🇫🇷🇪🇸🇸🇬🇩🇪🇹🇭✦18 pilot testers✦4.9 ★✦100% would rebook
Meet your YUKO →
Takes 30 seconds
our story

Why we made YUKO.

I love traveling. I hate planning. And I hate being a tourist.
So I always went where I had a friend — and those trips were unreal.

A hidden izakaya in Tokyo. A rooftop in Bangkok nobody posts about. A midnight drive in LA with someone who actually lives there.

Then I thought — do travelers coming to Korea ever get that?
The answer was no. They get Myeongdong and a checklist.
But they don't get Seoul.

I can give them the real thing. That's why I built YUKO.

Meet your YUKO →
Takes 30 seconds
faq

Good questions.

Is it safe?+
All mates are hand-picked by our founder through in-person interviews. First meetings are always in public places. 24-hour emergency line.
Is this a tour guide service?+
No. Your mate is a peer Korean friend. No flag, no script, no group. You decide what you want to do — they know where to go.
How is it custom?+
2 days before you arrive, your mate chats with you to understand what you love. Then they plan a day just for you. Not a template. Not a package.
Can I choose gender preference?+
Yes — choose same-gender or no preference when you apply. Your safety and comfort come first.
What languages?+
All mates speak English. Some also speak Japanese, Chinese, or other languages — noted on each profile.
How much does it cost?+
Half-day (6h min): $129 (~₩190,000) · Full-day (10h): $219 (~₩320,000) · 2-day: $349 (~₩510,000). Early launch pricing — up to 40% off. Price is for up to 2 people. The 6h is a guaranteed minimum — not a hard stop. No upfront payment — you only pay after your mate is confirmed.
What's NOT included?+
Your own meals, tickets, shopping, and transport are paid by you (Pure Dutch — like hanging out with a normal friend). Your buddy covers their own. The booking fee covers their time, planning, and local expertise. For bigger items (restaurants, activities with entry fees), we plan and confirm prices together in advance. Your buddy will help you set up the basics — T-money transit card, temporary SIM, and ride/route guidance — so logistics don't eat into your day. Hotel pickup is available on request (please ask in advance).
Why not cheaper? (vs other Seoul services)+
Group tour ($60) = 30 strangers, fixed route. Established 1-on-1 personal concierge in Seoul = $500 for 3 people, and you only meet them on arrival. YUKO ($129+) = one peer Korean friend (20–35), pre-trip chat starting 2 days before you land, and a day designed around YOU — in your language (EN/JA/CN). Same friend-style hospitality, better matching, lower price.
When can I book?+
Apply now — it takes 60 seconds. We'll match you within 24 hours.
ready?

Your Seoul is one chat away.

No payment. No commitment. Just say hi.

Meet your YUKO →

Takes 30 seconds

Your friend is waiting
Free · 30 seconds
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