Gangnam branch of Butter in Seocho-gu, Seoul (Choi Si-young/The Korea Herald)

Character merchandise on the shelves at Butter in Seocho-gu, Seoul (Choi Si-young/The Korea Herald)

Butter in Gangnam

At a glance, the shop looks like a toy store, making passersby wonder how it manages to pay rent in this prime retail area, less than a five-minute walk from bustling Gangnam Station.

But it doesn’t take long to figure out that the shop, Butter, stays afloat selling household goods. Almost every item on the shelves or hanging on the walls features characters including those from children’s movies such as animated comedy “Minions.”

From stationery and home appliances to loungewear and dolls, Butter has everything “cute and affordable” -- a strategy that looks to be working. With 10 shops in Seoul alone, Butter’s operator also runs stores in Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju.

“You don’t need to overthink the price or throwing it away later,” said Park, a 30-something office worker, looking for extra pillows.

“Things that are cute usually outlast those that are less cute, right? Or is it just me?” the Seoulite, who asked to be identified by his surname only, added.

Samcheong-dong Hotteok (Kim Da-sol/The Korea Herald)

Samcheong-dong Hotteok (Kim Da-sol/The Korea Herald)

Hotteok dipped in special sauce

Hotteok, a fried sweet pancake with brown sugar filling, is a must-try snack during the cold winter months. While the sugar-filled ones are classic steady sellers, there are other variations like hotteok stuffed with corn, cheese, seeds, vegetables or honey.

A 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Anguk Station on Subway Line 3 leads to a hotteok stand that is said to make the best hotteok in the Samcheong-dong area.

Six varieties – honey and nuts, vegetable and noodles, sweet red bean, pork and spicy veggie, bulgogi and cheese -- are available. A set including all six kinds costs 19,000 won. Bought separately, each hotteok costs 2,500 won to 4,000 won.

A popular item is the veggie hotteok, which is dipped in the stand's special sauce made from red bell peppers, onions and chili peppers, right before taking a bite.

"Brave Docteur" by Michel Delacroix is on display at the exhibition, "Michel Delacroix, La belle epoque de Paris," at Seoul Arts Center. (Park Yuna/The Korea Herald)

Time-travel to Paris at Seoul Arts Center

Anyone who misses Paris or longs to go can explore the city during all four seasons through paintings by French artist Michel Delacroix on show at Seoul Arts Center. After viewing more than 200 dream-like paintings, you will feel as though you have traveled to the Paris of old in your dreams.

Born in 1933, Delacroix depicts the Paris of his childhood memories, especially Paris in the 1930s. "Paintings are not photographs or documentation of the past. They are records of impressions,” the artist once said.

"Galeries Laf" by Michel Delacroix is on display at the exhibition, "Michel Delacroix, La belle epoque de Paris," at Seoul Arts Center. (Park Yuna/The Korea Herald)

Delacroix’s paintings are shown under different themes such as “Midnight in Paris,” “Lovers in Paris” and “On the Road.” The highlight of the exhibition is a space dedicated to paintings of Paris in winter, including beautiful scenes of downtown Paris and a family gathering at home during the Christmas season.

Kid visitors will love the child-like paintings and leave with memories of Paris experienced through paintings. The exhibition runs until March 31.