Before launching her eponymous communications agency in 2019, Gia Kuan had already made a name for herself in New York. Having grown up between Taiwan, the Dominican Republic, and New Zealand, she moved to Manhattan in 2010 to study fashion marketing at Parsons. An internship at PR Consulting led to stints at Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market, ultimately leading her to run the arts and culture department at Nadine Johnson.

But what clients really wanted was Kuan. When she went solo, her enigmatic personality and exuberant style—gem-studded nails, colorful outfits, impossibly high heels—made her a star. She backed brands she believed in, like Telfar, Area, and Puppets and Puppets. By September 2019, Document Journal had written: “Meet the first fashion publicist everyone wants to be friends with.”

Today, Kuan is a fixture on the New York Fashion Week circuit. She’s also a regular in Seoul, where she travels often to organize events for clients. Here, Kuan shares her favorite places to eat, stay, shop, and explore in the Korean capital.

  • ANTHRACITE COFFEE ROASTERS
    A three-story coffee shop on the main strip of Seoul’s Hannam neighborhood. It’s good for people watching because it draws stylish young locals and stays open late. I love that coffee shop culture in Asia can be a late night thing—it’s not so much about the caffeine intake as it about hanging out with friends. (anthracitecoffee.com)
  • ATM AND VINVIN
    Two low-key and chic wine bars. (instagram.com)
A Korean bingsu sundae, frequently found in Seoul.
  • BINGSU
    Try a bingsu sundae wherever you can. It’s a classic shaved ice dessert topped with condensed milk and a ton of fruit. I recommend any with orange or yuzu flavors.
The outdoor dining area at Cha-teul, a traditional Korean tea house.
  • CHA-TEUL
    A traditional Korean tea house with beautiful wooden interiors and a wide range of teas. This one might lean more towards the touristy side, but it’s a beautiful first experience. I took my mom during her first trip to Seoul, and she loved it. (instagram.com)
  • HWANG-GOB
    The Gopchang at Hwang-Gob, a Korean barbecue restaurant, is so good. Made of grilled intestines, the dish appeals to specific palettes, but I love it.
  • SUJOGGWAN
    Sujoggwan, in Seoul’s Gangnam neighborhood, has amazingly fresh seafood and raw fish, including octopus.
  • BOONTHESHOP
    A classic store with a great range of contemporary designers. (boontheshop.com)
Grand Crinkly, a 1971 sculpture by Alexander Calder, on view at the Leeum Museum of Art.
  • LEEUM MUEUM OF ART
    An institution in the heart of Hannam. Located in a beautiful building, it hosts thoughtful exhibits year-round, celebrating both local and international artists through retrospectives and group shows. (leeumhoam.org)
  • LEMAIRE
    While Lemaire is not a Korean brand, their new flagship in Hannam is just stunning. (lemaire.fr)
  • OLIVE YOUNG
    There are Olive Young stores everywhere in Seoul. The equivalent of Sephora, it’s a skincare and cosmetics haven that has everything I could ever need. Plus, you can purchase things free of tax if you have a foreign passport. (global.oliveyoung.com)
  • PACE GALLERY
    Pace has locations worldwide, but its Seoul outpost is set in an especially beautiful space. (pacegallery.com)
An interior view of the Post Poetics bookstore.
  • POST POETICS
    A small bookstore tucked away in Hannam. (postpoetics.kr)
  • SEOUL FOREST
    A beautiful park with lush trees that turn golden in the fall.
Photos: Chalermchai Thamol/Alamy (bingsu); Rosemary Behan/Alamy (Cha-teul); James Talalay/Alamy (Leeum Museum of Art); @facebook/postpoetics (Post Poetics)