1. Lucite heels (also known as “clear” heels in Korea)

Type in “stripper shoes” on google.com and you’ll see images of lucite heels plastered in the image section. More and more lucite heels (especially with a cork wedge heel) are turning up on the streets of Seoul. Ladies, there is a reason they are called “stripper shoes”. Not just that, unless you have beautiful feet with an impeccable pedicure, these heels will only highlight your ashy feet and/or some unsightly corns.

2. Ambiguous shoes

Sneaker-sandals? Dress shoes/slip-ons? Shoe stores have different sections for different shoes for a reason. Please make up your mind before you buy a pair of shoes.

3. Man sandals

I no longer wish to reiterate my intense hatred for man sandals. They reek of ahjuhssi-ness. Man sandals are the epitome of footwear gone wrong. Complete fail.

4. Flower shoes

Florals are always popular in Korea. Flower designs exude a certain air of feminity and innocence. Flowers on your feet, is a seperate issue. While I personally disagree with the age-old belief that Koreans have of people who have flowers on their head/hair (flowers on head/hair means you’re crazy), having a plant in full blossom on your feet makes it seem like something is growing out from between your toes. After walking around Seoul for a day, the plant on your sandals will most probably look wilted and no longer resemble a flower.

5. Plastic/rubber shoes (also known as “jelly shoes” in Korea)

There is a plethora of plastic/rubber shoes: plastic flats, plastic flip-flops, plastic heels, and crocs. All plastic shoes will remain reminiscent of the shoes I would put on the feet of my dolls when I was six. And they should stay on the feet of miniature, plastic, human-like toys, not real human beings.