I’m not sure where my infatuation with written planners came from. But, I HATE using electronics to keep track of appointments. I love the idea of writing in my planner and keeping it with me. Living in Korea made it super easy to find the most adorable Diary’s (as they are called there). They have stationary store after stationary store filled with the cutest planners, pens, stickers, page markers etc. I swear it is an untouched market here in the states and would love nothing more than to open my own here.
Here are two of my favorite Korean ones.
Artbox and Kimchi4u
Of course I could order one online from Korea, but I really wanted it to be fully in English and I really was on a mission to find one here in the states.
This year, I had a really hard time finding a “cute, stylish, affordable and functional” planner.
I spent weeks going through every store in Orlando… Barnes & Noble, Staples, Target, Papyrus, Hallmark etc. Anyplace where I thought they might possibly sell planners and man was I disappointed! All I found were super boring, plain planners and very few at that. I finally found a blog on planners through FatMumSlim and immediately ordered this journal. Let me introduce to you Frankie Magazine.
My favorite elements of a planner are the yearly date page
And of course the weekly plan page. Each month has a different design and there is PLENTY of room to write notes.
Q: Why use a paper planner instead of a digital calendar? A: For some of us the act of physically writing something down creates a connection to our schedule that no app can replicate. Seeing a month laid out on paper — filling in dates adding stickers color coding weeks — makes planning feel intentional and even joyful rather than purely functional. Once you find the right planner the digital calendar starts feeling cold and forgettable by comparison.
Q: What makes Korean stationery and planners so special? A: Korea has an extraordinary stationery culture that is almost entirely unknown in the West. Store after store filled with beautifully designed diaries planners pens stickers and page markers at incredibly affordable prices. Brands like Artbox carry designs so charming and functional that Western stationery stores feel barren and uninspired by comparison. It is genuinely an untapped market outside of Asia.
Q: What should you look for in a good planner? A: A yearly overview page for the big picture. Monthly spreads with enough room to actually write. Weekly pages with daily detail space and ideally different designs each month to keep things visually interesting. A decent notes section and address pages at the back. Cute stickers are a bonus that somehow make the whole system more fun to maintain consistently.
Q: Where can you find stylish English language planners? A: Western bookstores and office supply stores are surprisingly disappointing for stylish planners — we visited Barnes and Noble Staples Target Papyrus and Hallmark and found mostly boring corporate designs. The best finds tend to come from independent publishers and international brands. Frankie Magazine from Australia produces one of our favorites — worth the international shipping and the occasional lost in the mail adventure.
Q: Does writing things down actually help you stay more organized? A: For us absolutely yes — and research backs this up. The physical act of writing engages the brain differently than typing creating stronger memory encoding and a greater sense of commitment to what is written. Our monthly pages fill up immediately upon arrival and seeing February already packed before January has even started is genuinely motivating rather than overwhelming.
Remarkably livable once the initial adjustment passes. Korea is safe, efficient, and genuinely welcoming to families. The food culture is extraordinary. Kids adapt faster than adults to the language and social norms. Most expat families describe Korea as having raised their standard for what a city should offer.
The children’s museums in Seoul are world class. Korean street food is an adventure for kids of all ages. Palaces and traditional villages give history a physical form that works for children. Jjimjilbang family spas are a uniquely Korean experience worth trying. And the playgrounds and outdoor spaces in Korean cities are genuinely excellent.
Korea is excellent for adventurous young eaters. For picky eaters it takes adjustment. Korean fried chicken is universally beloved. Kimbap rice rolls are approachable for most kids. The spice level can be managed by ordering milder dishes. Street food culture especially tteokbokki corn dogs and hotteok pancakes is a huge hit with children.
Apps like Duolingo and Pimsleur help with the alphabet and basics. Language exchange partners are available and Koreans are generally patient and appreciative of any effort. Formal classes exist in every major Korean city. Kids pick up Korean in school environments much faster than adults do in language classes.
Pros: extraordinary safety, excellent public transport, amazing food at every price point, strong medical system, and a culture that genuinely values family. Cons: language barrier for adults, high academic pressure culture that affects international kids in local schools, air quality issues especially in spring, and the social insularity that can make deep friendships with Koreans slow to develop.
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