Psy may have put Gangnam on the map with his bow-ties and “gentleman”ly behavior, but the fact of the matter is… Gangnam is for girls. Recently, I took a bit of a staycation in Seoul’s upscale district in search of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment facilities and made a point to take plenty …
Imagine a place where you can buy everything you need at a reasonable price. In one convenient location. At any time of the day. While such a fantasy land might only seem like the stuff of dreams, in Korea, it’s a reality and it goes by the name of Dongdaemun. Here, mammoth modern shopping complexes …
This is the second part of a two-part series of a walking tour through Seoul’s university neighborhoods. To read Part 1: Edae, click here. Sinchon at night | © Sami Paju / Flickr From Hello apM in Edae, pass Sinchon Railway Station, which separates Ewha Women’s University and Yonsei University, and is the oldest railway station …
As the familiar hues of nightfall spill across the skies, herds of tourists flood into the streets of Myeongdong. 6.8 million of them a year, to be exact. Neon starts to flash overhead, filling the streets with an instantly recognizable buzz, barely audible over the rhythmic beats of K-pop that blare from hidden speakers. Shop …
Nestled between Inwang and Bugak mountains, Buamdong is a peaceful backwater neighborhood located in the center of Seoul, shielded by nature from the neon and concrete that drench the remainder of the metropolis. Boasting only a single bus stop, Buamdong is not the most convenient place to visit. It’s this very remoteness, however, that has …
Perhaps no other neighborhood in all of Seoul embodies Korea’s youth culture as well as Hongdae. Here, the streets are alive with a youthful spirit that fosters a creativity evident in the sounds of busking musicians, in the colorful graffiti on the walls and in the unique fashion and hair styles sported by the young …
Whether browsing shoes in Edae or having a few drinks in Sinchon, the uniquely youthful spirit of this vibrant cluster of university neighborhoods is at once evident. The area’s tiny shops, restaurants and bars are seemingly always open, making it a favorite haunt of Seoul’s college women, attracting throngs of youngsters every day of the …
The Gangnam Station area (yes, that Gangnam) stretches from the subway station of the same name to the northern end of Sinnonhyeon Station and is a place where Korea’s education, youth and corporate cultures converge simultaneously. Its electric streets really come alive at night, when businessmen and career women descend from the modern office buildings …
Seochon Village is one of the most historical neighborhoods in central Seoul. Often associated with the middle class of merchants, physicians and translators of the Joseon dynasty, it was once known as the center of Korean literature. Stretching from the western gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace to the base of Inwang Mountain, it is an area …
Korea may be one of the world’s leading economies and fastest developing nations, but its modern history is a turbulent one. To the outsider, it can be difficult to spot the signs of Seoul’s struggles and suffering through the glitz and glamour of the city’s sparkling facade. But if one looks in the right places, …