"You Gotta Get Out and About"
If you don't want to waste your time in Korea, "get out." Not out of the country, but out of the tiny one bedroom apartment your company probably stuck you in and hit the city. Seoul is a megacity with a population of over 12 million, thousands of restaurant, bars, clubs, festivals, well…you get the point. Below is a list of various places many people like to go.
Travel and Culture Books
Travel Books
Frommers South Korea by Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles by Simon Winchester
Korea Travel Guide by Korea National Tourism Organization
Moon South Korea (Moon Handbooks) by Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Seoul (City Guide) by Martin Robinson and Jason Zahorchak
Seoul Selection Guides: SEOUL by Robert Koehler and Lee Jin-hyuk
Travel Korea Your Way by Simon Winchester
Culture Books
Culture Shock! Korea: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Sonja Vegdahl and Ben Seunghwa Hur
Korea-Culture Smart! by James Hoare
Korean Business Etiquette: The Cultural Values and Attitudes by Boye Lafayette De Mente
Korean: Lonely Planet Phrasebook by Minkyoung Kim, J. D. Hilts
Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now by John Stickler and Soma Han
Learning to Think Korean: A Guide to Living and Working in Korea (The Interact Series) by L. Robert Kohls
Palaces of Korea by Tong-uk Kim and Tong-uk Kim
Teaching in the Land of Kimchi: Discovering South Korea As a Working Ground by Melissa Christine Karpinski
The New Korea: An Inside Look at South Korea's Economic Rise by Myung Oak Kim and Sam Jaffe
General Sites
Here is a list of some of my favorite places to go (clubs, hofs, bars, restaurants, etc):
Itaewon
Hyehwa (Line 4, Near Dongdaemun Stadium Station)
Shopping
Main article: Shopping in Seoul
The largest market in South Korea, the Dongdaemun Market, is located in Seoul. Myeongdong is a shopping and entertainment area in downtown Seoul with mid- to high-end stores, fashion boutiques and international brand outlets. The nearby Namdaemun Market, named after the Namdaemun Gate, is the oldest continually running market in Seoul. Sinchon is a shopping area that caters mainly to a younger and university student crowd.
Insadong is the cultural art market of Seoul, where traditional and modern Korean artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphy are sold. Hwanghak-dong Flea Market and Janganpyeong Antique Market also offer antique products. Some shops for local designers have opened in Samcheong-dong, where numerous small art galleries are located. Itaewon caters mainly to foreign tourists and American soldiers based in the city. The Gangnam district is one of the most affluent areas in Seoul and is noted for the fashionable and upscale Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas and the COEX Mall. Wholesale markets include Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market and Garak Market. The Yongsan Electronics Market is the largest electronics market in Asia. The Gasan Digital Complex also has an extensive variety of electronic products.
Museums
The largest market in South Korea, the Dongdaemun Market, is located in Seoul. Myeongdong is a shopping and entertainment area in downtown Seoul with mid- to high-end stores, fashion boutiques and international brand outlets. The nearby Namdaemun Market, named after the Namdaemun Gate, is the oldest continually running market in Seoul. Sinchon is a shopping area that caters mainly to a younger and university student crowd.
Insadong is the cultural art market of Seoul, where traditional and modern Korean artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphy are sold. Hwanghak-dong Flea Market and Janganpyeong Antique Market also offer antique products. Some shops for local designers have opened in Samcheong-dong, where numerous small art galleries are located. Itaewon caters mainly to foreign tourists and American soldiers based in the city. The Gangnam district is one of the most affluent areas in Seoul and is noted for the fashionable and upscale Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas and the COEX Mall. Wholesale markets include Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market and Garak Market. The Yongsan Electronics Market is the largest electronics market in Asia. The Gasan Digital Complex also has an extensive variety of electronic products.
Museums
Main article: List of museums in Seoul
Seoul is home to over 100 museums including three national and nine official municipal museums. The National Museum of Korea is the most representative of museums in not only Seoul but all of South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has built a collection of 150,000 artifacts. In October 2005, the museum moved to a new building in Yongsan Family Park. The National Folk Museum is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the district of Jongno-gu and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people. Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village are old residential districts consisting of hanok Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums that allow visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. The War Memorial, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved including Korean War themes. The Seodaemun Prison is a former prison built during the Japanese occupation and is currently used as a history museum.
The Seoul Museum of Art and Ilmin Museum of Art have preserved the appearance of the old building that is visually unique from the neighboring tall, modern buildings. The former is operated by Seoul City Council and sits adjacent to Gyeonghuigung Palace, a Joseon dynasty royal palace. For many Korean film lovers from all over the world, the Korean Film Archive is running the Korean Film Museum and Cinematheque KOFA in its main center located in Digital Media City(DMC), Sangam-dong.
Parks
Seoul is home to over 100 museums including three national and nine official municipal museums. The National Museum of Korea is the most representative of museums in not only Seoul but all of South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has built a collection of 150,000 artifacts. In October 2005, the museum moved to a new building in Yongsan Family Park. The National Folk Museum is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the district of Jongno-gu and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people. Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village are old residential districts consisting of hanok Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums that allow visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. The War Memorial, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved including Korean War themes. The Seodaemun Prison is a former prison built during the Japanese occupation and is currently used as a history museum.
The Seoul Museum of Art and Ilmin Museum of Art have preserved the appearance of the old building that is visually unique from the neighboring tall, modern buildings. The former is operated by Seoul City Council and sits adjacent to Gyeonghuigung Palace, a Joseon dynasty royal palace. For many Korean film lovers from all over the world, the Korean Film Archive is running the Korean Film Museum and Cinematheque KOFA in its main center located in Digital Media City(DMC), Sangam-dong.
Parks
See also: List of parks in Seoul
Namsan Park offers hiking, recreation and views of the downtown Seoul skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located here. Seoul Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu and was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Wongaksa Pagoda 10 tier pagoda is situated In Tapgol Park, a small public park with an area of 19,599 m². Areas around streams serve as public places for relaxation and recreation. Tancheon stream and the nearby area serve as a large park with paths for both walkers and cyclists. Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs nearly 6 km through downtown Seoul, is popular among both Seoul residents and tourists. The Seoul metropolitan area accommodates six major parks, including the Seoul Forest, which opened in mid-2005. Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World. Other recreation centers include the former Olympic and World Cup stadiums and the City Hall public lawn.
Palaces
In Seoul there are five main palaces, which were built under the Joseon Dinasty. These are some of the few remnants of ancient architecture in Seoul, because most of it was destroyed during the Japanese occupation and most of the ancient buildings were mainly made of wood, so they burnt easily.
Changdeokgung, a fine example of Korean traditional architecture, is located in Seoul and is surrounded by a large park. It was built during the Joseon Dinasty (building started in 1405 and was completed in 1412). Changdeok Palace is also called the East Palace, because it is located east of another main Seoul palace, Kyonbokgung.
Deoksugung Palace, in Seoul, is a compound of palaces surrounded by a wall. All the buildings are made of different materials and also in different styles, including western style. This Korean palace also includes in its grounds an art museum.
Kyeongbokgung is also called Northern Palace, because it is located in the northern part of Seoul, South Korea. Kyeongbokkung was the main residence of the Joseon Dinasty and it was built in 1394, following the design of the Korean architect Jeong Do-jeon.
Changgyeonggung, Seoul is located in Seoul, South Korea, was originally the summer residence of the Goryeo Emperor and it later became one of the five Seoul palaces of the Joseon Dinasty.
Gyeonghuigung, Seoul is located in the western part of Seoul, during the latter Joseon period used to be a secondary palace for the king. Secondary palaces were used by the royals during emergencies.
Namsan Park offers hiking, recreation and views of the downtown Seoul skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located here. Seoul Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu and was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Wongaksa Pagoda 10 tier pagoda is situated In Tapgol Park, a small public park with an area of 19,599 m². Areas around streams serve as public places for relaxation and recreation. Tancheon stream and the nearby area serve as a large park with paths for both walkers and cyclists. Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs nearly 6 km through downtown Seoul, is popular among both Seoul residents and tourists. The Seoul metropolitan area accommodates six major parks, including the Seoul Forest, which opened in mid-2005. Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World. Other recreation centers include the former Olympic and World Cup stadiums and the City Hall public lawn.
Palaces
In Seoul there are five main palaces, which were built under the Joseon Dinasty. These are some of the few remnants of ancient architecture in Seoul, because most of it was destroyed during the Japanese occupation and most of the ancient buildings were mainly made of wood, so they burnt easily.
Changdeokgung, a fine example of Korean traditional architecture, is located in Seoul and is surrounded by a large park. It was built during the Joseon Dinasty (building started in 1405 and was completed in 1412). Changdeok Palace is also called the East Palace, because it is located east of another main Seoul palace, Kyonbokgung.
Deoksugung Palace, in Seoul, is a compound of palaces surrounded by a wall. All the buildings are made of different materials and also in different styles, including western style. This Korean palace also includes in its grounds an art museum.
Kyeongbokgung is also called Northern Palace, because it is located in the northern part of Seoul, South Korea. Kyeongbokkung was the main residence of the Joseon Dinasty and it was built in 1394, following the design of the Korean architect Jeong Do-jeon.
Changgyeonggung, Seoul is located in Seoul, South Korea, was originally the summer residence of the Goryeo Emperor and it later became one of the five Seoul palaces of the Joseon Dinasty.
Gyeonghuigung, Seoul is located in the western part of Seoul, during the latter Joseon period used to be a secondary palace for the king. Secondary palaces were used by the royals during emergencies.
