Seoul is Where the Heart is!

Photo: asiantravelguide

Incheon International Airport (IIA) which has won the prestigious award of being ‘Best Airport Worldwide” for 3 consecutive years from 2006 – 2008 serves as the main gateway into Korea. It lies about 50 km west of Seoul and from there passengers can travel to Seoul by airport bus, taxi or Airport Railroad Express.

The Airport Bus is the most preferred option for traveling between Incheon International Airport and downtown Seoul. Depending on the traffic conditions one can arrive in the heart of Seoul within an hour. Airport buses run from Incheon Int'l Airport to various parts of Seoul. There are two types of airport buses: deluxe and standard. Deluxe buses are KAL limousines that go straight to major hotels in Seoul. Since they only go to deluxe hotels, these buses are faster than standard limousine buses. They also have fewer seats and are naturally more comfortable. Standard limousine buses stop at several bus stops, so you can get closer to your final destination.

A taxi may be somewhat costly but a taxi is recommended if you have heavy baggage or are traveling in a group. In Korea, there are three types of taxis:- Standard and deluxe taxis carry up to four passengers, and the jumbo deluxe taxi takes up to eight passengers. The fare for a deluxe taxi is about 50% higher than for a standard taxi, but the quality of service is much better. The driver of a deluxe taxi must have at least ten years of accident-free experience driving a standard taxi and have completed special service training.

As for the Airport Railroad Express, only Phase 1 of the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) has been completed and currently operates between Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport only. Therefore one needs to get down at Gimpo Airport and transfer to Seoul Subway Line 5 in order to go to downtown Seoul which is quite inconvenient if one has a lot of luggage. So it is better to take the airport bus.

Since Seoul is going to be the arrival point for your visit to South Korea I thought I should devote this post entirely on it. Located along the Hangang River, Seoul, the capital of South Korea boasts of a population of more than 10 million. It is also the 10th-largest city in the world. Its past and present coexist in a fascinating way: centuries-old palaces, city gates, shrines, gardens and priceless art collections attest to the city's illustrious past, while the glistening facades of soaring skyscrapers and the bustling traffic represent its vibrant present.. Today Seoul has grown to be the thriving center of the country's political, economic, cultural and educational activities.

For a start I shall just mention the places for sightseeing, eating, shopping, etc. I sort of want you to know your bearings first so that you know where to go for what. I will then go into detail about them in my later postings. OK?

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In Seoul, the must-see attractions are the ancient royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung. Jongmyo, the royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty, and Changdeokgung's adjacent Huwon (Rear Garden also known as the Secret Garden) are noted for their beautifully landscaped gardens and classical structures.

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Other attractions highly recommended for visitors include the National Museum, the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the Ho-Am Art Hall and Korea House. The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, a southern satellite town, also deserves a visit. At Namsan Park, in the heart of Seoul, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city from Seoul Tower and look around a reconstructed Hanok village below. Visitors can relax, walk, or rent bicycles in numerous Seoul parks, such as Olympic Park, Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Forest, and the Hangang River Trail. These parks are among the hidden treasures of Seoul, enjoyed by residents but often missed by tourists.

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A 30-minute drive to the south of Seoul will bring you to the Korean Folk Village. In this traditional village everyday Korean life of days gone by is reenacted. The Korean Folk Village opened in 1973 and now includes aspects of almost everything traditionally Korean. Homes typical of the various provinces are on display, and there are regular performances of tightrope walking, wedding and funeral processions, kite-flying contests and folk dancing in the village square. Blacksmith, carpenters, potters and craftsmen can also be seen at work in their shops. In Suwon, adjacent to this traditional village is Hwaseong Fortress, a walled city of the Joseon Dynasty that was recently included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

And now for something that everybody likes, especially the ladies. Yes shopping, Seoul is a shoppers paradise! Seoul, like any major city in the world offers duty-free goods at its many duty-free shops. You can get duty-free merchandise at the following duty-free outlets :- Incheon International Airport, The Shilla Duty Free, Lotte Duty Free, AK Duty Free, The Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel Duty Free, Dongwha Duty Free and Paradise Duty Free. You may have already bought some duty free items before your flight to Korea at your departure points.

Do you know what are the things you want to buy? Here I’ll just mention the places where to go for certain things so as to give you an idea of how fantastic the shopping in Seoul can be. Perhaps it can help you decide where you want to go for your shopping. It’ll save a lot of time if one already knows what one wants to buy and where to go.

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I’m sure you must have heard about the beautiful ceramics and pottery that is produced in Korea. Pottery can be purchased at pottery villages, the Icheon Pottery Village and Yeoju Pottery Village being the most famous, the Hwanghakdong Flea Market, or at pottery festivals. There are many pottery festivals held in Korea like the Icheon Pottery Biennale, Yeoju Pottery Expo, and Gangjin Cheongja Culture Festival which offer great opportunities for buying and learning more about Korean pottery.

However if you do not want to go to the pottery villages, there is in Seoul, one of the most popular areas for tourists in the old center known as Insa-dong. Here the streets are lined with antique shops, art galleries, ceramic shops, handicraft and souvenir shops, traditional teahouses, and restaurants as well as bookstores. Even Queen Elizabeth of England has been to Insa-dong to see the lovely Korean pottery sold here. You can also get traditional Korean souvenirs and gifts here too.

Do you want to buy jewellery and watches then you should go to Yeji-dong of Jongno 4(sa)-ga known as the Watch Alley. In the Jongno 3(sam)-ga and 4(sa)-ga area there are over 1,000 jewelry stores where the prices are 30 to 40% lower than at other jewelry outlets in Korea.
The Jewelry District is conveniently located at the center of Seoul’s major palaces and near the downtown areas. Of these, the closest tourist areas include Myeong-dong, downtown Jong-ro, Dongdaemun Market, and Namdaeumun Market.

Did you know that Korea is the world’s leading IT country? Here in Korea new models of products are continuously being launched at a very fast pace. And if you are in Seoul, then a visit to Yongsan Electronics Mall Complex and Techno Mart is a must. Yongsan Electronics Mall Complex and Techno Mart are the places to go to see the latest models of electronic products. Here you can find small stores side by side in rows, selling a large variety of cellular phones, household appliances, and all computer related products. Due to the competition amongst the stores the prices here are quite affordable and reasonable. Techno Mart is structured in such a way that makes it easy for shoppers to find what they want. Yongsan Electronics Mall Complex is larger and more crowded. It specializes in electronic products, offering more affordable prices as compared to other electronics shops.

Clothing can be bought at department stores, brand shops, outlets, Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong, Itaewon, and in front of Ehwa Women's University. As for the brand name goods, it is recommended that you buy them in January, April, July, and October as that’s the time when they have sales (which may be subject to change). Remember to keep your receipts in case you need to exchange or return something. Good places to find leather goods are department stores, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market and Itaewon just to name a few. Tourists prefer to shop at Itaewon because the goods offered are of high quality and the prices are quite reasonable.

The up-market Gangnam area of Seoul, is where all the Korean Hallyu stars normally come to do their shopping. While Apgujeong remains more of a magnet for those in their 20s and 30s Cheongdam-dong appeals to those in their 30s and 40s. Cheongdam-dong offers a list of more luxurious venues for those with lots of cash to spend. The street is lined with premium brand flagship stores and multi-shops. If you have an obsession for branded goods, there are shops here selling secondhand luxury brand items such as bags, clothes, shoes, accessories, and wallets at 30~60% below regular prices. Be wary, however, because some items may not be genuine. Galleria Department Store, the most popular luxury-brand fashion mall in Seoul is also located in this wealthy district of Apgujeong-dong.

Lotte is the famous chain of departmental stores in Korea. The prices are fixed. Sometimes the things that are on sale here can be purchased at a cheaper price elsewhere. That is why some people prefer to go to places where they can bargain.

Most shops in Myeongdong deal with mid priced items and a great place to find deals on famous brands, at prices lower than at department stores. On some items you can get discounts of up to 70-80%. The prices at the Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Market are the lowest as compared with elsewhere.

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All that walking and running around must have made you hungry, so let’s look for some places to eat. Of course, Korean cuisine is a must during a trip to Korea, either at a modern or traditional restaurant. Why not try a few of the better-known Korean dishes like Bibimbap (Boiled rice mixed with vegetables), Bulgogi (Marinated, barbecued beef) or Grilled Galbi (Seasoned ribs) with Kimchi Or would you prefer to do what the locals do, eat at the pojangmacha or street stalls? The food is delicious and cheap. They are usually found around Jogno and in the vicinity of the universities so as to cater for the students studying there.

If you are looking for international flavors then Itaewon is the place for you. You want Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, French, Indian or even Korean? They can be found within close proximity of each other as you can see from the map below.

How about trying out the food at some restaurants that belong to Korean celebrities? Bae Yong Joon, the famous actor of “Winter Sonata” has just opened a restaurant not so long ago in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu called Gorilla in the Kitchen. The food offered here is very healthy, no fries, no dishes using butter and salt controlled.The man himself is very health conscious, that’s why.

Perhaps you might have seen the TEA’US cafe when you were shopping in the area around Myeong-dong. It belongs to Kwon Sang-Woo who acted in the Korean drama “Stairway to Heaven.”
He cried so much that he was nicknamed Mr. Tears and thus the name of this cafe.

I started out this posting thinking that I could finish writing about Seoul at one go. How mistaken I was because I still have a lot more to say about her. Seoul is where the heart is! Once you come to Seoul then you will understand what I’m trying to say. I read once “When a man is tired of London, He is tired of life, For there is in London, All that life can afford.” I feel that I can say the same for Seoul. There’s everything you can get in Seoul! Seoul is very refreshing for the soul and on that note I’d like to end today’s episode. Annyeonghi-gaseyo!