Seoul

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

1. The alleys of the Namdaemun market full of food stalls.

2. The daytime student milieu of Hongdae neighborhood

Krista photo

5. The Cheonggyecheon River in the heart of Seoul, an elevated highway, turned into an urban park

Krista photo

Opinions

Seoul - parade at the entrance gate to Changdeokgung Palace - Krista photo

“In Seoul I saw what has to be the best-constructed subway system in the world, with 16 separate lines and an almost infinite number of stations. Easy to get lost. I never felt the usual, claustrophobic sense of overcrowding I usually experience in Asian cities, and skyscrapers are relatively rare. There are a lot of districts where the houses have gardens, and most apartment buildings are no higher than four stories. The city is so large that its population of over 10 million is comfortably accommodated. The subway trains and buses were never too crowded to get on, and compared to Hong Kong the city sometimes seemed practically empty. It’s also very clean – I never saw dropped litter, there are a lot of green spaces, and the air quality is very good.”

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“Until I went, I pictured Seoul as more boring and nondescript than cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong or even Beijing. It certainly wasn’t high on my bucket list. Then I spent ten days in Seoul, and I have to say, it was a very pleasant surprise. Seoul is a really exciting, dynamic metropolis. I wasn’t bored for an instant!” (P.I. 2017)

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“Super modern, safe, and with fabulous infrastructure. The level of English isn’t great, but everyone is friendly and happy to help. People behave intelligently and with courtesy, so there’s never a feeling of crowding, and you don’t get jostled, elbowed, stepped on etc. South Korea would be my number one tip for travelers who want to dip their toe into the world beyond Europe!” (2017)

Practicals

Transport

Seoul - metro scene - Krista photo

Food

Seoul - Our favorite cafe in Hongdae with yummy pastries - Krista photo

Seoul - street food trucks - Krista photo

Seoul - the emblematic kimchi (salted and fermented vegetables, mainly napa cabbage and radish) - Krista photo

Seoul - crabs - Viktor Ohotin's photo

Shopping

South Korea - Seoul - Gwangjang Market - Tom's photo

Seoul - Starfield Library in the COEX Mall - Tom's photo

Seoul - leglessly - Krista photo

Fun

Seoul - Brothers in the Trick Eye Museum - Krista photo

Public safety

Seoul - friendly police station

Health

Seoul - phallus park

Background

Destination in brief

Seoul simply means capital in Korean.

The capital city lies in the northwestern corner of South Korea. The Han River flows through the heart of Seoul, dividing the city into a northern and southern half.

Mountains beset Seoul, but the city itself is on flat land.

Population (in 2020): 9.9 million

Average net monhly salary (in 2020): 2400 USD

Seoul hosted the 1988 Olimpic Games.