South Korea - Seoul
What to say about South Korea? A place where the girls are pretty and the boys are prettier! Seoul is a great location to visit and a city that is sure to extend a warm welcome to foreigners.
As with any major city, there will be people out to trap you into spending money that you don't want to, but nonetheless, there are plenty of things to do in Seoul that will help to ensure that your trip is memorable and enjoyable.
One good tip is to make sure that you have a Korean phrase book with you. English language is not used extensively in Seoul and there are few places that provide information (menus, directions, instructions etc) in anything other than Korean. So a phrase book is an essential tool for a tourist here.
Similarly, get your hotel to write down the address and any directions in Korean. A trip to the nearest Tourist Information centre is something that you should do early on in your trip. They can assist you by marking key sites on your map for you to help when you are seeking directions.
And of course, when it comes to restaurants, nothing works better than pointing to something on the menu that looks delicious. What better way to discover new foods? Though do remember that Koreans, like the Thais, love spicy food. The chances are that your food will be spicy as this is what Korean people love to eat.
Koreans are people after my own heart in that there is a very heavy drinking culture within Korea. It is not uncommon to go out for the night in a large group and drink until you are very, very drunk and unable to function properly the next morning. Etiquette dictates that you never pour your own drink. Your drinking buddy will pour for you. You down the shot and then pour one for them. And so the game goes on until you are both blindingly drunk. Whilst many of my fellow Scots and Irish friends would be very comfortable in this environment, if you are not into binge drinking then do make sure your host realises this when you are accepting their kind invitation to join them on the night out.
Don't let any of this put you off going. It can be intimidating to be in a country that does not make use of English translations but this will definitely not stop the well prepared traveller from having a good time here.
Things to do in Seoul
- Visit the N Seoul Tower for panoramic views of Seoul. Each evening the tower has a light show, which is well worth going to see. The Tower is a popular place for Koreans to visit as well as tourists.
- Take a trip to the Sonje Art Museum and the Art Sonje Center in Sogyeok-dong. The Art Sonje Center is well known for its exhibitions of work from Korean and foreign artists.
- Go to see the Seoul World Cup stadium, which was used when Korea and Japan jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup.
- Explore the Amsadong Prehistoric Settlement, which contains relics that can traced back to the Neolithic era.
- Spend the afternoon relaxing in the Boramae Public Park, with its ponds, sports facilities and health treatments. There is also a small zoo in the park.
- Book a table at Uraeok, a well established restaurant that claims to be a favourite haunt of Korean stars and politicians. Serves traditional Korean food.
- Visit B-1 bar and dance club, located next to the Hamilton Shopping Centre at Itaewon. This stylish bar is relatively new on the Seoul bar circuit and popular with a very chic crowd as well as with boys who like boys.
- Go for dinner and drinks at Our Place, next to the Sand Presso building in Itaewon. Famous for being owned by a Korean actor who announced his homosexuality a few years back, this bar and restaurant is busy and attracts a hi-so crowd.