Seoul and Beyond

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A January 1999 trip to Seoul by globetrots

Insa-dong shops Photo - Insadong, Seoul, South Korea

Quote: This journal covers a few offbeat spots around Seoul, as well as some excursions to nearby areas.

6 Photos

Seoul and Beyond

Overview

Quote:

There are a lot of great sites in Seoul that you'll find in nearly every journal or article. These entries cover the best crafts and antiques area, a place to find some rustic old-world drinking spots, and a trip to one of the wierdest tourist attractions on the planet.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The Seoul Subway is clean, efficient, and a true bargain. Signs and announcements are in English. Walking is easy in Seoul if you can get your bearings.

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Insadong

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Attraction | "Insa-dong Antique district"

Quote:

Between the Anguk and Chonggak subway stations, near T'apkol Park, lies the long street of Insa-dong. On this street and on dozens of branching alleys are many traditional style buildings filled with art galleries, antique shops, crafts shops, and restaurants. On Sundays the street is closed to traffic and there are often craft demonstrations and music performances. You could easily drop a fortune here, but there are also some great places to buy more reasonable gifts that don't look like they just came off a production line. These include masks, tea sets, chopstick sets, and paper products. If you get tired of walking, there are some tea shops, taverns, eateries, and coffee shops with...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 6, 2002

Insadong
Insa-dong Jongno-gu
Seoul, South Korea 110-290
+82 (0)2 732 2240

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Itaewon Shopping District/Itaewon Street

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Attraction | "Itaewon Shopping District"

Quote:

While the real Korean marketplaces are lots of fun and good for bargain-hunting, Itaewon is the place where western-sized people go to find clothes that fit. You can find shoes, suits, and shirts (often name brands made in Korea) in sizes similar to those in North America. Prices are good, especially if you have a suit or shirt custom made. You can also have custom-embroidery done on jackets. Apart from clothes, there are a million souveniers, belts, wallets, ties, and suitcases on sale, many at excellent prices. Bargaining will often get you a better deal here. You can easily get your fast food or non-Korean beer fix in the area as well. Bars and nightclubs are abundant,...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 6, 2002

Itaewon Shopping District/Itaewon Street

Seoul, South Korea

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T'apkol Park

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Story/Tip

Quote:

This park, on the edge of the Insa-dong shopping and gallery area, is a great place for strolling and people-watching. This is a favorite gathering place for the politically-minded and for various fortune tellers, chess players, calligraphers, and other assorted characters. It is dedicated to the leader of the independence movement against the Japanese and there's often some kind of protest or political movement going on. It's a good place to take a load off after wandering around the area, especially if you don't want to spend money to go into a coffee shop or restaurant. Ask permission or be very discrete with a zoom lens when taking pictures. Many of the cute old men with long beards bec...Read More

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Old Ilsan Makkoli Houses

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Story/Tip

Quote:

Seoul is filled with glitzy bars, ultra-hip lounges, and suave coffee shops on seemingly every city block. If you want to go back in time to a more relaxed Korea, however, a trip out to the obscure suburb of old Ilsan is an unforgettable excursion. By a long taxi ride or a 45-minute train ride and short walk, you'll find a forested area filled with bizarre totem poles and rustic wooden buildings with clunky wooden furniture. There are a dozen or so places to choose from. In cool months there's a fireplace roaring, and in warm months you can sit outside under the trees. The food choices range from Korean pancakes with seafood or green onion to hearty stews filled with seafood or pork. The b...Read More

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Korean Bath Houses

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Story/Tip

Quote:

A Korean bath house will get you clean, but more importantly, it will get you relaxed in the local style. For around three bucks at local places and around $8 at the finest hotels, you'll be treated to a complex full of hot baths, whirlpools, saunas, steam showers, and even a green tea or mud bath if you're lucky. You lather up under a shower with the provided soap and shampoo, or drop a few coins for a toothbrush or razor if you'd like. After that you take the waters at your leisure, choosing whatever temperatures or styles suit your fancy. Some locals will lounge around for an hour or two between the baths and one place I went to in Pusan even had a area where you could sit in a bath and play chess ...Read More