Seoul, Dissected

Boasting a population exceeding 10 million people, Seoul appears to sprawl out to the ends of the earth in every direction.  In order to understand the umbrella symbolizing Seoul's culture, it is important to acknowledge the distinct make up of the city's many unique neighborhoods:  Gwanghwamun, Insadong & Daehangno, Myeong-dong, Namsan, & Itaewon, Hongdae, Sinchon, & Yeouido, Gangnam & Jamsil, and the greater Seoul area.

A Dissection of Seoul's Many Neighborhoods

Thus far, I have been able to visit the following places/neighborhoods:

• Myeong-dong:  a great area for shopping, which I describe in a previous post.
• Dongdaemun (in Gwanghwamun):  another great shopping market, though this market has a very different atmosphere.  This is the place where I bargained for shoes.
• Gangnam Station:  a rather upscale end of town, full of tall, glassy skyscrapers and bustling businessmen and women in black suits.
• Seong-dong (between Hanyang University and Wangsimni, east of Myeong-dong):  perhaps my favorite place to go (maybe because it's within walking distance and not as crowded).  Seong-dong consists of quiet streets lined with tiny Korean restaurants, Korean BBQ, bars, little shops, and very few (if any) American stores.

Places I still wish to visit include:

• Insadong & Sam-cheong dong:  As "the country's craft capital," Insadong offers a glimpse into Korean past, such as traditional Korean houses (called hanok), shops selling hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), and tea houses serving omijacha (berry tea), boricha (barley tea), nokcha (green tea), and insamcha (ginseng tea) (49).  According to my good friend, Bin Choi (a Korean international student at ONU), these places are the best for finding authentic Korean souvenirs. 
• Hongik University Station & Hongdae:  I've heard from many students (Korean & international) that these places are the best for young people.  Offering unique, extravagant bars, Hongdae is perhaps the center of youthful nightlife.  Some bars in this area include foot baths and indoor rivers & plant life.   
• Itaewon:  Seemingly the most foreign-populated area in Seoul, this area is more Americanized than other places in Seoul.  "The U.S. forces that used to be stationed at nearby Yongsan are being relocated south of Seoul, but Itaewon continues to be a lively expat entertainment zone with bars and clubs aplenty," the Seoul City Guide notes (55).

My Lonely Planet Seoul City Guide describes a trip to the DMZ between North and South Korea as an eye-opening and intriguing day trip.  Mom & Dad, I know your blood pressure just went through the roof reading that.   The day trip offers a bus tour in Kaesong, a city in North Korea:  "all the buildings look like photos of Seoul taken in 1950.  Every building looks in need of repainting and repair," the Seoul City Guide explains (163).  While I doubt that I will take this day trip, reading about it raises curiosity about North Korea.  From the Koreans I have spoken to, many young people don't even think about the tensions with the North.  Until I read about the trip to Kaesong, I hadn't even really thought about the fact that I am currently 55 km (34 miles) from the DMZ.  It is a partially stomach-churning, partially excusable notion, since I have no concept of war.    

On a brighter note, on Saturday, July 2nd, our group will travel to the Namsangol Hanok Village (in Namsan) to experience some traditional Korean culture.  Quite obviously, there is nothing like this in the U.S., and I look forward to broadening my world perspective.   

**Thanks to "What's On Korea" for the image featured above (http://english.whatsonkorea.com/map_of_seoul.ph).