It's official! Seoul's 10 must-visit sites

N Seoul Tower, on top of Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, ranks first in a list of the top-10 sites based on Seoul City's survey on 12,000 foreign visitors and Seoul citizens between Sept. 1 and 20. / Korea TImes file

By Hong Dam-young

Are you finding it difficult to decide where to go in Seoul?

Seoul City can help. It has just released a list of the top-10 sites based on its survey of 12,000 foreign visitors and Seoul citizens between Sept. 1 and 20.

Graphic by Cho Sang-won

N Seoul Tower, on top of Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, ranks first. It has been maintaining its reputation as Seoul’s must-see landmark among couples and tourists because of its relaxing atmosphere and cultural spaces.

It gained more fame when it featured in SBS drama “My Love from the Star” -- which went viral among Korean Wave (hallyu) fans -- as a symbolic site for romance. In the show, the main female character, Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun), and Do Min-jun (Kim Soo-hyun) vow their eternal love by fastening a “love lock” to the wall of a terrace at the tower.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, a location for MBC drama “The Moon that Embraces the Sun,” and Cheonggyecheon Stream, which flows through downtown Seoul, ranked second and third on the city’s list.

Most tourist spots in the top 10 were filming sites for famous Korean dramas or entertainment programs that are well known to hallyu lovers.

Riding on the K-wave, SM Town at Coex Artium -- a six-story K-pop complex near Samsung-dong, run by SM Entertainment -- ranked seventh on the list after a surge in tourists who visit to see K-pop singers.