Must-visit tourist attractions in Seoul

By Kim Jae-heun

Seoul has many attractions, and 14 of them were recently included in the “100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots of Korea” listed by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The list will help visitors select places to see, foods to eat and activities to do.

Street of shopping, eateries

The area near Hongik University, known as Hongdae, was home to many underground rappers and indie band musicians for decades. Unlike other popular shopping areas in Korea, Hongdae has many distinctive individual shops attracting young shoppers to purchase trendy apparel at reasonable prices. However, the best reason for tourists to visit Hongdae is for its busking culture hosted by young performers. People can enjoy various street shows including dance performances.

Myeong-dong is the tourist mecca for shopping here. The shopping street is the most-visited attraction by foreign tourists as it is situated in the center of Seoul where other popular destinations like N Seoul Tower and Itaewon can be reached within 20 minutes. Visitors can also enjoy various snacks from street vendors who sell street foods such as tornado-shaped fried potato, tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cake) and grilled clam.

Itaewon is where more than 200,000 foreigners reside. The district became popular for its restaurants offering various international cuisines. Every October, the district holds the Itaewon Global Village Festival selling foods and displaying cultural activities from around the world. Many people party in Itaewon as it offers exciting nightlife with distinctive style bars.

Ikseon-dong is a newly rising street that has mixed scenes of old and new. Many of the restaurants and cafes are set up in hanok, or traditional Korean-style houses. Visitors often expect to experience traditional Korean food there but most of the shops sell a fusion style of Western dishes made with local ingredients. The low-rise shops in zigzagged alleyways offer a scene that can't be experienced anywhere else.

Landmarks

The classic landmark of the country, N Seoul Tower, is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Seoul, built in 1969. It was established to send out radio and TV signals in Seoul, but now it serves as a culture complex. It stands 236.7 meters tall on top of Mount Nam that adds an extra height of 243 meters and offers panoramic views of the capital. The tower has been a popular venue among many young couples who come to hang padlocks with their names on the tower's fence as a symbol of eternal love.

Seoullo 7017 is an overpass-turned-sky park that opened in 2017. It stretches 1,024 meters long, and connects to 17 venues near Seoul Station. Pedestrians can walk between the venues within 20 minutes. However, it will take much more time to look around 228 species of plants decorating the skybridge.

Starfield COEX Mall is an underground shopping mall in the district where convention centers, exhibition halls and hotels are gathered. It alone owns 144,000 square meters on a single underground floor, making it Asia's largest underground shopping mall. Visitors will find no time to get bored at COEX as it houses an aquarium, a movie theater, virtual reality game zones and a large-scale bookstore. For K-pop fans, they can stay the whole day at SMTOWN at COEX Artium, SM Entertainment's culture complex space where its museum includes musicians' stage photos, outfits and accessories.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is probably the most iconic landmark in the Korean design industry, opening in 2014. Many people were worried such a spaceship-like design of the building by world renowned architect Zaha Hadid would not fit into such a traditional area in central Seoul. However, it has successfully settled as a space for art and design hosting the country's biggest fashion event twice a year and attracting thousands of fashion lovers. The venue also hosts a night market for people to enjoy street foods and shops after dark.

Lotte World may not be the country's biggest amusement park but it boasts the best accessibility for city dwellers. People can easily visit the theme park, located in southeastern Seoul, using the subway. It consists of a large indoor amusement park and an outdoor one called Magic Island. The rides at Lotte World may not be as extreme or challenging as those at other theme parks in the country, but many young couples visit Lotte World all year around for its romantic atmosphere and photogenic spots. Lotte World connects to an ice rink and the country's tallest building Lotte World Tower just across the street.

Palaces

Gyeongbok Palace is probably the most famous and most visited palace in the country. The main royal palace for most of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom is the largest of the five grand palaces built during the era. Joseon kings lived at Gyeongbok Palace. The royal guard changing ceremony is held in front of the main gate twice a day, which foreign visitors picked as the third-most favorite activity in the capital in 2011, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Deoksu Palace is not very far from Gyeongbok Palace, which is located near City Hall. The changing of the royal guard ceremony is also held in front of the main gate. The palace also owns a Western-style garden and fountain inside.

Changdeok Palace, located east of Gyeongbok Palace, is famous for its “Moonlight Tour” from April to October when visitors can experience the nightscape of the palace in a two-hour program from 8 p.m. Some descendants of the Joseon royal family lived there until the late 20th century.

Changgyeong Palace, just next to Changdeok Palace, is where queens stayed in Joseon and the government official events were held. Gyeonghui Palace was used as the royal family's private residence. The Seoul Museum of History is located in a corner of the palace.