Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Like a Local
Prepare for Seoul's cultural divide. Bukchon (north of the
Han River) is the city's historical heart, where courtly
palace culture meets pre- and post-colonial commerce.
South of the Han, nouveau riche Gangnam is stacked with
top-end boutiques and expense-account restaurants and
bars.
Round-the-Clock Shopping
Whichever side of the river they live on, Seoulites love (or is that live?) to shop. For all the
city's headlong rush into the 21st century, sprawling all-night markets, such as those at
Dongdaemun and Namdaemun, confirm more traditional and time-worn images of Asian
commerce. This impression is further reinforced by the bazaars devoted to herbal medi-
cines at Seoul Yangnyeongsi and to antiques at Dapsimni. A fascinating insight into local
life can also be gleaned from what people sell off at flea markets, the biggest of which is
the Seoul Folk Flea Market. If the old and secondhand aren't to your taste, contemporary
fashions and fads can be gauged on trips to mercantile hubs such as Myeong-dong, Ap-
gujeong, Cheongdam and Garosu-gil/Serosu-gil.
Keeping Fit
Going hiking in and around Seoul can be a frightening business. This is not so much be-
cause of the precariousness of the mountain trails (quite the opposite - these are usually
well marked and seldom short of small armies of hikers), but because you will almost cer-
tainly feel under-dressed. Seoulites are super avid walkers and few would even think of
venturing out without being kitted head to toe in the latest hi-tech and invariably brightly
coloured gear. A trip to Dongdaemun Market or a shopping mall to purchase an outfit of
local brands, such as Blackyak or The Redface, should have you breathing a little easier.
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