Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
owls will have little difficulty finding places to dance until the crack of dawn. Throw in an
excellent public transportation network, safe streets, and a good variety of accommodation
options, and it's easy to understand why some expatriates never make it beyond the city
limits.
Of course, Seoul also has its shortcomings. The city's northern location means it often
has harsh winters. Air quality, while it has improved markedly in recent years, can be poor,
especially in the spring when winds bring in dust from China. Major streets are constantly
thronged with cars and crowds. Space constraints mean housing is frequently expensive and
cramped, at least by North American standards. And while the government has tried to in-
troduce more green space into the city, there's still a shortage of places to soak up some
fresh air or to stroll. How well new arrivals take to Seoul seems to depend on where they
came from; city-dwellers tend to feel right at home, while people with suburban or rural
backgrounds may find they need some time to adjust.
Seoul city center
Long seen as little more than Seoul's backyard, Gyeonggi-do, which encircles the capital,
has started coming into its own. A small but diverse province that includes everything from
