< Statistics from the Korea Tourism Organization Website (http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/)>

            

             According to the survey taken by Korea Tourism Organization, tourists were satisfied by unique Korean culture – they gave 4.3 out of 5. However, they were disappointed by lack of shopping opportunity in Korea: shopping scored 3.8 which was the lowest. Many found the language issue as the reason; tourists often do not know how to speak Korean and average Korean does not speak fluent English.

             One day, a Korean American friend of mine, who was suffering from the same language problem, asked me for help. She has been studying in North Carolina, the United States and visited Korea during the Spring break. It was her second time visiting Korea, and she wanted me to guide her around Seoul. She said, “I want to play around Seoul just like average Korean girls in 20s.” So we decided to make a plan focused on “eating, playing, and shopping.” The following was our plan: Sinchon, Chunggye cheon, N-Seoul Tower, and Myeongdong.

             Guiding my friend in Seoul was a challenging task because Seoul is not yet a good tourism site – only 4.7% of 506 foreigners living in Seoul answered that they want to tour Seoul (2010 fall statistics from Korean Tourism Organization). In other words, entertainment in Seoul is more targeted to Koreans. I wanted to take my friend to either Dongdaemun or Daehakro where she could see collected shops and theatres respectively. But since we only had a day, we decided to follow the green subway line, the line number 2.

 


First Hot Spot: Sinchon

                                              <Image from Korean Tourism Organization Website>
             
Sinchon is not only home of Yonsei University or Ewha Womans University but also to spirited college students. It is college students’ one of the most favorite entertainment spot. There are both large shopping malls and small shops. Any girl can buy whatever she wants: clothes, cosmetics, and accessories.

             At Sinchon, I took my friend to the shopping street around Ewha Womans University because the shops sell diverse clothes in affordable price. Also, I wanted her to shop like average college freshmen who do not have affluent money but wish to be fashionable. Furthermore, I took her to cafés around Sinchon and Hongik University. Between Sinchon and Hongik University, you can easily find colorful, unique cafés. I wanted to take her to my favorite café where you can buy a bowl sized hot chocolate, but the room was filled by the time we arrived there.

 

Second Hot Spot: Chunggyecheon and N Seoul Tower

 

             In order to arrive at Chunggyecheon and N Seoul Tower, we took the subway to the Seoul City Hall. We walked along Chunggyecheon to N Seoul Tower – we walked roughly half an hour. Chunggyecheon and N Seoul Tower is not an amazing entertainment center. Yet, the two are the symbols of Seoul. Chunggye cheon, which is located near the Seoul City Hall, is a manmade stream. It symbolizes the harmony between the city and nature. In the meanwhile, you could look down the Seoul from N Seoul Tower, the first electric wave tower.

             Chunggyecheon and N Seoul Tower intrigued my friend a lot. She seemed to be fascinated by observing the Seoul in one look.   

 

Third Hot Spot: Myeongdong

                                                   <Image from Korean Tourism Organization Website>

             My friend enjoyed Myeongdong the most because she bought all the souvenirs for her family in the United States and for herself. I recommend to visit Myeongdong during weekdays since it gets heavily crowded during the weekends; if you have enough time and money, it is a good place to shop and play.

 

Words from my friend:

Seoul Metro

             Thank you, Seoul Metro. Although there were difficulties due to heavy amount of people using the metro, it was a comfortable transportation for its cheap price and easiness to move from one spot to the next. I think the subway line is well organized for citizens. However, the subway lacked map information in foreign languages – in my case, English. Especially when the station is jammed, I could barely move on my will; before I had a chance to check my destination, I had to follow the stream of people to just get out of the station. So, I recommend other tourists to search the map before you go out.

 

Sinchon

             I heard many college students or young adults hang around at Sinchon. My first impression was “this place is for everyone!” Sinchon has all different types of entertainment. You can shop, eat, chat, sing, or watch a movie. Also, I found coffee shops or shopping malls with themes very fascinating. You would enjoy just looking at distinctively decorated shops. (I did not expect to see lots of dogs or cats in a coffee shop – pet café.) 

             Though Sinchon is a center of entertainment, I do not recommend this place for Korea-beginners. Sinchon is for those who know Korea, Korean, and the place well. If you super wish to visit Sinchon, be prepared. The more you know, the more you will see.

 

Chunggye cheon

             Chungye cheon is a manmade stream in Seoul. (I remember watching English documentary on this stream.) You can play in the stream since the river is Class 2 level of water quality; however, the water is very cold. Anyways, I was awed to the fact that this beautiful and calming stream is artificial. There were people jogging and tourists taking photos, too. Though the stream is not so long, a cup of coffee and a nice walk along the stream would refresh you.

 

N Seoul Tower

             N Seoul Tower is a symbol of Seoul and the highest place where you can see the scenery of Seoul. The tower was originally the first electric wave tower to send TV and radio broadcasts.

             In order to arrive at the tower, you need to take the cable car. I saw some people walk to the tower, so you could walk to the tower if you’d like. When you arrive at the tower, you can look down the city twinkling in lights. You do not necessarily have to go up the tower to watch that scene. You need to pay to first enter, second to look around Teddy Bear museums inside the tower. If you do not want to spend too much money on the tower, you do not need to. Just enjoy the night scene outside.

             Yet, I recommend you to look around the “Lovers’ locks.” At the Roof Terrace, you could notice a fence locked up in hundreds of locks. Families, couples and friends write a wish on locks and lock them on the fence.

 

Myeongdong

             Myeongdong is a good place to eat and shop. I think you can easily buy clothes you want at Myeongdong since there are so many different brands. Also, some shopping malls have international brands so even foreigners can easily buy some. So if you want to go shopping at Myeongdong, you better bring enough money. However, not so many people speak in English. I heard some people speaking in Japanese – perhaps to grab Japanese tourists’ attention.

 

 

/MIZY Youth Reporters Yeongran Ahn

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