Where Have You Been Recently?
I Seoul You
By Karen Dauan
Korea nowadays is seen by people as the “it country.” With its popularity, KPop and KDrama are dominating our TV. Aside from that, certain Korean gastronomic delights are almost a big thing in the Philippines. We already have their BBQ, ice cream, and noodles in various restaurants and supermarkets.
Korea is not only for the KPop fans or KDrama addicts. Korea is a perfect place for those who want to experience modern Asia, where everything is just a click from a smartphone away, while still rich in culture. You will fall in love with it as much as I did. Also, if you want to experience a less tropical destination, this is the perfect and cheapest place to be.
All set for an epic Korean adventure.
For first timers, five days is not enough to truly experience South Korea. There are numerous places you can go in Seoul alone. What more with the other regions?
Here are some recommended destinations for your Seoul searching:
If you watched Boys over Flower, you might remember N Seoul Tower. Do you remember the scene where Geum Jan-Di and Goo Jun-Pyo got stuck inside a cable car overnight? It’s this place. This is also where you can find the famous love locks. Bring your significant other and put a lock for that eternal love with each other.
Myeongdong Shopping Street is considered one of the busiest places in Seoul. You can find most of Korea’s famous street foods here. And if you like Korean cosmetics, you will be overwhelmed with how many cosmetics shops you will see here. That happened to me. There were so many that I got confused which to buy and therefore missing the chance. Make sure you have a list ready before venturing into this Korean cosmetics haven. Either you buy everything you see or buy nothing, like me. Lastly, you can find good quality but cheap clothing stores here. This, I actually enjoyed. Tip: Make sure you read and check what is written on whatever statement shirt you will buy. Lol!
Cable car on N Seoul Tower (above); Myeongdong Shopping St. (right)
I really recommend going to DMZ and JSA. The fact that you’ll get to see a soldier from North Korea and experience stepping inside North Korea is quite amazing already. Not only that, you’ll get a glimpse of the history of North and South Korea’s civil war. Not to mention the good looking Korean soldiers you will see! Descendants of the Sun feels! Look for your ‘Big Boss’ while you’re there! Tours here are quite expensive but worth it!
Sales Team at DMZ
Gyeongbokgung Palace or as I’d like to call it, ‘The Time Machine.’ It is fascinating how a place like this is located in the heart of one of the most modern cities in the world, Seoul. Stepping inside the Palace brings you back to Joseon dynasty. It is Old Korea inside but when you step out of the gates, you will see a modern city once again. Time Machine. One way of learning more about their culture is through this palace.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Walls of the Time Machine
Walking distance from Gyeongbokgung Palace is Insadong, another shopping street in Seoul. It is mostly selling traditional items. Perfect place to buy pasalubong. If you like arts and crafts, this place is perfect with its museums and artsy shops. They have paint, brushes, paintings, and even antic looking displays.
Yongin MBC Dramia (Daejanggeum Park) is the place where most of the traditional dramas and movies of Korea are filmed. They recreated how Korea looked like hundreds of years ago to make it a shooting location. You might be familiar with some of the dramas shot here, including Princess Hours, Moon Embracing the Sun, and Empress Ki. If you’re lucky enough, you might be able to see a live shoot. Just like what happened to us.
That’s just six out of the hundreds of places you can visit and enjoy in South Korea. My ultimate tip for anyone wanting to go is to make sure you do your fair share of research about the destination and their local transportation. Knowing the places that suits your taste before heading on to your Korean adventure is also a good idea. You will want to be prepared and enjoy every moment of your trip. Lastly, try to learn some basic Korean language. It will prove to be very helpful.
My stay in Korea is not only special because “I’m Karen who loves everything Korean.” What I genuinely treasure about my trip in Korea is how I got to know and bond with my team – the Sales Team. So, if you’re planning to go there too, I bet you will also have memorable experiences as I did and you will have a great time with your friends and family, or with yourself if you’re doing it solo – soul searching style. Or should I say, Seoul searching.
Peace out.
