A gigantic city where the future joins the present, Seoul symbolizes the dynamism of South Korea and all of Northeast Asia. A city loaded with history, it concentrates an impressive number of exceptional sites that testify to its glorious past, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it is also a world capital of shopping, bursting student districts, gigantic business centers and traditional districts preserved.
Architectural Laboratory
Seoul is a capital of many faces. Many of these faces will be able to delight travelers during a first stay or even for those planning to stay again. Seoul metamorphosis at an incredible speed. For example, contemporary architecture lovers will see how the unique Tower of Jongno is cut in such a special way in the city's starry night or how GT Tower East seems to be just out of the ground. Or, for a panoramic view of this tentacular city, they will be able to go to the N Seoul Tower, in Namsan, which at the top of its 137.70 meters is an excellent observation station to admire the architectural changes of the South Korean capital. The Tower 63 also offers another view of the city, further south this time. From bottom to top, Seoul will be able to show itself in a new day. And yet we are not talking about the future Lotte Tower 123 which should silence all existing prejudices on the monotony of Korean cities…
Shopping Paradise
But Seoul is not just a succession of contemporary or ancient architectural wonders, it is also a city where shopping has long been imposed as a full-fledged activity thanks to its shops no longer able to count them, to its gigantic markets… Seoul is a real paradise for shopping. It is not surprising then to see hordes of young Japanese in the streets of Myeongdong, coming here especially for their purchases. Seoul's shopping is often written by women, fashion and cosmetics in mind. But this destination will not delight only ladies but also gentlemen, because it also includes the latest electronics and computer products, with the advantage of the same power outlets as in Europe.
Seoul Global Shopping Capital So? The name is not too much and there is a lot to bet that you will not know where to give head so much, varied and the choice of unlimited products: A stay will not be enough to make everything go!
Between the giant shopping centers offering shops, restaurants and leisure spaces under one roof such as Central City, I 'Park Mall or D-Cube City; or the inenisable traditional markets such as Dongdaemun specialize in fashionable fashion items or famous Namdaenum market which offers unlimited choice of articles, the choice between the products to be brought back will soon become corneal.
As a result, Seoul is also known for its countless neighborhoods, each offering its own identity, but which are all good places to approach Korean culture and have an insight into the modernity of the South Korean capital.
Neighborhood neighborhood
At the time of his stay, we will try not to miss the electronics market of Yongsan and Techno Mart, where all geeks in the world are eager to discover the latest born of the gadgets of the gigantic South Korean companies (the famous «chaebol»); the cosmopolitan Itaewon district, where young people from around the world make appointments for their night trips or even Insa-dong, which offers countless traditional articles and antiques by thousands or Hongdae encircling the University of Hongik. Here, young people rush into unique cafés, warm art galleries and tasty restaurants that make this neighborhood one of the most renowned in the area of avant-garde culture. The most dreamers will also be able to climb the district of Jongno following Cheonggyecheon, a watercourse open to the public in 2005 after decades in the basement, which is now one of Seoul's most popular places for walks at any time of the day or night. It is one of the charms of the city to propose this particular blend between tradition and modernity, between future and past. The whole is constantly intertwined as to remind us that Seoul did not build in one day.
One of the Capitals of Asia
Here, the extreme modernity and the unique hyperactivity of the Asian cities combine the serenity of the lovingly renovated old buildings, and the most lively neighborhoods are often just a few minutes walk from authentic places where tranquility makes it forgotten that we are in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic cities.
Moreover, it is to accentuate this impression that the municipality did not hesitate to replenish a traditional village known as Namsangol Hanok Village to the city center and the Myeong-dong district. On almost 80,000 m ², this village makes traditional houses offer to the pleasure of the visitors in addition to perfectly reconstituted houses a traditional Korean garden and the «place of the temporal capsule», whose presence is well, again, the link existing in Seoul between past, present and future. Indeed, this square actually covers a huge hole excavated in 1994 to commemorate the 600 years of the city and was intended to bury a hermetic capsule of 600 objects representing daily life in Seoul at that time, with CD-Roms and microfilms. This capsule must be opened in 2394, during the 1,000 years of the capital. This relationship between times does not exist only in this small reconstituted village, but also in the alleys of Bukchon where the most talented craftsmen in the country revive traditions that we thought were lost in old houses; while in the heart of Myeong-dong, a true temple of fashion, the crowded paths of fashionistas bloom good dynamism and youth. And also in the pedestrian alleys of Insa-dong, where dozens of restaurants are concentrated in tasty specialties that contrast again and again with the wide avenues of modern neighborhoods on the south shore of the Han River.
Yes, in Seoul, the most modern and proud skyscrapers of economic power compete with elegance and cohabit with palaces frozen in the time the kings of Korea led their country. Yes, in Seoul, it's all this and even more so that makes this city that never sleeps, a place where we're going next to the future.
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When is it? Summer is warm and humid (with abundant rainfall from June to August). Winters (from late November to early March) are Siberian with dry cold. Spring and autumn are pretty nice, because the air is fresh and sunny days.
Go there. The average price of A/R flight from Paris to Seoul varies between € 700 and € 1,300.
AIR FRANCE - More information on the site
KOREAN AIR - More information on the site
Useful. To best prepare his trip.
VISIT KOREA - More information on the site
