feature,
Have you ever wanted to travel to Seoul, the center of Korea, yet feel unsure of what to explore in that city and how to spend your won wisely? Are you planning to go there and see its colorful scenery, taste the delectable traditional food it offers, and admire its rich culture & heritage? Whether you are a K-pop fan or someone with wanderlust, here are some tips to make your trip to Seoul budget-friendly, fantastic, and unforgettable.
1. Take your time at the airport and enjoy the facilities offered.
As you arrive at Incheon International Airport and pass the immigration & customs declaration, immediately convert the money you have into won (KRW); for every 50 PHP, you get approximately 1000 KRW. Get the maps, tourist guide pamphlets, and welcome kits for free – they give you discount coupons, inform you of the popular attractions & public transportation of the city, and recommend you itineraries depending on the duration of your stay. In addition, take advantage of the high-speed wi-fi offered and install these invaluable apps on your phone: Visit Seoul Net, Korea’s official travel app, and Papago, a translator.
2. Shop until you drop at the shopping markets and malls.
Seoul’s shopping districts have a lot of must-buy items. From cosmetics & fashion for your look to household items & décor for your home, you will be satisfied with whatever you buy there. Perhaps the most popular and “best-known” district is Myeong-dong, which has department stores, marts, restaurants, street food stalls, and even an underground shopping center. A theater, a tourist information center, and a cathedral can be seen along its street as well. For shopping districts that offer lower prices, you may consider going to Namdaemun Market, Insa-dong Street, and Hongdae. Areas such as COEX, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, and Cheongdam-dong sell luxury goods and branded clothing.
These places also have local restaurants. As you dine in, make sure to taste the traditional dishes, such as bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetables and red pepper taste), bulgogi (soy-marinated beef), samgyeupsal (grilled pork belly), etc. Appreciate the generosity of the staff because they give various side dishes for free – kimchi (fermented cabbage) and clear soup.
3. Visit the historical palaces, hanoks (traditional houses), museums, and other cultural places.
Seoul is not just known for its shopping industry, but also for its rich history. As the capital of the former Joseon dynasty, it has a number of heritage sites in store for you. You may consider visiting at least one of the five grand palaces (some of them are on the UNESCO World Heritage List) of Korea – Gyeongbukgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung. As you go there, get a glimpse of the life of the nobility way back then and the architecture of the pavilions. You may also want to explore the hanok villages – Bukcheon and Namsangol, where you may participate in cultural exchange programs & wedding ceremonies. To add a twist, rent a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) as you walk along the streets and reenact the K-drama scenes you watch on TV.
Admission for the mentioned places ranges from free to 1,000 KRW. In addition, museums such as the National Palace Museum of Korea and National Hangul Museum are also near them.
4. Watch entertainment acts, exhibits, and performances of Korean artists & actors.
If you are lucky, seize the opportunity to watch performances of various Korean idols. You may watch at entertainment centers (a company called SMTown offers theatrical acts and concerts at the SMTown COEX at particular times of a week, for example) or buy a ticket (beware: in online purchasing, it only takes minutes for everything to be sold out) & bring it on the day of the live stage of the program or band you like. If you cannot do the former, you may just watch on Korean air programs such as MBC Music and Mnet.
Theaters are also found in different places of Seoul. Experience the essence of traditional Korean performing arts at places such as Jeongodong, Sejong Center, and Daehango. A cappella musical performances, hip hop dances, and even drawing are usually showcased.
5. Keep these final reminders on your head as you traverse the streets and establishments of Seoul.
Always bring the maps and tourist pamphlets with you. Asking for directions and places near your location is quite difficult, since most Koreans only know a smattering of English. Do not exaggerate details and use highfaluting English words when talking to them, as doing that will only confuse them and make them respond in a seemingly hostile manner.
Knowing colloquial phrases such as “Annyeonghasaeyeo” (“Hello”) and “Annyeonghigaseyo” or "Annyeonghigyeseyo" (“Bye”) is a great help, as well. It is a custom in Korea that people regularly bow to others and say those greetings; doing so will make them feel that you appreciate their culture.
Elderly people are treated highly in Korean culture. This means, when they take the subway or bus, youngsters are obliged to give their seats to them. If you find yourself in this situation, immediately give that seat and stand for ahjumma (“granny”).
Lastly, when you are using chopsticks to eat rice, try as much as possible not to stick them in the rice. As a Buddhist country, it is a Korean custom that sticking sticks in a bowl of sand be done in funerals to honor the dead. Doing that gesture reminds of this funeral tradition, thus suggesting that the people around you are dead. If you cannot do so, ask for a pair of spoon & fork, instead.
Now that you are given these pieces of advice, go, and marvel the beauty of the capital of Korea. Explore the establishments, shop for must-buy items, observe proper behavior, and make your trip SEOULit! Enjoy! //by James Tolosa
Feature: Tips on How to Make Your Korean Adventure SEOULit
Have you ever wanted to travel to Seoul, the center of Korea, yet feel unsure of what to explore in that city and how to spend your won wisely? Are you planning to go there and see its colorful scenery, taste the delectable traditional food it offers, and admire its rich culture & heritage? Whether you are a K-pop fan or someone with wanderlust, here are some tips to make your trip to Seoul budget-friendly, fantastic, and unforgettable.
1. Take your time at the airport and enjoy the facilities offered.
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
2. Shop until you drop at the shopping markets and malls.
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
These places also have local restaurants. As you dine in, make sure to taste the traditional dishes, such as bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetables and red pepper taste), bulgogi (soy-marinated beef), samgyeupsal (grilled pork belly), etc. Appreciate the generosity of the staff because they give various side dishes for free – kimchi (fermented cabbage) and clear soup.
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
4. Watch entertainment acts, exhibits, and performances of Korean artists & actors.
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
Theaters are also found in different places of Seoul. Experience the essence of traditional Korean performing arts at places such as Jeongodong, Sejong Center, and Daehango. A cappella musical performances, hip hop dances, and even drawing are usually showcased.
5. Keep these final reminders on your head as you traverse the streets and establishments of Seoul.
 |
| Photo credit: James Tolosa |
Knowing colloquial phrases such as “Annyeonghasaeyeo” (“Hello”) and “Annyeonghigaseyo” or "Annyeonghigyeseyo" (“Bye”) is a great help, as well. It is a custom in Korea that people regularly bow to others and say those greetings; doing so will make them feel that you appreciate their culture.
Elderly people are treated highly in Korean culture. This means, when they take the subway or bus, youngsters are obliged to give their seats to them. If you find yourself in this situation, immediately give that seat and stand for ahjumma (“granny”).
Lastly, when you are using chopsticks to eat rice, try as much as possible not to stick them in the rice. As a Buddhist country, it is a Korean custom that sticking sticks in a bowl of sand be done in funerals to honor the dead. Doing that gesture reminds of this funeral tradition, thus suggesting that the people around you are dead. If you cannot do so, ask for a pair of spoon & fork, instead.
Now that you are given these pieces of advice, go, and marvel the beauty of the capital of Korea. Explore the establishments, shop for must-buy items, observe proper behavior, and make your trip SEOULit! Enjoy! //by James Tolosa
Wooow sobrang informative nito. Ang saya basahin nitong article heheuehe
ReplyDelete