서울중앙시장 - Seoul Jungang market
Tasty street eats in Seoul’s hidden gem
Many visitors already know and frequent Dongdaemun market, a shopping mecca for anyone interested in local fashion, or Namdaemun market, where hundreds and thousands of residents flock every day. Although smaller in size, Seoul Jungang market used to rival the other two markets in prominence and was the center of wholesale buying in the ‘70s, housing almost 80 percent of the total grain trade in Seoul at the time. The market began to stagnate, however, when retail stores and department complexes started popping up nearby. A 2004 renovation was designed to update the facilities and make the space easier to navigate, and these days the market boasts more than 1,000 vendors and has become one of the biggest dried seafood markets in Korea. Head to the Seoul Jungang Market to try some of the country’s best anchovies, squid and dried pollack, and be sure to check out the market’s assortment of snack carts and other vendors that sell vegetables, rice cakes, bread and meat of all kinds. Some of the food stalls stay open till late at night, but plan on being there early since most stands close early in the afternoon.
Deoksugung Palace 덕수궁
Deoksugung Palace served as a royal residential palace when most of the other palaces in the country had been burned down during the Imjin War (1592-1598). As a result of this history, the palace served as a royal court for Kings Seonjo (r. 1567-1608) and Gwanghaegun (r. 1608-1623) and Emperors Gojong (r. 1863-1907) and Sunjong (r. 1907-1910). It is especially admired for incorporating both Western and Korean architecture, including a modernized pavilion and western gardens that stand together with more traditional buildings from the 16th century. In addition to being beautiful, however, this strange mixture of architecture is also a reflection of the turbulence of Korean history. At the palace’s rear garden sits a Romanesque pavilion, Jeonggwanheon Pavilion, designed by Russian architect Aleksey Seredin-Sabatin. This space, along with the rest of the palace grounds, are beautiful all throughout the year, making it one of the most romantic spots in the city – it isn’t uncommon to spot couples walking hand-in-hand around Deoksugung Doldamgil, the stone wall that protects the grounds. If you are lucky, you can witness the changing of royal guards at Daehanmun, the front gate.
Namsangol Hanok Village 남산골한옥마을
Pil-dong, where Namsangol Hanok Village is located, was once a famous vacation spot during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) because it provided a superb view of the city. Five hanok, or Korean traditional houses, that used to be scattered around different parts of the city were relocated to this area in 1993, carefully disassembled, transported and reassembled over the course of four years. As is the case with Korean design of the past, the five houses, pond and pavilion were all arranged in a way that complements the natural landscape of the area.
Somerset Palace Seoul 서머셋팰리스 서울
Somerset Palace is an excellent place to stay if you’re exploring the vast Gangbuk area on the northern side of the Hangang River. The hotel is conveniently located in the neighborhood surrounding Gwanghwamun Plaza – the heart of Seoul – and is within walking distance of all Five Grand Palaces and many international embassies. In fact, on the top floor of the hotel, visitors can get a spectacular view of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Blue House. The hotel also serves as a luxurious residential suite for any visitors looking to arrange a long-term stay in Seoul.
Lotte World Tower and Lotte World Mall 롯데월드타워
& 롯데월드
Shopping at a new landmark
It’s only been a few months since the Korean-Japanese conglomerate Lotte Group opened its highly anticipated Lotte World Tower & Lotte World Mall. Lotte World Tower is a super-skyscraper reaching up to 555 meters in height, built with the goal of becoming a major landmark in Asia. Although the upper parts of the building remain in construction, once the structure is completed in October 2016, the tower will have 123 floors and will be the tallest building on the Korea Peninsula. Lotte World Mall is a separate complex that is partially connected to the tower. The mall is a one-stop shopping center that aspires to provide unprecedented services to its patrons – and succeeds: Lotte has placed all of its shopping and entertainment branches in the building, from the Lotte Cinema for cinephiles and the Lotte Duty Free Shop for traveling shoppers to the Lotte World Aquarium for families with children and Avenuel for shoppers looking for luxury goods. In total, nearly one thousand brands are available within the well-designed shopping complex.
source: magazine.seoulselection.com
