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The Internet's best South Korea Travel
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Discover the Charms of Seoul, KoreaAuthor: Wolfgang JaegelThe biggest as well as the capital city of the Republic of Korea (South Korea,) Seoul is an intriguing destination, situated in the mid western region of the Korean Peninsula, on the Han River, near the North Korean border, otherwise known as the de-militarised zone (DMZ), which in turn is a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. Spread over an area of 605 sq km, Seoul has been designated with the status of a Special City, and is directly under the administration of the national government. In 1948, Seoul became the capital city of South Korea. Additionally, Seoul witnessed several wars and destruction during various phases of its history. But, Seoul has been now transformed into an international destination, with a sound commerce and sports scene. Despite its modern soaring buildings and sophisticated expressways, Seoul still retains its old world charm. For those who want to enjoy the traditional culture of Korea, a visit to Seoul's Insa-dong would be a great experience. Situated in the middle of the city, Insa-dong is an exciting as well as colorful place with alleys on either site. All of the alleys seen here are packed with traditional restaurants and teahouses, cafes, and shops, where both traditional and precious items are put for sale. It is also home to a number of interesting art galleries such as Gana Art Gallery, Gana Art Center, and Hakgojae Gallery, which is the center of folk art. One of the best ways to tour these galleries is via the Art Center Bus, which takes you to more than 10 much famed art galleries in the region. Of the marvelous attractions in Seoul that deserve a special mention is the Gyeongbok Palace, also known as Northern Palace. Built in 1395 by Taejo Seonggye Lee of the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeongbok is perhaps the most beautiful of all palaces in the area. Sprawling over an area of 495,000 the palace's highlights cover Geunjeongjeon - the main hall, Gyeonghoeru - the banquet pavilion, and Hyangwonjeong, which is island developed within a pond. Also, within the palace is the National Folk Museum, with some rare artifacts. Another fabulous palace in Seoul is Deoksugung, which has to its credit an amazing mix of temples and gardens. Also, a great palace in the area is Changdeokgung Palace, which still serves as the residence of Royals. However, a guided tour is the required to take a visit to Changdeokgung Palace, the oldest palace in the city. Seoul's incredible attractions also include a variety of ancient shrines and pagodas, such as Chongmyo Shrine and Chogyesa Temple. A specialty is that many of the shrines in Seoul are graced with beautiful Buddhist art. Your visit to Seoul would not be complete without taking a tour to Dongdaemun Market, which is dubbed as the 'Mecca of Fashion.' With a large collection of shopping malls, Dongdaemun Market is a place to shop a full range of clothing items and that too at cheap prices. Both retail and wholesale shops can be seen here, and few among them are Freya Town, Doosan Tower, Migliore, Designer's Club, Nuzzon, Migliore Valley, and Gwanghee Fashion Mall. Also, found in the vicinity is Dongdaemun Stadium, which is a great place to shop sporting materials. Another popular market place in the area is Namdaemun Market, where everything from men and women's apparels, children's wear, and shoes to kitchenware, indigenous items, and imported goods can be shopped. Since this market area has such a great number of shopping malls, it is recommended to plan in advance prior to shopping. A must-see attraction in Seoul is Mt. Namsan, a 252 m mountain located in the heart of the city. Mt Namsan and its surrounding areas have been maintained as a public park. Among the highlights of this symbolic mountain are the Palgakjeong Pavilion, Seoul Tower, Namsan Library, and a marine aquarium, and a botanical garden. You can reach the summit either via the hiking trail or through a cable car ride. Namsangol Traditional Korean Village is close to the mountain. Other not to miss attraction in the area are War Memorial, National Theater, Korea House, Myong-dong Catholic Cathedral, Sejong Cultural Center, and Sejong Cultural Center. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/discover-the-charms-of-seoul-korea-288042.html About the Author:The Accor Group manages Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Formule 1, Grand Mercure brands and offers services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in nearly 40 countries use a broad range of services engineered and managed by Accor Services. |
South Korea - the Blend of Modern and the TraditionAuthor: Alex AlbertSouth Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and is between the Yellow Sea and the East Sea. Koreans trace their history back to Gojoseon kingdom in 2333 BC and has seen the vicissitudes of time to emerge as what one sees in the present. The country is homogenous with the population with Korean ethnicity and the rest few as the foreign migrant workers. South Korea today is one of the worlds technologically and scientifically advanced nation. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/south-korea-the-blend-of-modern-and-the-tradition-330313.html About the Author:For all those who want more information on South Korea Hotels and for online reservation facility visit AsiaRooms. |
Experiences of meeting and getting to know Koreans in Seoul, South KoreaAuthor: PaulSymonds
The people I met in Seoul, South Korea for the most part were very friendly and welcoming and getting to know Koreans both fun and a pleasure. Teaching one-to-one in South Korea, a lot of students were often very open and talkative even about many things in their life. As a Westerner, I was well outside of the students normal circle of family and friends thus they could talk to me about anything and freely. Many other teachers experienced the same type of discussions. Koreans can sometimes be very shy when it comes to approaching people of the opposite sex thus many Korean men look for an intermediary, when they want to meet a girl they see in a public place. This is the reason why venues called 'Booking' are so popular in Korea. They are similar to discos, where young single people go to meet people of the opposite sex, but in 'Booking' clubs, if a guy is interested in a girl he informs the waiter, who in turn, brings the girl to the table. The guy will buy the girl a drink and the girl can decide how long to stay or not stay at the table with the guy. The way of approaching marriage and finding a partner is very different from in the West. In one of my conversation classes, 'Marriage and Relationships' was the topic of conversation between five intermediate level students and myself. The story from one businessman was interesting. He unsuccessfully pursued one young lady for several months, but in the end he made a proposition. 'Come out with me just ten times and then we will decide if we will be married'. I mention this story because it in many ways is very typical of stories I heard on many occasions, from my students. The feeling is that, when getting together with a partner, one is very seriously considering the person as a potential wife/husband. In many ways, I personally like this style in that people are clear about what they are looking for. In another way though, it seems as though dating becomes very serious, very quickly. Marriage is a very serious matter in Korean history and in modern day Korea. Many female students I have taught, who are in their late twenties, have had no boyfriend and they are under-pressure from their family to get married. If you are thinking about travelling or working in Seoul then it is a fascinating country and with a wonderful culture and people. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/experiences-of-meeting-and-getting-to-know-koreans-in-seoul-south-korea-857263.html About the Author:Paul writes about Seoul Korea travel and Seoul, Asia culture. |
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