photo credit: Sophia Sparks
Planning a trip to
Seoul,
Korea? Have a few days to burn? Here are some of Seoul’s most memorable must-see attractions.
Gyeongdong Market
If you seek an exotic foods experience in Korea, head no further than Gyeongdong Market, located in the Dongdaemun-gu district of Seoul. National tourism publication Korea Sparkling describes it as a “traditional herbal medicine market.” Its herbal au naturel scent starts from the moment you disembark the subway. Be forewarned: this is not for the squeamish.
I decided to investigate the market for myself in an attempt to find an herbal remedy. From the moment I walked up the metro steps directly into the maze of little stalls, the pungent smell of fish and herbs wafted through the air. Stalls sell everything imaginable here: mud-covered roots, animals, colorful powders, and jellies. If you are seeking alternative treatments, it is not possible to conduct business unless you speak fluent Korean or bring an interpreter. The last thing you want to do is confuse your prescription by pronouncing one syllable incorrectly.
Leathery-faced ajumas, or old ladies, chop herbs and cooked potions, shouting at customers to buy their daily special. Turtles, worms, and strange squirming creatures flip around in buckets of water. I stopped to take a picture of some of the critters, but was stopped when someone hit me in the back. “Ani! Ani!” a lady shouted at me, mumbling in Korean. A group of people began to crowd around me, staring and chattering as if I were the first foreigner they had ever seen.
I concluded that despite my interest in exotic alternative medicines, the most natural solution would be to turn back to modern medicine and just take a Tums or Beano. If I ingested most of the concoctions, I would surely end up in the international clinic with a plethora of bugs or a tapeworm. Alas, I left empty-handed, happy to escape the scent of garlic, sweat and bugs. This is a Seoul must-see sight, whether you know what to do with unlabelled roots or not. Roald Dahl could have drawn inspiration from this spectacular display of alternative health products.
Jimjilbong (Naked Fun!)
What the heck is a jimjilbong? The best invention that never happened in the West! It’s like the YMCA on steroids. Located throughout Seoul, they are large 24 hour community centers that feature multiple fitness centers, pools, saunas and steam rooms inside. They offer spa services, snacks, alcohol, a babysitting center, restaurants, sleeping areas and free movies.
How much does a day or overnight cost here? Admission is just $7 USD. Upon entrance, you are given an electronic wristband to make charges for extra items such as food and beverage purchase and beauty purchases. A spa uniform is provided, and there are separate nude spa areas for men and women.
When I first visited the jimjilbong, I was too wimpy to get naked. A few drinks later, I mustered up the courage to go nude and discovered the even more luxurious domain of the female jimjilbong. The enormous center featured ten marble tub pools of varying temperatures from hot to freezing, as well as individual baths, showers, steam and herb-infused saunas for health. I ordered the full body massage and scrub by pointing at the services menu to one of the spa ladies. A few minutes later, a lady in a wet black bra and panty set arrived and ordered me to lie down on the table. It took a few minutes to relax, but she soon massaged and scrubbed me until my body went limp. For $25 USD for a one-hour massage and exfoliation, you cannot beat the price and memorable experience.
If you don’t want to get nude, grab a dinner at one of the many cafes or restaurants or go for a swim. Male/female groups can relax in the co-ed area, which feature cold, hot, salt, and green tea vapor rooms. Televisions are widely available and they are child-friendly. Jimjilbongs are focused on community and health, and after a few relaxing hours here you will feel refreshed and ready to face the world.
Dongdaemun Fashion District
When I first heard about this shopper’s paradise in Seoul I was more excited than a child who still believes in Santa. The megaplex shopping centers, vendors, and peddlers selling goods is visually overwhelming. You can buy everything fashion-related here from wacky accessories to sample socks for international buyers. If sparkly bits and bobs, eclectic clothes appeal and the occasional pirated imports appeal to you, look no further than Dongdaemun.
Large stores such as Doota, Migliore and Hello AM/PM sell floor after floor and row after endless row of clothing, ranging in price from dirt cheap to expensive. Sizes run very small, mainly ranging between 00-4. If you are slightly larger, expect vendors to ask “why are you so big?” Sometimes big means tall, but you never can be quite sure. As a standard size two, I was usually not allowed to try clothes on because they told me, “No! You so big! You stretch clothes!”
Shoes over size 8.5 for women are a rare catch. However, if you can fit them you are in luck. The Korean woman’s passion for cute shoes puts the Sex and the City cast to shame and all for a great price. If you can pass on the designer duds, a standard pair can run from $6-15. Having bought numerous pairs, including a glitzy bedazzled pair of stilettos, I can attest that they are very comfortable and hold up well.
When shopping here, make sure you take frequent breaks and stay hydrated otherwise the visual overstimulation could send you tumbling down a flight of escalators as I did. Be aware that shops are closed on Monday. A little patience, a little luck and some negotiation skills can have you armed with shopping bags by the end of the day.
Street Food, Anywhere and Everywhere, Seoul
Mmmm. Street food. So greasy, so delicious, yet so vile all at once. I was surprised to find that most of the stands in the city serve the exact same set menu. Spicy rice noodles, corndogs and a variety of fry-on-demand bits like egg, octopus, mandu and rice balls are widely available. Simply order by pointing at what you want and the owner will prepare it and service it piping hot.
Usually the stands have plastic chairs, where you can sit and gobble up your little snack that costs between $1-5. Stand owners are usually very friendly and will gladly serve you a cup of water and provide chopsticks and napkins. If you are not accustomed to regularly eating very spicy food, you might need to blow your nose. Tissues are always provided at the stands. Best of all, this is a vegetarian option.
photo credit: Sophia Sparks
Day Trip to North Korea
If you are American a day trip to
North Korea is not a wise idea. However, day tours to the DMZ (demilitarized zone) are available through the USO or other private tour companies. Features include visits to Camp Bonifas, the Military Armistice Building, Checkpoint 3, the Bridge of No Return, and North Korea’s giant flagpole at Propaganda Village.
From the moment your bus begins to approach the first camp, you can see North Korea across the river. I took a trip with the USO and it is a chilling experience. Through large binoculars, visitors can look into Propaganda Village, a fake village created by North Koreans to show their prosperity. No one lives there and their land is ravaged, yet we were able to see a few people working in the fields.
photo credit: Sophia Sparks
At the Military Armistice Building, which is the negotiation room between the North and South, you can witness the opposing sides facing each other just feet apart without flinching for hours. It is eerie to stand in front of the North Koreans as they look out of their building’s windows with binoculars at the tourists. I had a slight fear of being shot point blank by a Northern soldier, however a disclaimer must be signed as this is a small risk. Despite the chilling, somewhat dangerous feeling of this trip, it is one of the last divided countries in the world making it a true must-see.
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The guest article above was written by Sophia Sparks, freelance writer and avid traveler.
