South Korea, once considered a developing country is now one of Asia’s economic and cultural leaders. It has beautiful landscapes and 5000 years of culture and history. It is famous for its economy and technology and is a fine example of what a country and its people can achieve. It has widely retained its traditions and customs. Its highly distinctive culture makes it a strong attraction for tourists.
Here are some fascinating places in South Korea:
1. Gyeongbokgung palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace was once the Joseon dynasty’s main palace. The palace has rich, vibrant colors and beautifully detailed designs. The National Folk Museum is located within the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It highlights an exhibition about traditional Korean life. One can spend their time strolling around the pavilions, halls, and gardens.
2. Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung and Changgyeongung palaces are separated by a single stone wall. They are one of the most beautiful and powerful symbols of Korea’s ancient past. The Changdeokgung Palace is declared as a world heritage site. The palace and its gardens follow the Korean tradition of harmonizing with the local surroundings. It owns hundreds of different plants, some of which are more than 300 years old.
3. Korea Furniture Museum in Seongbuk-gu
This museum is housed in ten traditional Korean styles of “Hanok” houses. It has over 2000 pieces of traditional furniture. The museum strives to popularise Korean furniture all over the world. The Hanok shows the dignity of tradition and the elegance of the exterior Hanok the furniture on display radiates the beauty of Korean tradition.
4. Seongnagwon Garden
Seongnagwon Garden is the last standing traditional Korean garden in Seoul. This garden has a small stream pooling at two ponds on its way down the slope to the front entrance. The garden’s traditional landscape technique allows each scenic spot to unfold one by one.
5. National Museum of Korea
This is the largest museum located in South Korea. The grounds surrounding the museum offer a variety of natural attractions. The design of the building has a traditional Korean architectural design that has been reimagined in a contemporary way. The museum has three stories’ worth of Korean cultural assets that range from ancient times to modern-day.
6. 24th summer Olympic stadium Olympic park
Olympic Park was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The park houses a handful of museums including the Olympic museum as well as the Seoul Olympic Museum of Art. Park is also a great destination for beautiful nature within the city. The rolling hills of the park are a great place to have a picnic.
7. Cheonggyecheon stream
The Cheonggyecheon Stream draws natural elegance into the core of the city. The stream was once concrete and covered by an elevated highway. It has Unique bridges and stepping stone pathways that have strong symbolic meaning.
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8. BukchonHanok Village
BukchonHanok Village is located close to Seoul’s famous palaces and dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. This village used to be home to high-ranking officials and almost all houses reflect the traditional olden times. The village is built on top of a hill and is one of Seoul’s main tourist attractions but is also a residential neighborhood.
9. Dongdaemun design plaza by Zaha Hadid Architects
The aim of designing this plaza was to preserve the site’s history and combine the newly discovered history in the architectural landscape which also revolves around the ancient city wall and history. This outer landscape transforms Seoul city into a greener city. The voids and folds in its surface offer a glimpse into the new world of the design.
10. Starfield coex Library
Stands right in the heart of Starfield Coex Mall is the prestigious Starfield COEX Library. In 28,000 m² of space spread across two floors, four imposing 13-meter-high columns-bookcases hold a total of 50,000 books, as well as over 600,000 magazines and journals. The design accommodates everything from areas for reading, giving presentations, and holding conferences.
11. Namsan Tower
This Tower is located on the top of Mount Namsan in central Seoul and was built as a communication tower in 1969. The walk towards it can be challenging, but the views are sensational. Each of the tower’s four observation decks allows us to see several of Seoul’s signature landmarks from above. Offering a 360-degree view of the entire city, the tower is the highest point in Seoul.
12. Lotte World Tower
The Tower is the World’s fifth tallest building. Inspired by the traditional Korean art forms in the design of the various interior program spaces. The building consists of more variety of functions than normal a tall building. The building’s top 10 floors are for widespread use by public and entertainment facilities and include an observation deck and a rooftop café.
13. APEC House
The Nurimaru APEC House was constructed specifically for the yearly Leaders’ Meeting of APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, in 2005 and is now a museum. The house is now a museum dedicated to the 2005 meeting. The building faces the ocean from the south end of Dongbaekseom Island, a forested peninsula to the west of Haeundae Beach.
14. UN Memorial cemetery
Killed in battle during the Korean War from 1950-1953, The UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea honors UN soldiers from 16 countries and UN aids from five countries. This serene park spreads across a grassy plain area of 135,000 square meters.
15. Shinsegae: World’s Largest Departmental Store
The Guinness Book of World Records declared Shinsegae Centum City as the world’s largest department store. Covering half-a-million square meters, the center contains hundreds of upmarket shops and restaurants. There are multiplex cinemas, an ice-skating rink, and even a golf driving range in the center.
