VISIT SEOUL
 
Seoul
Seoul is an intriguing city transforming itself from the Yi Dynasty
capital of the Hermit Kingdom to a major mover and shaker on the
international scene, especially in the field of commerce and sports.
Nowhere else is the Korean drive to come to terms with a turbulent and
fractured past so evident.
Seoul was battered by Japanese and Manchu invasions in the 16th and
17th centuries and flattened by the Korean War; most of its cityscape
is modern. Overshadowed by high-rises and 12-lane freeways, it yet
retains a hidden history of centuries-old temples, palaces, pagodas and
pleasure gardens.
Despite being home to 10 million residents, Seoul is a safe and
friendly city with a low crime rate. Seoulites work long hours but also
enjoy socialising and are generally more than kind to foreign visitors.
If you look lost, someone is bound to offer to help you.
Area: 605 sq km
Population: 10.3
million
Country: South Korea
Time Zone: GMT/UTC
+9 (Standard Time)
Telephone Area Code:
02
Orientation
Seoul is in the northwest corner of South Korea. The border with North
Korea is only about 40km (25mi) from the city centre. The central area
is the most important for both sightseeing and accommodation, with Mt
Namsan forming the southern perimeter. Tourists and shoppers are well
at home in Itaewon, south of Mt Namsan. The Han River winds through the
city, splitting it in two. The Gangnam-gu area on the south bank is
Seoul's most exclusive neighbourhood, but on the whole, the southern
areas have less interest to the traveller than the historic northern
neighbourhoods. The World Cup stadium is to the west of the city, in
Mapo-gu.
Easily the most maddening thing about Seoul is the system of street
addresses. If you've spent time in Japan, you might have some luck
understanding the system, but probably have no better chance of
actually finding anywhere without a detailed map; even the locals seem
baffled by the system. Addresses are not given according to consecutive
numbers along a road, but as random numbers within an arbitrary block
of land. You will need to wander around looking for your destination,
as there are virtually no street signs (let alone street names). Most
business cards have maps printed on the back.
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