Sights of Seoul

Seoul has many amazing things to see and explore.  For this blog post, I am going to highlight the specific locations that my family visited during Chuseok week last September.

Namsan Seoul Tower
This tower can be seen from almost anywhere within the city because it sits on Namsan Mountain (elevation 243m) and is itself 236m tall.  We took a cable car up the side of the mountain to its base and then rode the elevator up to its tippy top.  At the top is a huge observation platform, from which you can see all of Seoul at your feet.  Around the base of the tower there were also decks and observation points.  Many couples buy locks and hang them on the railings and fences to symbolize their love.  They then throw the key into a special key bin up there, because their love is eternal.

riding up the mountain in the cable car

view from cable car

Love Locks

Observation deck at the base of the tower

standing at the top of the tower, we can see the shadow of Namsan tower cast on Namsan mountain below us

Sungnyemun Gate, the South Gate of Seoul
This gate was originally erected in 1398.  It is one of 4 great gates, each facing a cardinal direction: North, South, East, and West.  There are also 4 minor gates facing the ordinal directions: SE, NE, SW, and NW.  The gates were the only openings in a huge wall that surrounded Seoul during the Joseon dynasty.  The wall, built in 1396, stretches for 18.6km and is between 7-8m high.  It was built to protect Seoul against invaders.

Beautifully painted ceiling in the interior of the gate.

We thought these might be bullet holes in the stones.  They could have been damaged during the Korean War.

large doors at the gate

Deoksugung Palace - Changing of the Guard at Daehanmun Gate
We did not enter this palace, but just witnessed the changing of the guard out front.  It was interesting to watch the procession, with all the different uniforms, and to hear them play their instruments. (The video did not turn out good enough to include here).

Namdaemun Market 
We went to this market twice, once during the day and then again at night.  It definitely has 2 different personalities, based on the time of day you visit.  During the day, all the shops are open and there are street vendors selling all sorts of interesting goodies.  At night, the shops are mainly closed, but the food vendors take over the streets and you can try some very tasty treats!

DAY TIME AT NAMDAEMUN MARKET

NIGHT TIME AT NAMDAEMUN MARKET

Sebitseom Islands
These are not natural islands, but rather man-made floating islands on the Han River.  They are made to look like flowers, in a very architectural way.  Each one is actually a floating building, with restaurants, galleries, and party venues inside.  The three islands are made to look like the three stages of a flower's life.  The seed, the bud, and the full bloom.

Some Gavit - Full Bloom

Eating lunch at Vista Restaurant in Some Gavit.

Some Chavit - Flower Bud

Some Solvit - The Seed

Art exhibit in Some Solvit

Gyeongbokgung Palace
This palace we did enter.  The palace was built in 1395 and is the largest in Seoul. Since we went during Chuseok, there was free admission.  On non-holidays it is free to enter if you are wearing Hanbok, which can be rented at nearby costume shops.  On Chuseok many people were wearing Hanbok anyway because of the holiday and the great photo ops.  We opted out of this cultural experience.  Our kids have all worn Hanbok already.  It was still fun to walk around and see other people in Hanbok.

Gwanghwamun Gate, the main gate of the Palace

Inside Geunjeongjeon Hall

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

There are many other sights in Seoul, including some incredible museums that I will have to save for another blog post.  There is too much to fit it all into one.