Seoul Has More Than A Soul To Beckon Visitors

By Niam Seet Wei SEOUL, June 10 (Bernama) -- South Korea never fails to amaze the world. The country is synonymous with the infectious K-pop idols, romantic dramas, beauty industry and world renowned corporations like Samsung and Hyundai. As for the average Malaysian, the Korean pop culture and the Samsung smartphones have made Korea a household name. Who will not forget K-pop icon Psy's smash hit 'Gangnam Style' and his highly entertaining dance moves. And the word Gangnam refers to one of the 25 districts of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and it is one of the fast upcoming districts with its gleaming skyscrapers, shopping areas and nightlife. Suffice to say, it is an happening place for both the locals and visitors. SEOUL CITY WALL However, this writer found that Seoul has more to offer for any type of visitor. As for those who appreciate history and tradition, Seoul is also the place to be in. The Seoul City Wall (Fortress Wall of Seoul), a series of fortifications made of stone, wood and other material traversing a distance of 18.6 kilometers, was built 620 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Those visiting the wall will learn that it was built by King Taejo to protect Seoul, then known as Hanyang, from invaders and that it has survived the Japanese Occupation and the Korean War. Interestingly, the wall draws parallel with the great Wall of China as it too stands on the ridges of mountains - Mts. Baegak, Naksan, Namsa (Mongmyeoksan) and Inwangsan - and offers hiking trails with panoramic view. However, visitors are reminded to take public transport like subway train or bus while visiting Seoul City Wall as there are no parking lots near the tourist attraction. "The city is striving to preserve, maintain and utilise the fortress walls with the goal of having them inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List by 2017," said Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon when he served as a one-day tour guide during a press familiarisation tour recently. IHWA-DONG VILLAGE "Historic villages lie beside the ancient wall that have made this place so special, as it is a mix of wall and people who have been living here for generations," explained Park. A decade ago, the Ihwa-dong hillside village, on the inner side of Naksan mountain, the east side of Seoul City Wall, was slated to be demolished for redevelopment as it was seen as an old and unattractive slum. However, in 2006, the place was transformed into an Art City under the Naksan Project with some 60 artists hired to paint the walls and artworks installed. The village has become the most representative mural village in Seoul. Today, visitors will find themselves enjoying the vivid and creative murals on the walls while walking through the narrow alleys in the vintage neighbourhood. Colourful mosaic-tiled staircase will lead the visitors way up to the hill side to enjoy the mountainous surroundings and spectacular view of the modern Seoul skyline below. In 2010, "Ihwa-dong Village Museum" project was launched where total of 15 small art museums were established within the village to add up to the artistic elements within the village. Although the lively and thriving neighborhood welcomes artists and visitors to visit the community, visitors are reminded not to disturb the daily routines of the villagers. GWANGJANG MARKET Meanwhile, Korea is also known for its gastronomical offerings. And the Gwangjang Market is the best place for foodies looking for a place to satisfy their palate with a variety of traditional Korean dishes. Established in 1905, the more than 100 year-old market is renowned for its abundant food alleys selling snacks and traditional Korean food. The three main cramped food alleys - Jeon Alley, Yukhoe Alley and Mayak Gimbap Alley - each running a length of about 30 meters have a lot to offer for the visitors. Daily, thousands of people, both tourists and locals flock to the market to get a taste of Korean gastronomic delights. People sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the food stalls is a common scenario here. So what are the Korean delicacies that one should not miss here? The "2014 Fact-Finding Investigation on Inbound Tourists to Seoul" survey conducted among 3,000 foreign tourists found 37.5 per cent of the visitors recommending the bibibap (mixed rice with vegetable), followed by bulgogi (grilled marinated beef, 33.6 per cent), samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly, 33 per cent), seasoned chicken (22.8 per cent), galbi (beef ribs, 22.2 per cent) and samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup, 21.7 per cent). Besides the food alleys, Gwangjang Market is also home to more than 5,000 stores selling fabric, bedding, handmade crafts, ibaji food (a selection of food that a newly-wed bride takes to her in-laws after her honeymoon), and hanbok (Korean traditional costume). It is a must-visit place for Korean couples planning for their wedding or getting ready for their new home as they could purchase almost everything needed under one roof at reasonable prices. Gwangjang Market is open daily with some stores open as early as 7.00am and close as late as 11.00pm. THE KIMCHIKAN MUSEUM Speaking of Korean delicacies one should not forget to try the kimchi, a spicy and sour traditional Korean fermented vegetables. The kimchi dates back over 2000 years. It has become one of the must-have side dish that is served in almost every Korean meal and every household in South Korea has its own recipe for kimchi. To share the story behind this national dish the newly opened Kimchikan Museum, located at the famous cultural hub of Insa-dong, serves as the perfect location to introduce this precious Korean delicacy to foreign visitors. Apart from getting to know more about hundreds of varieties of kimchi made from napa cabbage, radish, scallion, or cucumber as a main ingredient, visitors who are looking for some fun and unique kimchi-making experience could opt for the kimchi-making class at the museum. By paying a total of US$18 (20,000 won, excluding entrance fees of US$4.5), international tourists could enjoy an hour-long of traditional kimchi making at Kimchikan Museum. The museum is open everyday from 10.00am to 6.00 pm and close every Mondays, Seollal, Chuseok, Christmas and New Year's Day. AIMS 20 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST BY 2020 Data released by the Korean Tourism Organisation (KTO) showed the number of Malaysian tourist arrivals to the country grew by 10.9 per cent year-on-year to 28,330 in 2014. The country aims to attract 20 million tourists by 2020. Park said the city would enhance the competitiveness of its tourism industry to achieve the goal of 20 million tourists by discovering new and original attractions to draw foreign tourists. --BERNAMA