Discover Seoul // All You Need To Know

Discover Seoul || The Complete Guide for Beginners

If you’re heading to South Korea soon, we’d love to help you prepare for your trip by giving you a complete guide to Korea’s capital, Seoul [서울].

Landscape, gastronomy, climate, culture, activities… Visiting Seoul is an ideal opportunity to discover the country and bring back wonderful memories.

In this guide to Seoul, we give you some information on the history of the city, places not to be missed and much more.

Don’t hesitate to go to the section that interests you the most👇.

Discover Seoul | Short History of Seoul

Discover Seoul | Things To Do in Seoul

Discover Seoul | Where to Eat?

Discover Seoul | How to Get Around the City?

Discover Seoul | FAQs

BONUS || If you like Japanese culture and want to discover Tokyo, we have written an article that you might be interested in.

click the link above 🤩

Short History of Seoul

Founded two thousand years ago by the Baekje kingdom, Seoul has been the capital of the Joseon kingdom for almost six hundred years.

At the end of the 19th century, breaking with a long tradition of isolation, Seoul opened up to foreigners and in particular to the United States.

DID YOU KNOW || Seoul was the first city in East Asia to have electricity, running water and a tramway.

The city’s development really began when it was named capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394. The city’s name changed from Hanyang (한양) to Hanseong (한성), and finally to Seoul (서울) in 1945.

Seoul means “capital” in ancient Korean.
For example, London is the Seoul of England, Washington the Seoul of the United States…

Seoul was quickly influenced by Japanese colonialism. This was followed by gradual industrialisation, which led to the formation of illegal settlements around the city.

In 1950, the Korean War broke out and Seoul changed occupants several times and the city was severely damaged during this war.

During the Battle of Seoul (one of the major events of the war), the Gyeongbokgung Palace and its Great Gate were burned down.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the city was rebuilt with US assistance.

Since the 1990s, the population of Seoul has grown considerably, especially with the influx of people from the countryside.

This capital is now extremely trendy with the popularisation of Korean dramas, Kpop, Korean culture…

Korean Cities & Provinces // A Complete Guide

Got the taste to come to Korea and want to know where to go? Then this guide of Korean Cities and Provinces is just what the doctor ordered!

Discover Seoul || What To Do

Shopping

If you are a fashion and shopping addict, you will love walking around Myeong-dong (명동).

This area has a large number of boutiques and shops selling the latest fashionable clothes and accessories.

There are huge department stores and popular Korean skincare brands such as Olive Young, Guess and U-too Zone.

As in any big city, styles mix and match, but still has a casual and urban feel, and this is also the case in the city of Seoul.

Take your time to stroll the aisles while checking out Korean beauty and fashion brands.

Korean Beauty Standards // A Guide to the Worldwide Phenomenon That is K Beauty

We all know that beauty is something very important in Korea. In this article you will find all about the most important Korean Beauty Standards.

Walking Along the Han River

The Han River area (한강) offers many activities to do with family and friends.

Want to relax by the river?

You can have a picnic here, but you can also pitch a tent to stay overnight!

Food can be delivered directly to the site, so you don’t need to travel.

Another activity you can do is a bike ride along the river. You can hire a bike for 3000₩/hr.

There are several parks where you can sit back and even enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul city.

If you’ve ever watched a Korean drama, you’ve probably come across a pedal boat scene on the Han River.

Rent a pedal boat for a few minutes or an hour and enjoy the view.

Korean Names // What are the Naming Customs in Korea?

Korean names are usually composed of three characters, but do you know about their meanings? What about generation names and clans? Follow our guide.

Visit the 3 Most Famous Places in Seoul

N Seoul Tower

The N Seoul Tower or commonly known as Nasam Tower is one of the most popular and visited places in Seoul.

Located near the Myeong-dong district, this tower is the most visible symbol of the South Korean capital.

Completed in 1969, this TV and radio transmission tower accompanied the economic development of post-war Korea. It has been open to the public since 1980 and has become a must-see attraction in Seoul.

The cable car is the most ideal way to get to the top, but if you want to enjoy the park, opt for the walk down, which will only take you half an hour.

At the top of the tower there is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the city below.

Lotte World

Lotte World is a theme park with over 8 million visitors per year, making it one of the largest theme parks in the world.

It is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world. It differs from other parks in that it is divided into two zones:

• Adventure: an indoor zone.
• Magic Island: an outdoor zone.

The park has many thrill rides, but also an ice rink, various types of parades, and much more.

Lotte World is a very popular park for Koreans, especially on weekends. Sometimes you have to wait between 30 minutes and an hour to get on an attraction.

To avoid this wait, we advise you to use the Magic Pass. This is a reservation system for free pass holders or annual members.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

This palace built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty is the largest of the five great palaces in Seoul. It is one of the most important tourist sites in Seoul.

Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in the 16th century, left abandoned, rebuilt in 1868 and ransacked again during the Japanese occupation.

It was restored to its original glory after the Second World War and was fully restored in the 1990s.

Within the palace grounds you will find the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folklore Museum of Korea.

The Palace Museum exhibits artifacts from the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, such as priceless antiques and artworks, as well as items for cooking, cleaning and daily life.

The National Folklore Museum focuses on everyday objects, as well as clothing and dioramas, to tell the story of the Korean people since prehistoric times.

6 Important Korean Proverbs to Know for Daily Life

Korean proverbs is one of the best way to get familiar to the country’s culture and history. Lots of them are about food, but who is surprised about that?

Discovering Seoul’s Theme Cafes

Why not stop by one of Seoul’s famous theme cafes for a break from sightseeing?

Seoul is a very aesthetic city, you can find many Instagrammable places like shops and squares. Of course, cafes are no exception.

With a café in almost every neighbourhood, Seoul is famous for its coffee culture.

But perhaps the most notable cafes in the city are those with a theme.

From monster drawings to cute little characters to Hello Kitty, here are our picks for the most interesting.

Discover Seoul || Where to Eat?

As in all other countries, there are many places where you can eat. Here we’ll show you some places you can eat in South Korea.

If you are interested in Korea and its cuisine, you have probably already heard of Korean BBQ.

Whether you’re heading into town with friends for a Korean BBQ night at a restaurant or hosting a feast at home, Korean BBQ has certain elements that should always be on the table:

• Meat
• Sauce
• Lettuce
• Vegetables
• Rice

Here are three of our top recommendations…

🤤 Noryangjin Fish Market || South Korea is known for its exciting and exquisite seafood offerings.

Noryangjin Fish Market is widely considered one of the top fish markets in the city.

It’s a popular destination for locals and tourists and one we recommend you hit up.

🤤 Han Chu Korean Fried Chicken & Beer || KFC, but not the one you know. This is better.

KOREAN Fried Chicken (with beer) is one of the South Korea’s greatest pastimes.

In South Korea this is known as chimaek (which is chicken and beer essentially). They love it, we love it and Han Chu does it as good as any in Seoul.

🤤 Gwangjang Market || A market you cannot miss. Plain and simple. The food here is so good even Netflix came crawling along to showcase some of Asia’s finest food stalls.

You won’t go wrong with anything here. Stroll up and down a few times, grab a few light bites as you go and fill your boots.

Little gems can often come in surprise packages too. When you travel to South Korea, you will find a convenience store on every corner.

The convenience store is a supermarket open 24/7.

That’s why they are a real source of happiness for those who are hungry in the middle of the night.

You can find not only food products, but also hygiene products, home products, etc.

You can find food and drinks in the convenience store and there’s often some really nice things in here which won’t leave a dent on your travel budget.

Take a night away from restaurants and markets and fill your bag with some convenience store treats. Take them to your favourite spot in Seoul – enjoy!

How to Read a Korean Menu // Tips and Tricks With Popular Dishes and Key Words

When you’re visiting another country, the first thing you want to do is try out the food. Learn how to read a Korean menu to make ordering a lot easier.

Discover Seoul || How to Get Around the City?

Before looking at the different ways of getting around Seoul, we will explain the use of the T-money card.

This card is used for buses and subways in major cities in Korea. It allows you to travel according to your needs.

You can buy it for 2,500 ₩ in local shops, 3,000 ₩ in subways and about 4,000 ₩ for a personalized card.

You can also recharge it at these places.

It is possible to save money on some trips. The price of the trip also depends on your age, but also on the colour of the bus you take.

Seoul Subway Lines

With 22 underground lines and 302 stops in the city, the Seoul underground is a very efficient way to get around the city.

Don’t worry, each station has English signs and stops are announced in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.

Getting around the underground is very orderly in Seoul. Most people line up at the train doors and enter in an orderly fashion.

There are usually reserved seats in the cars for the elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Avoid sitting on these seats as it is frowned upon.

You can use your T-money card to travel on the metro.

To do this, place your card on the detector at each turnstile. When you leave the platform, swipe your card again.

Seoul Bus Lines

Buses are convenient for short journeys.

However, although some buses are equipped with English announcements, it is more difficult to access them if you do not speak Korean.

Indeed, at the bus stops, there are indications on the stops but everything is written in Korean. However, the buses are numerous and have very distinct rotations.

The buses have different colours, so it is easier to recognise them and know where they go.

Taxi

In addition to public transport, the possibility of using a taxi should be mentioned.

Compared to other countries, taking a taxi in South Korea is not expensive.

You can easily find a taxi in the main cities of the country.

However, during traffic jams, rush hours… the travel time will be longer if you take a taxi.

Seoul is truly a city where it is impossible to get bored. There is so much to do, so much to see and experience.

If you already visited Seoul, what was you favourite place or your favourite thing to do? Let us know in the comments!

Want to improve your Korean? Don’t hesitate to grab a 7 day free trial on our Flexi Classes platform.

We now offer Korean courses IN PERSON in Seoul. Check our programs and contact us for more details.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Want More From LTL?

FANCY LEARNING KOREAN? Check out our online Korean courses here.

We offer a 7-day free trial to all online students where you can study Korean 24/7.

Want to study Korean in Korea instead? Our Korean courses in Seoul can either be taken in small groups of no more than 5 students or individually for a more tailored experience.

We even offer incredible homestay experiences in Seoul too.

To top it all off, it certainly doesn’t end with Korean. Check out the other languages we teach 👇🏻