세종대왕 or Sejong Daewang. Seoul's most iconic landmark is the statue of King Sejong, or Sejong the Great, the 15th century Korean monarch. This statue was dedicated on October 9, 2009 to celebrate the 563rd anniversary of the invention of the Hangul, the Korean Alphabet, by King Sejong. King Sejong is also attributed to the promotions and advancements of agriculture, literature, science and technology as well as Confucian philosophy in Korea.
숭례문 / 남대문 Sungnyemun / Namdaemun is one of the Eight gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul which surrounded the city in the Joseon dynasty. Also referred to as the Great South Gate, the historic pagoda-style gate dating back to the 14th century is designated as the first National Treasure of South Korea. The wooden pagoda atop the gate burned down due to arson in 2008, but was completely restored and reopened in 2013.
Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market in Seoul that dates back to the 14th century. Located across Sungnyemun, it is the oldest and largest market in Korea.
코엑스몰 or Starfield COEX Mall located Gangnam-gu is a unique underground mall and also houses a convention and exhibition hall. With over 154,000 square meters of space with 144,000 square meters in a single floor, the Starfield COEX Mall is the world's largest underground shopping mall.
Inside Starfield COEX Mall is the Byeolmadang Library, housing over 50,000 books and 600 magazines and serves as an events center.
청계천 or Cheonggyecheon is a modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul. Originally a drainage stream during the Joseon dynasty, it connects to the Han river and empties into the Yellow Sea. From years of being used and neglected, the Cheonggyecheon deteriorated and dried up. In the 1960s, an elevated highway was built over the stream and the stream was completely forgotten. In 2003, a major project led by then Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-Bak initiated the removal of the elevated highway and re-introduce nature to the city by restoring the historic stream. More than 120,000 tons of water are to be pumped into the stream from the Han river. The restored Cheonggyecheon stream opened in 2005. Today, the Cheonggyecheon stream attracts not just people but different species of birds and wildlife. The stream significantly improved the temperature of the surrounding area.
The Cheonggyecheon stream stretches over 8 kilometers of recreational space and restored nature. I had to say "restored" or "man-made" because even though this is nature, majority of the structure and the components that rejuvenates the water flow is man-made. Still, the effect of urban renewal and reintroduction of nature is undeniable. I visited the stream in November and lanterns are lit for the Seoul Lantern Festival.
N서울타워 or N Seoul Tower, officially the YTN Seoul Tower, commonly known as Namsan Tower, or simply Seoul Tower. They may be a lot of names but they refer to the same 236-meter tall communications tower. Located on Namsan Mountain, the N Seoul Tower is South Korea's first generation radio wave tower, providing television and radio broadcasting in Seoul. The tower currently broadcasts signals for media outlets KBS, MBC and SBS.
Rising at 262 meters, the Namsan Mountain provides a scenic aerial view of Seoul. Visitors can either hike or ride the Namsan Cable Car.
Public transport such as these buses are highly efficient and is the best way to go around Seoul. The stations and buses provide free wifi access so you can navigate on Google Maps. The pass is also a transit card (T-Money) that can be used for buses, trains and taxis. They are easily reloaded in convenience stores.
Enjoy 서울시 Seoul City with a 24, 48, or 72-hour mobile discover pass. Benefit from free entry to 40+ attractions and discounts at 60+ attractions, shows, shops, and malls. Take public transportations through the city and visit major attractions and palaces. Get one through GetYourGuide
