Seoul doesn’t lack places to shop. Whether you’re looking for dried seaweed, pricey Korean antiques, or the latest in designer fashion, you’ll find it in Seoul.

ⓒ Seoul Selection

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY IN THE HEART OF SEOUL

Written by Daisy Larios
Photographed by Ryu Seunghoo

Myeongdong Night Festival is Myeong-dong’s stab at staying up past its usual bedtime. Although both tourists and locals flood the area during daytime hours to indulge their bent for shopping, things generally shut down by 10pm. The festival seeks to lure party people away from the usual haunts of Itaewon and Hongdae and deep into the heart of Myeong-dong for their festive proclivities.

The open-air dance party—which was begotten as Myeongdong Dance Night last September—emerged from its winter hibernation on March 9, rechristened as the Myeongdong Night Festival. Even the lingering memory of winter’s cold couldn’t keep the merrymakers at bay. The unusually warm March weather brought out the spring fever in everyone; dance enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike were infused with the musical energy emanating from the DJs onstage. “It’s such an enormous task for the DJs to get such a big crowd excited. But the music is really great,” said Yiyi Lu, an exchange student from China.

The din of the crowd could be heard from Myeong-dong’s entrance, the continuous stream of lights signaling out to wayward revelers like a musical lighthouse. Amidst the specters of local retail giants like 8 Seconds and Teenie Weenie, a club-like atmosphere surged beneath the spring-like sky. Young city slickers donned their stunna glasses at night, and ardent dancers furtively practiced their dance moves a bit removed from the throng, impervious to any distractions. Spontaneous dance battles broke out along the edges of the amebic crowd, and at one point a conga line erupted and writhed its way through the masses, collecting neophytes along the way. A massive LCD screen overhead showed real-time footage of the event.

“I love it,” said Bruce, from Memphis, Tennessee. “I love everybody coming together and having fun!” The international camaraderie lasted long into the night, until the last beats of Myeong-dong’s dancing heart finally gave out at 2am. The store signs glowed on stubbornly.

Hosted by the Myeongdong Special Tourist Zone Association and sponsored by the Jung-gu district, Myeongdong Night Festival will be held once a month for the remainder of the year. The next party will be on May 4 and will be themed “the environment.” Restaurants and bars in the area will be open late on festival days, and the local CGV will be offering discounted late-night movie tickets. It is held in front of Myeongdong Theater—and best of all, it’s free.

ⓒ Seoul Selection

ⓒ Seoul Selection

FYI>
Myeongdong Night Festival
www.facebook.com/myeongdongnightfestival (Korean only)

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Myeongdong Theater (54 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 명동1가 54)

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© Seoul Selection

Zen Hideaway | 젠 하이드어웨이
(Myeong-dong)

This stylish restaurant in Myeong-dong has a calming energy in a wide-open atmosphere. The interior has Japanese lines
but a Thai edge. The food is an interesting blend of Asian and Italian. Here you can get pastas with a spicy seafood sauce or
a salmon salad with peanut sauce that is unfortunately named “salmonera.” Their crisp Roma-style pizzas are an excellent
choice, as are their ricotta chicken and broccoli and apple Gorgonzola. If Thai is more your thing, they have noodle dishes and soups. If you prefer Japanese, they have sushi. It is a place that will impress whomever you bring here.

FYI>

Cost: 15,000 a person
11:30am–9pm (last call)
T. 02-776-1461, www.zenhideaway.com
(4/5F, 52-13 Myeong-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 명동2가 52-13 4, 5층)

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Myeong-dong Station 명동역 (Line 4), Exit 6

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Dining delights in Seoul’s commercial heart[/box_dark]

Written and photographed by Daniel Gray

© Seoul Selection

Dessert Café: Dolce la Sera | 돌체라세라

(Chungmuro Area)

Dolce la Sera is a dessert café at the historic Astoria Hotel, which is conveniently located in Myeong-dong near Chungmuro Station 충무로역 (Lines 3, 4). It offers an array of desserts and bistro food for those looking for an afternoon refreshment. Dolce la Sera has a range of regular café offerings as well as some of their own inventions, such as a black sesame shake and even a red-ginseng frappuccino. Since the weather was cold, I ordered a red-ginseng latte, which was frothy and had a pungent ginseng scent. Surprisingly, the ginseng latte tasted great; it had a hint of sweet vanilla. For my meal I ordered a hearty club sandwich with crisp bacon, an over-easy egg, cheese, fresh lettuce, and tomato. The sandwich was good as well. So on to the desserts. My luscious vanilla bavarois (bavarian cream) came on top of a persimmon and had hundreds of little fl ecks of vanilla. It tasted like a vanilla-cream still life. Delicious. The star of the desserts was the chocolate mousse made with 70% Valrhona dark chocolate and 100% love. It was light yet had a robust chocolate structure; this is a decadent dessert, so small bites are advised. The desserts, food, and drinks here have a homestyle flair. If you are near the Astoria Hotel, Dolce la Sera is a nice place to tame your sweet tooth. Oh, and the quality desserts are reasonably priced—they start from just 5,000 won.

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Dolce la Sera | 돌체라세라

FYI>
7:30am–9:30pm (last call)
T. 02-2275-7473
(13-2 Namhak-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 남학동 13-2)

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Astoria Hotel: Chungmuro Station 충무로역 (Lines 3, 4), Exit 4.

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© Seoul Selection

Arirang: A Great First BBQ Experience in Korea | 아리랑

(Myeong-dong District)

Many tourists arrive to Korea late at night and with a hungry belly. Many might be overwhelmed by the large number of restaurants here. The first meal in a new country is important because it will set expectations for the rest of that person’s stay. For those who are staying over in the Myeong-dong area and craving some barbecue, Arirang comes highly recommended. Located across from the Westin Chosun Hotel, they have English menus and English-speaking servers that will help you cook and show you how to eat Korean barbecue properly. The restaurant prides itself on serving only high-quality hanu beef that is seared over white-hot wood charcoal. They are generous with their side dishes and sauces as well. You’ll get a wonderful array of kimchis and salads as well as fresh leaves and garlic to make your “beef and leaf” wraps, and there is a nice variety soju, beer, and wines to wash it all down. I recommend you start out with their chadol (thinly sliced marbled beef) and follow it up with some marinated beef rib. If you are adventurous, the beef tongue is not a bad option. The place is a bit more upscale, but you won’t be disappointed—it will serve you a great first meal in Korea.

© Seoul Selection

Arirang | 아리랑

FYI>
Cost: 20,000–50,000 won
11:30am–midnight
T. 02-752-1342
(#76-1, B1F, Sogong Underground Shopping Cneter, 9-9 Namdaemun-ro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 남대문로2가 9-9 소공지하쇼핑센터 B1 76-1)

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Eulji-ro 1-ga Station 을지로입구역 (Line 2), Exit 7

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