Aug 21, 2013 / Issue No. 594 Copy Editor Wanted: Seoul Selection is looking for a copy-editor for an economy-related publication. Applications should be native English-speakers with an econ background. Korean language skills preferred. If you’re interested, send a resume to planner@seoulselection.com. Looking for a Coordinator Part-time staff needed for SEOUL Seoul Selection is looking for a part-time coordinator to work on SEOUL, our monthly travel and culture magazine. Applicants need to be fluent in Korean and should have some proficiency in English. As coordinator, you will be expected to come up with cover concepts, arrange interviews, and perform general magazine promotion duties. You should also come up with monthly event listings. If this sounds like you, send a resume and cover letter to Robert at marmotshole@gmail.com. Around the Web A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler. – National Geographic in the DMZ. – A British girl group has released a Korean-language version of one of their hit singles. – Pyongyang goes shopping. – Who knew there so many little Korean peninsulas dotted the landscape? – Having trouble sleeping with this heat? Here are some suggestions. – A very beautiful view over Jeonju. – A very misty field in Hampyeong—great place to go in September. – What to do around Oryu-dong Station. – A Korean travel photographer goes to Mongolia. – Yours Truly took in the sunrise from Mt. Hambaeksan in Taebaek. Events Seoul Int’l Youth Film Festival (SIYFF) The Seoul International Youth Film Festival will kick off its 15th edition on August 22, featuring 40-plus films that have been created by young adult directors or that depict peculiar adolescent issues. Under the auspices of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, SIYFF also hosts a number of satellite events such as a film camp for aspiring teenage filmmakers and educational forums on media copyright and school violence. Screening sites are concentrated in the Seongbuk-gu district, near Korea University. PERIOD: Aug 22–29 VENUE: Arirang Cine & Media Center ADMISSION: General screening: KRW 6,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-775-0501, www.siyff.com GETTING THERE: Sungshin Women’s University Station 성신여대입구역 (Line 4), Exit 6 Broadway Musical Avenue Q Broadway musical Avenue Q is a coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Considered an adults-only version of Sesame Street, the American musical production will travel to Korea for a six-week run. Its storyline unfolds when Princeton finds an apartment on New York’s Avenue Q alongside Kate Monster; roommates Nicky and Rod; Brian and his Japanese-American fiancee, Christmas Eve; and apartment superintendent Gary Coleman. PERIOD: Aug 23–Oct 6 VENUE: Charlotte Theater ADMISSION: KRW 50,000–130,000 MORE INFO: T. 1577-3363 GETTING THERE: Jamsil Station 잠실역 (Line 2), Exit 3 Secret Garden Secret Garden, an Irish-Norwegian duo playing new instrumental music, is returning to the Korea stage on August 28 with its signature new age, crossover renditions. The duo has sold over three million albums and won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1995 with the composition “Nocturne.” Their accomplishment at Eurovision spearheaded the success of their first album, Songs From a Secret Garden. It sold a million copies around the world, going platinum in Norway and Korea, in particular. DATE: Aug 28, 8pm VENUE: Sejong Center for the Performing Arts ADMISSION: KRW 33,000–143,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-720-3933, http://sejongpac.or.kr GETTING THERE: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5). Hot Summer Sale Coupons The Gangnam Tourist Information Center (T. 02-3445-0111) has recently opened its doors, with the aim of offering international tourists a range of services, including interpretation, consultations on medical tourism, Internet access, and currency exchange. The second floor of the center’s two-story building features the K-Wave Experience Zone, dedicated to Korean pop culture. Visitors can also pick up a coupon book and gift pouch from the Seoul Hot Summer Sale 2013 (August 1–31), organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization. EVENT: Seoul Summer Sale 2013 PERIOD: Thru Aug 31 MORE INFO: www.seoulsale.com Everyday Koreans Mt. Hambaeksan   Some chilly hikers at the summit of Mt. Hambaeksan. Photo by Robert Koehler. *Click the photo to see a full-size version at our website. NOTE: If you have a photo you would like to see in our Everyday Koreans section, please sent it to story@seoulselection.com. Photos should be AT LEAST 950px wide. Send a one-line bio, too. Notifications Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com. Looking for Translators – Seoul Selection is looking for a few good translators (Korean to English) for general translation work. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to Kyehyun at trans@seoulselection.com. Experienced translators only. Seoul Selection eBooks – You can purchase some Seoul Selection titles in ebook format via Amazon.com (for Kindle) and Apple’s iBookstore. Titles include Ask a Korean Dude, Moon Tides, Doing Business in Korea, Once Around the Sun, and seven volumes of our Korean Film Directors series: BONG Joon-ho, IM Kwon-taek, KIM Jee-woon, LEE Chang-dong, LEE Man-hee, PARK Chan-wook, and SHIN Sang-ok. Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at book@seoulselection.com by the preceding Friday in order for it to appear in the following Tuesday’s issue.

Freelance Contributors Wanted – SEOUL Magazine needs writers who are fluent in both Korean and English. Writers should have a strong interest in Korean culture and be able to interview Koreans. Send your resume and writing samples to book@seoulselection.com.

Forward this email to a friend Unsubscribe / Change Profile SEOUL Magazine SEOUL (August 2013) Buy online for just $1 Buy Books at Seoul Selection’s ONLINE Bookshop! Sponsors Recommended Enjoy learning Chinese characters Boomerang Family New Books Exchange Rate and Foreign Exchange Policies in Korea A Single Shard Native Speaker New GANADA Korean for Foreigners (Intermediate 1) Public Management: A Research Handbook New DVDs 6.25 Korean War Masquerade 26 Years New World Gu Family Book

June 26, 2013 / Issue No. 586 Book Reading: Sybil Baker’s ‘Into This World’ Author Sybil Baker will be holding a bookreading from her latest novel “Into This World” at Seoul Selection Bookshop on Saturday, June 29 at 2 pm. For more details about the book, see here. ‘Korea Through Her Birds’ Discover Korea’s underappreciated avifauna world Seoul Selection is pleased to announce the release of “Korea Through Her Birds” by writer/photographer Robert Newlin. About the book Korea’s birds deserve a wider audience. The country’s geographical location, topography, temperate climate, and wealth of diverse habitats combine to support an extraordinarily attractive avifauna. Many visitors to Korea see the impressive metropolitan centers of Seoul or Busan, and others may visit Jejudo Island’s black sand beaches or hike the popular mountain trails. Fewer see the more hidden parts of the country: the western offshore islands, the scattered and diminishing wetlands, the picturesque east coast fishing villages, the mountain hamlets and the river valleys. We can glimpse these places through the birds that live there. Moreover, we can glimpse something else—hints of Korea’s people, culture, and history. A picture of a bird yields a narrow but genuine window into a country’s identity. What a country’s arts or folklore or language says about nature—or says by means of nature—has a special authenticity. Above all, there are the birds themselves, in all their many types of beauty. This book seeks to introduce the birds: through photographs, through descriptions of their lives, and through the ways our different cultures, Western and Asian both, perceive them. Price: KRW 28,000. SEOUL, July Edition Vacation in Seoul, Namhae and more Getting hot out there? Turn on the AC, pour yourself a cool, refreshing beverage and open up a copy of the July issue of SEOUL, Seoul Selection’s monthly travel and culture magazine. In this issue of SEOUL, we explore ways to spend your summer vacation within the city limits; venture off to far off Namhae for some sights, inspiration and pampered relaxation; talk with Kim Ok-hee of Yeouido Tteok Bang; enjoy a bit of summertime boyangsik; wander about Chungmuro and Seochon; and much, much more. And don’t forget, there’s always the Goings On Around Town, our monthly round-up of concerts, festivals, parties and other fun stuff happening around Seoul. If you don’t want to go all the way to a major bookshop to pick up a copy, you can always purchase an online copy for you US$1. Around the Web A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler. – How can Korea recover its lost artifacts? – The North Korean city of Kaesong has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. – Korean culture goes to Montgomery, Alabama. – The great Korean spell-checking project. – Explore Cheorwon on foot. – The Jungnangcheon can be a very beautiful place. – Gounsa Temple, a hidden gem. – The beautiful Daejeong Reservoir in Imsil. – What to do around Omokgyo Station. – Yours Truly took in the supermoon last Sunday. Events Arirang The Korean musical “Arirang” by renowned director Oh Tae-suk features performances of the many versions of the title song, a UNESCO-recognized piece of heritage. It focuses on the effort to bring back the remains of Korean independence fighter Gen. Hong Beom-do home from Kazakhstan, where he was deported by the Soviets in 1921. VENUE: National Gugak Center PERIOD: Jun 26–30 ADMISSION: S: KRW 30,000, A: KRW 20,000, B: KRW 10,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-580-3300, www.gugak.go.kr GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit 5. Transfer to maeul bus No. Seocho 12 or green bus No. 4429. Gauguin: Voyage into the Myth An exhibition titled Gauguin: Voyage into the Myth is under way at the Seoul Museum of Art, marking the first retrospective in Korea devoted to the French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. Highlighted in this exhibition are two distinctive periods of his career: the Brittany period, when he started his career as a professional painter, and the Polynesian period, when the artist lived on the southern Pacific island of Tahiti. Five renowned contemporary artists try to reinterpret Gauguin’s works through installation works, video art, and large-scale portraits. VENUE: Seoul Museum of Art PERIOD: Thru Sep 29 ADMISSION: KRW 13,000, http://gauguin.kr GETTING THERE: City Hall Station 시청역 (Lines 1, 2), Exit 1, 11 or 12. Walk 5 minutes. Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival is one of the most prestigious short film festivals in Korea. It differentiates itself from other short film festivals by trying a new concept that short films can also be categorized into a genree. In other words, the basic idea of the festival is that it would be interesting and fresh to view short films within the genre tradition. VENUE: Art Nine PERIOD: Jun 27–Jul 4 ADMISSION: T. 02-927-5696, www.msff.or.kr GETTING THERE: Isu Station 이수역 (Lines 4, 7), Exit 7 2013 Night Pool Party Spend a fun evening in the coolest part of town (both literally and figuratively), the rooftop pool of the Hamilton Hotel. The pool is followed by an after-club party. VENUE: Hamilton Hotel Pool DATES: Jul 5/13/20/27, Aug 2/3/9/10, 6pm–10pm (after club: 10pm–6am) ADMISSION: KRW 50,000 MORE INFO: T. 010-9793-9897 GETTING THERE: Itaewon Station 이태원역 (Line 6), Exti 1 Top Talent: Korea’s First Multi-Cultural All English Talent Search This is a compilation of amazing performances from the Top Talent finalists resulting in the announcement of the winner of Korea’s first all-English talent search competition. Following performances from the top acts, the audience will vote to determine which act will become the the winner of Top Talent and the cash prize. The show is presented entirely in English. AUDITIONS: Jun 29, 11am at Haechi Hall, Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center (Myeong-dong) FINALE: Jul 6, 6pm at Yongsan Art Hall MORE INFO: www.toptalentkorea.com RAS-KB Excursion: Introducing Korea’s Unique Gods and Indigenous Faiths Koreans have traditionally followed Buddhism and Confucianism as their two main religions. However, in addition to these two traditions, there have existed a variety of beliefs in gods whom Koreans have worshiped and enshrined. The goal of this excursion is to introduce some of Korea’s unique gods and indigenous faiths in our urban surroundings. VENUE: Several shrines throughout Seoul PERIOD: June 30 ADMISSION: KRW 22,000 for members, KRW 26,000 for non-members MORE INFO: See this link. GETTING THERE: See link above. Everyday Koreans Supermoon over Seoul   June 23’s “supermoon” over Seoul. The moon appeared 30% brighter and 14% larger than normal. Photo by Robert Koehler. *Click the photo to see a full-size version at our website. NOTE: If you have a photo you would like to see in our Everyday Koreans section, please sent it to story@seoulselection.com. Photos should be AT LEAST 950px wide. Send a one-line bio, too. Notifications Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com. Update Your Shopping Mall ID – Seoul Selection encourages you to change your ID and password for our online bookshop and shopping mall at Seoulselection.com. The old IDs and passwords no longer work following our recent upgrade. Looking for Translators – Seoul Selection is looking for a few good translators (Korean to English) for general translation work. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to Kyehyun at trans@seoulselection.com. Seoul Selection eBooks – You can purchase some Seoul Selection titles in ebook format via Amazon.com (for Kindle) and Apple’s iBookstore. Titles include Ask a Korean Dude, Moon Tides, Doing Business in Korea, Once Around the Sun, and seven volumes of our Korean Film Directors series: BONG Joon-ho, IM Kwon-taek, KIM Jee-woon, LEE Chang-dong, LEE Man-hee, PARK Chan-wook, and SHIN Sang-ok. Seoul Selection via Ingram – Seoul Selection now has a direct wholesale distribution agreement with Ingram Book Group, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of publisher content. By choosing to allow Ingram to represent our material, we have opened our titles to a wider audience. Our titles will be available for order through Ingram at more than 35,000 distribution channels worldwide. Ask your local bookstore to have Seoul Selection titles available! Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at book@seoulselection.com by the preceding Friday in order for it to appear in the following Tuesday’s issue.

Freelance Contributors Wanted – SEOUL Magazine needs writers who are fluent in both Korean and English. Writers should have a strong interest in Korean culture and be able to interview Koreans. Send your resume and writing samples to book@seoulselection.com.

Forward this email to a friend Unsubscribe / Change Profile SEOUL Magazine SEOUL (July 2013) Buy online for just $1 Buy Books at Seoul Selection’s ONLINE Bookshop! Sponsors Recommended Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea Duresori: The Voice of East New Books The Great Successor Kim Jong-Un Quick and Easy Korean for Migrant Workers The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future 4cut Cartoon Korean: Onomatopoeia, Mimetic word Korea Annual 2013 New DVDs School 2013 Man on the Edge Night And Day Asako In Ruby Shoes Night and Day

June 23’s “supermoon” over Seoul. The moon appeared 30% brighter and 14% larger than normal. Photo by Robert Koehler.

As rental prices in Seoul climb, more and more residents are fleeing to the suburbs

The Hanguk Ilbo reported on June 14 that more and more people were moving out of Seoul. And the statistics bear this out—the population of the city—well, the Korean population, anyway—decreased from 10,205,000 in 2009 to 10,036,000 in 2012. In the last two years alone, the city’s population has dropped by 133,000 people.

What’s prompting this exodus? The reason is simple, actually—rental prices. As anyone living in Seoul can tell you, rental prices in the Korean capital can get exorbitant. Earlier this year, the Economist Intelligence Unit put Seoul as the 37th most expensive city in the world. Purely rental properties are still relatively rare in Korea, with many residents making use of the jeonse system, in which the resident puts up a large deposit that the property owner either invests or places in the bank to earn interest. The resident can then live in the apartment rent-free for the period of the contract. This requires families to put up a large amount of money up front—for many low- and middle-income families, this is not an easy thing to do.

Jeonse rates in Seoul are climbing. One man interviewed by the Hanguk Ilbo rented a home in Seoul’s Gangseo-gu district for KRW 90 million up front in 2006. In 2009, the jeonse had climbed to KRW 115 million, and four years later, it reached KRW 140 million—a sum that approximated the man’s earnings for an entire year.

As a result, more and more residents are leaving Seoul for cities in the surrounding province of Gyeonggi-do and beyond, where rents are much lower. According to Statistics Korea, 10,005 more people moved out of than moved into Seoul in April. In contrast, in the same month, 5,492 more people moved to Gyeonggi-do than moved from it, 2,197 more people moved to Incheon than moved from it, and 1,482 more people moved to Chungcheongnam-do than moved from it. This suggests a significant exodus—or “self-imposed exile,” as some call it—from the capital city.

This phenomenon has not been without its problems. The exodus has been led by families with lower incomes. Even after relocating outside of Seoul, their places of work usually remain in the city, meaning increasingly long commutes;  obviously, this is both physically and emotionally tiring and reduces family time.

Even worse, the trend has produced a “balloon effect” of rising rental prices in the towns and regions surrounding Seoul. For instance, while Seoul’s jeonse prices have increased 28 percent since 2008, jeonse prices in the city of Hanam, one of Seoul’s closest suburbs, have climbed 40 percent. Similar rises can be seen in other nearby cities such as Gimpo, Ilsan, and Yongin. As the rise in jeonse prices spread, some residents worry about being turned into virtual nomads, pushed further and further along the subway lines from their places of work in Seoul.

According to the Hanguk Ilbo, one in three Koreans who pay jeonse for their residence believe they won’t be able to live in their current home for more than a year due to rising jeonse costs. In fact, over the last four years, the rise in jeonse prices has been more than triple the rise in incomes—jeonse prices have climbed by KRW 32 million, while average annual incomes have climbed only KRW 6.81 million. This, in turn, has led to fear that rising jeonse prices could spark a massive explosion in household debt.

What is interesting—and extremely distressing—is that even as jeonse prices climb, house prices are actually falling due to
the sluggish real estate market. Even if property owners sell their properties, they would be unable to repay their bank loans or residents’ jeonse deposits. According to the Chosun Ilbo daily, there were 559,778 households nationwide living in apartments where the jeonse is more expensive than the apartment’s sales price. Since property owners usually shift these losses onto the renters, the pain is being felt most acutely by low-income renters. This drags down the housing market even further, causing a vicious cycle.

Written by Robert Koehler

The historic Daeo Bookshop in Seoul’s Seochon district. The bookshop first opened in 1951. Photographed by Robert Koehler.

GAROSU-GIL
Trendy Gangnam street offers boutique shopping, fine dining

Written by Curtis File
Photographed by Ryu Seunghoo

Whether you’re looking for luxury goods, posh lounges, or an afternoon of the arts, there are few areas better to visit than the treelined street known as Garosu-gil. Located in the famous Gangnam district, the stylish avenue has a reputation for drawing the rich and the famous and is the place to be for the city’s young trendsetters.

Creative roots

Before it became the hip district it is known as today, the area used to be home to the studios of up-and-coming artists. In the late 1990’s, many of the galleries moved out and were replaced by design studios, fashion brands, and coffee shops. The street holds onto the imprints of its bohemian past.
Buildings and side streets are different than you’ll find in any other part of Seoul. Cobblestoned drives, European-style windows, and rows of golden ginko trees weave together the slew of designer shops and eateries.
Small modern art and photography galleries still populate the area, and it is still home to the famous Gallery Yeh. An architectural landmark, the gallery has featured the works of Korean and international artists alike and is the driving force behind many of the region’s art festivals. Known for bridging the gap between the local and international art scenes, the gallery is also a regular participant in major art fairs, including the International Fair of Contemporary Art in France.

Trendsetting shopping

Maintaining artists’ spirit of creativity and individuality, one-of-a kind designer clothes, shoes, and jewelry can be found all along the strip. Whether you’re after high-end, high-priced designer boutiques or cheaper street vendor goods, there is something for every shopper. These types of establishments are the reason Garosu-gil has earned the nickname “Designer Street,” becoming a beacon for fashion in the city.
Though the area has only become popular in recent years, it is quickly gaining global attention for its trendsetting reputation. Walking down the avenue, one will quickly notice that it’s not just the shops that are different. This is a place where Seoul’s best dressed come to gather and experiment with the latest fashions.

Many major fashion labels and cosmetic brands have taken note and are setting their eyes on the prime location. Brands like H&M, Hollister, Fossil, and Massimo Dutti have already opened stores along the main road. While some are worried that this will bring an end to the unique atmosphere of the area, all it really means is expansion. Many of the smaller boutiques have moved off the main strip and into the side streets, so any trip to Garosu-gil requires an open mind and a bit of exploration.

Atmospheric eating

Even if the shopping doesn’t interest you, the bevy of open-air coffee shops, wine bars, and restaurants surely will. The main road and its accompanying side streets are packed with Korean and European fusion restaurants, where one can enjoy an evening out at both decent, and indecent prices, depending on your taste.
Hand-painted signs, covered patios, and stucco walls offer a more inviting atmosphere than the average cement block buildings found throughout the rest of the city. Don’t let the pretty storefronts distract you, though. As usual in a city of Seoul’s size, it’s important to look both up and down, for some of the real gems of the district are hidden in basements or up on fifth floors.

Some must-see spots include Hello Bar, a basement wine lounge with one of the most unique atmospheres in the city. Guests can cuddle up with a date and enjoy a glass of wine while lying back on pillow-beds, or lounge on a sofa around a table with a group of friends. Apartmento is a small Italian restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and great views overlooking the treelined avenue. Though a bit pricier than other euro-bistros, you can’t find better pizza anywhere else on the block. Mug for Rabbit, Cork for Turtle is a necessary stop for any dessert lover. The two-story establishment is split into an intimate wine bar on the second floor and a cafe famous for its quirky cupcakes and oddly flavored lattes on the first floor.

But perhaps the best way to enjoy all that Garosu-gil has to offer is to explore whatever catches your eye. If you’re not too weighed down from a day of shopping and eating, Hangang River Park is a short five-minute walk from Garosu-gil. Grabbing a coffee and cupcake to go for a riverside picnic makes for a great way to end an evening.

FYI>

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1323377
(Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울시 강남구 신사동 가로수길)

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Sinsa Station 신사역 (Line 3), Exit 8.

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A FEAST FOR YOUR EYES
Devour some of Seoul’s finest views, and the cuisine that comes with them 

Written by Loren Cotter

Seoul is a skyscraper city with ample opportunities for dining in a picturesque setting. Whether you are at a peak of the metropolis’s surrounding mountain landscapes or south of the river in the hectic hub of Gangnam, you can undoubtedly discover an epic view of the Hangang River, hanok rooftops, or majestic skyscrapers. Uncover the cream of the crop through our guide to the most scene-stealing sights in the city and the restaurants from which to gaze upon them.

[box_light]Indulge with a sight of the Hangang, Seoul’s resplendent river[/box_light]

Walking On The Cloud, located near the top of the golden-faced 63 Building, is one high-rise dining option close to the Hangang River. Based in Yeouido, the view from the restaurant is truly dramatic—and the international menu has a price tag to match. An evening at the 59th floor location will set you back between KRW 96,000–230,000 for a multicourse set meal. The crayfish starter comes highly recommended, however, as does the magnificent view.

For more affordable fare at KRW 44,000 for an evening spread, Viking (T. 02-782-3344), an international buffet restaurant, has an excellent vista of the National Assembly at Yeouido—and the Hangang River behind it—from its 20th floor windows.

Looking for somewhere a little closer to the water? A Season of Secret Garden (T. 02-413-5535), an Italian floating restaurant and wine bar in Jamsil’s dock, is situated right on the Hangang itself, with full-length windows emphasizing the aquatic view. While the restaurant’s flashy exterior and interior decor may not be to everyone’s taste, the beautiful river landscape will be. Skip the overpriced desert (KRW 12,000) and make your way to one of nine cafes situated on the six bridges linking southern and northern Seoul afterwards.

Our top choice is Gureum Café (T. 02-3476-7999), where you can consume a soft drink or alcoholic beverage along with a spontaneous pork cutlet or steak meal while taking in Banpo Bridge’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show from spring to autumn.

Walking On The Cloud (59F) | 워킹온더클라우드

FYI>
T. 02-789-5904
www.63restaurant.co.kr, www.63wotc.co.kr
(60 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | 서울시 영등포구 여의도동 60)
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Yeouinaru Station 여의나루역 (Line 5), Exit 4 or Saetgang Station 샛강역 (Line 9), Exit 1

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While downtown Itaewon has many a rooftop bar, the preeminent views in this zone can be found on higher grounds. The elite viewing spot near the notorious foreigner district is of course at Namsan Tower. The view at the North Seoul Tower is especially astonishing from the N Grill (T. 02- 3455-9297) restaurant, a high-class eatery with a Michelin-starred head chef, serving French food in a pleasant, rotating restaurant.

The Grand Hyatt Hotel’s The Terrace (T. 02-799-8166), with its international buffet and a la carte dining, also boasts excellent views of central Seoul. During spring to autumn, customers can dine on the quaint veranda and enjoy a stunning outlook of Hangang River. Akasaka (T. 02-799-8164), the Hyatt’s Japanese dining spot, displays a fix of visual nourishment from its full-length windows, too. Private dining is available for both restaurants and guarantees a view, but reservations are recommended.

Near the Hyatt is Rufxxx (T. 02-511-2570), this writer’s favorite bar in Seoul. Hidden in the alleyways of Gyeongnidan, a stone’s throw away from Itaewon, Rufxxx is an artist’s former studio that serves simple meals on its first floor. While you cannot dine with a view at this establishment, you can look forward to drinking an after-dinner cocktail on a rooftop that boasts the stunning sight of Mt. Namsan and the Yongsan district.

Il Vino Rosso (T. 02-7540-0113), a classic Italian restaurant, is located near the base of Mt. Namsan and has its own garden. Not only can you get a backyard view, you can also book a table with a Seoul scene below it.

Dominic (T. 02-790-7558), a swanky steakhouse near Hangangjin Station, has floor-to-ceiling back windows overlooking the rooftops of Hannam-dong. While the view won’t take your breath away, it is pleasant, and the sumptuous steak dishes are recommended by local food bloggers.

The Terrace (1F) | 더 테라스

FYI>
T. 02-799-8166
http://seoul.grand.hyatt.kr
(322 Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | 서울시 용산구 소월로 322)
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Hangangjin Station 한강진역 (Line 6), Exit 1

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[box_light]Samcheong-dong brings visual pleasure from its quaint hanoks and rooftops[/box_light]

International dining spot Romanee Conti (T. 02-722-1633) in Samcheong-dong is hanok heaven, set slightly further back up the hill in a rustic, comfortable setting with floor seating. Try to nab the best seat at the window to eat dishes such as coq au vin with a view of Mt. Bukhansan’s peak.

Baedongbaji (T. 02-777-9696), a well-priced hansik, home-style restaurant, is tucked away in the alleyways leading up from the main Samcheong-dong drag and can be difficult to find. When you do finally locate the beautifully traditional restaurant, you will be utterly charmed by its quaint interior, peaceful atmosphere, and friendly owner. To consume with a perfectly framed tableau of Mt. Bukhansan, ask for one of the two upstairs rooms that face the mountain.

The Restaurant (T. 02-735-8441), located next to Kukje Gallery, is more costly at up to KRW 148,000 for a 12-course Korean banquet, but has a beautiful, modern interior with a large window overlooking a portion of the outer wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

For outdoor eating, Café Breezin (T. 02-722-8120), a desert and coffee shop serving the usual waffles and honey bread, possesses a lovely open rooftop with a street and mountain view. The superlative panorama in the local area, unfortunately, does not serve dinner.

Go for post-supper drinks at wine and coffee bar Fatum’s outdoor terrace (T. 02-739-9888). Set higher than other shops in the area, Fatum provides a 180-degree panoramic view encompassing the older architecture in the vicinity of Samcheong-dong and some of the higher parts of Gyeongbokgung Palace, all the way down to Seoul’s modern skyscrapers. It can get a little chilly on the balcony due to the height, but blankets are provided, and customers can always move to an indoor, lower floor, where the views are still exquisite—especially if you manage to catch a particularly stunning sunset.

Fatum | 파튬

FYI>
T. 02-739-9888
(63-15 Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울시 종로구 삼청동 63-15)
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Anguk Station 안국역 (Line 3), Exit 1

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One of the best views in the Gangnam area is from the 52nd floor of the COEX’s InterContinental Hotel at the sumptuously decorated Marco Polo (T. 02-559-7620) Asian and Mediterranean restaurant. The window-facing booths compete with tables at the modern 30th floor Sky Lounge (T. 02- 3430-8630) for some of the greatest vistas of Seoul’s illustrious district.

Another local restaurant with a scenic outlook is Arancio (T. 02-3400- 7200), a 26th floor Italian brasserie near Yeoksam Station where pasta dishes start at KRW 25,000. The owners of this eatery are said to have spent KRW 20,000,000 on their orange-tinted lighting, deliberately chosen to recreate the natural radiance of Tuscany. While the food at Arancio is not spectacular, it is reasonably priced considering the view is anything but mundane. Make sure to call ahead to reserve seating besides the windows. Seoul’s most glamorous ward also plays host to restaurants with some offbeat views.

Charming Italian brasserie Buona Sera (T. 02-543-6668) and Asian fusion restaurant Zen Hideaway (T. 02-541-1461) both include leafy indoor gardens in the midst of their Apgujeong establishments.

On a sunny day, Korean restaurant Samwon Garden (T. 02-548-3030) is a worthy choice for a relaxing meal in gorgeous surroundings. Eat outdoors in the traditional garden with its waterfall and fishponds while flexing your chopstick skills on some tasty galbi and bulgogi.

Sky Lounge (30F) | 스카이 라운지

FYI>
T. 02-3430-8630
www.iccoex.com/eng/rest/list.do
(159 Samseong 1-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울시 강남구 삼성1동 159)
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Samseong Station 삼성역 (Line 2), Exit 5 or 6

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