Things to Do in South Korea

Even beyond the Korean War, South Korea's history is wrought with conflict. The War Memorial of Korea documents this history with a focus on the country's relationships with North Korea, China and Japan. A full-fledged museum, the memorial is housed in the former headquarters of the Korean Infantry.

Within the eight main exhibits is an extensive collection of equipment from the Korean War, including tanks, guns and military planes, as well as a series of sculptures and paintings depicting patriotic war efforts. Those who only have time for one exhibit should be sure to visit the Korean War exhibit. Technically, the Korean War is still ongoing, and tensions often run hot between the North and the South, rendering the information here particularly relevant. Travelers who plan to visit the DMZ will benefit from a trip to the War Memorial of Korea first, as it is a great place to full flesh out an understanding of this complex conflict.

Once the royal residence of Prince Regent Daewon-gun, this historic palace is now a public museum that draws locals and travelers to its ornate halls and impressive gates. Visitors will find a network of galleries inside the palace where mannequins dressed in traditional clothing pay homage to the nation’s colorful past. The Morakdang Hall, the palace’s largest building, was once a women’s residence. Visitors will find a typical Korean kitchen here and may even catch a contemporary wedding ceremony, since the space is a popular spot among locals exchanging vows. And while these are certainly lovely to see, lucky travelers who visit Unhyeongung in the spring or fall have the opportunity to witness a royal wedding reenactment. The ceremony is an exact reenactment of King Gojong and Empress Myeongseong’s wedding and showcases traditional royal fashion and costumes, which are sure impress. 

Nicknamed “College Street” for Seoul National University, Seoul Daehangno is Seoul’s theater and arts district. The university has since moved, but the neighborhood with its parks and cultural arts centers remains. On weekends, Maronnier Park transforms into a large outdoor performing arts space for Seoul’s youth. Local and international performances of all types are held in the 40 or more theaters in the area.

Notable venues include the Batangol Art Center, Dongsung Art Center and the Literary Arts Hall. Each venue will have posters plastered on the walls outside advertising what’s currently showing, so even if you don’t speak Korean, you’ll be able to get a decent idea of what’s on offer. Before you catch a show, stop in to one of the area’s many small cafes and eateries for some traditional Korean food.

During the early summer months, Seoul Daechangno hosts the Seoul Theater Festival, with the Seoul Performing Arts Festival following in autumn. Both events put on dozens of performances, mostly in Korean, but occasionally in English as well.

Located in the lively Hongdae nightlife district, Seoul’s Trickeye Museum does just what it says; it teases your senses with an optical illusion technique called trompe l'oeil that gives two dimensional works of art a 3D appearance. It’s also one of the few museums in the world that makes art interactive.

Bring a camera, because the exhibits at the Trickeye Museum are designed for photo ops. Plant a big wet one on the cheek of Mona Lisa, launch a giant Angry Bird or pose in an upside-down room that makes you look like you’re meditating on the ceiling. The museum’s Santorini Gallery houses three additional exhibit rooms with more serious works of art from contemporary artists.

The museum stays open well into the evening hours, so it’s a good place to visit on your way to a night out in Hongdae. For the price of admission, you’ll have a camera full of unique souvenirs to take home with you.

Constructed for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 19th annual Asian Games, the Jamsil Sports Complex is situated along the banks of the Han River. Designed by architect Kim Swoo Geun, the profile of structures are intended to resemble the curving lines of a Joseon era porcelain vase. All told, the complex is capable of seating upwards of 100,000 spectators.

Opened in 1984, Jamsil hasn't housed a major international sporting event since the aforementioned Olympics. Today, the facility is home to equestrian events, the Seoul United FC soccer team, and concert events, including Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Roger Waters, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Pussycat Dolls, Backstreet Boys, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Tommy Lee, Celine Dion, Nine Inch Nails, and Limp Bizkit, and many others.

The nearby Jamsil Baseball Stadium, which, along with the main complex, is accessible by subway (line 2) and bus, as well as automobile. The LG Twins and Doosan Bears play to crowds of more than 30,000 people.

The combined complex (the foundations of which were begun in the 1970s) houses two swimming centers, a general sports facility, a track and field facility, and an indoor facility designed specifically for
students. The green lawns of the nearby park grounds are a popular setting for weddings and other public and private gatherings.

Though the massive international events predicted by developers and promoters in the early 1980s have failed to materialize, Jamsil is visited by millions of domestic sports enthusiasts yearly.

(Image courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto)