In Seoul - Some Questions Please

Hi,

Am in Seoul and would be grateful for a little help.

I have gone through the forum and have a few questions which I would be grateful if you someone could answer:

1) Shopping

looking for an area where I can find shops promoting/selling young/upcoming Korean fashion/designers (not Western).

2) Markets (food)

looking for a food orientated market - most markets seem to be flea/fashion.

3) Nightlife

Bar/club for the early/mid 30s couple if possible with less tourists/more Koreans

4) Bathhouse

One which helps the stupid tourist (me) enjoy and participate in the whole ceremony/experience.

5) Art

Finally a good gallery with Korean art

Many thanks to any and all who answer - hopefully will help others as well.

I will post back with any %26#39;discoveries%26#39; I make

J

In Seoul - Some Questions Please

You may want to experience very Korean things. I have some suggestions about Korean art.

1. National Museum of Korea

Huge museum for ancient and medieval Korean art and history. This museum has the best collection of traditional Korean art in the world. You can see anytings of traditional Korean art, Buddha sculptures, ceramics, paintings, pagodas and so on. Actually, I don%26#39;t like this museum becuase it%26#39;s too huge and always full of childrens.

2. Leeum

Founded by Samsung owner, Lee familly. Aka Samsung museum. It has three unique buildings. One building is dedicated to traditional Korean art. I like specially celadon collection of this museum. It includes some national treasures. One building is for Korean and international contemporary art and the other for special exibition. I like this museum because of moderate size, compared to National Museum, calm atmosphere as well as high quality of collection.

3. Museum of contemporary art (in Kwacheon)

This is also a huge national museum. If you want to see contemporary art of Korea, this is must-see.

In Seoul - Some Questions Please

4) For bath house/sauna, try Central Spa in Central City, near express bus terminal (subway Express Terminal, Line 3 or 7).

What I meant was the express bus terminal. The spa is on the basement level.

As for a food market you might check out the Gungbu or Jungbu Market(lots of different spellings in Korea). I don%26#39;t have a street name but it was just down the street from the Hyundai Residence where we stayed. We loved the place! It is a short walk from the Dongdaemun Stadium subway station. Another market that blew us away was the Noryangjin Fish and Central Market - it is on subway Line 1 across the river -very easy to find. Hope this helps.

New York times has a good article about foods in Korea, so check it out, …nytimes.com/2008/07/20/travel/20CHOICE.html…

The article mentions food stall at Gwang Jang market, where I had large pizza sized mung bean paste pancake. Even if you don%26#39;t buy there you can get easily filled up by eating free samples.

If you want to check out club scene, difinitely check out Hondae (Hong Ick university) area on subway line 2. I am in late 30%26#39;s but it was totally felt OK to grap a beer and enjoy local indi rock band when I was there in March.