Footprints Recruiting

Seoul, a mix of everything with a touch of chaos.

There are pockets of Seoul where you would think you were in a tranquil town and then you round a corner and WHOA!  It's all there.  Some of my most vivid relaxing experiences were in old palaces with 18 lane roads running next to them and 30 storey buildings shadowing over yet once within, you are swept away into a surreal experience. 

Seoul literally has something for everyone.  It is a fantastic city that is welcoming and relatively cheap - - - if you know where to go... you could also spent $1000 just to get into a club if that's your style.

Every area of Seoul offers something a little bit different.

Food in Seoul

You can get a wide variety of food in Western food in Seoul but you can also get some of the most amazing Korean food as well.

• Non-Korean Restaurant Recommendations in Seoul
  • Frypan – Fried chicken, Gangnam station exit 6 or 7, both locations are one street parallel to the main street and can be found by asking someone “odesseyo Frypan?”
  • On the Border – Mexican food in Sinchon Station exit 4
  • Noodles Tree – Bangwha station exit 4.  Walk 50 feet and it’s on the right
  • Boor Chicken – Bangwha station exit 4. Turn left through the parking lot and across the stree.  The restaurant has a bit owl on it.
  • Taco Amigo – Mexican food, Itaewon
  • Sortino’s – Itaewon
  • Ho Lee Chow - Itaewon - WESTERN STYLE Chinese
  • W-Burger – Gangnam station
  • Kraze Burger – Hyewa University, Itaewon, Gangna,
  • Memphis King Barbeque – Bangbae line 2
  • Chicken Mania – boneless chicken, Banghwa
  • Outback Steak House – Balsan line 5
  • Mercado – Brazilian steak house. It’s in the Apujeong area, but you’d get off at the Gangnam-gu Office Station.  They have a website with a map.  You can also make a reservation.
  • Brazilia – Steak House, Gangnam exit 6.  Walk straight until you see it.
  • Brazilia – Steak House, in Seoullung
  • J&F Trattoria- Italian food, Seoul National University of Education Station, exit 2.  walk straight until you see it.
  • Durga – Indian food, Janggak station exit 4, look right.
  • Pizza Peel – Itaewon exit 4.  Walk 10/15 minutes and look for “Alley Market” entrance next to RotiBoy.  When you go in, it will be on your right.
  • French Village in Banpo – Express Bus Terminal, exit 5
  • Dos Tacos – Hongdae exit 5. Walk straight past Paris Baguette and turn left up the main drag.  Walk 5/10 minutes and it’s just past Haagen Das on an upper level.
  • Dos Tacos – Gangnam exit 6.  Go past the Body Shop and look for a sign on your left.  The restaurant is down the alleyway on the left side of the large electronic stroe selling Apple products
  • Western Restaurants at Gangnam station
  • Vin 103 – Indian food exit 7
  • Julio – Mexican food exit 7
  • Popeyes – Fried Chicken exit 7
  • Turkish/Middle Eastern food – exit 5
  • Vapiano – Italian fusion exit 5
  • Butterfingers pancakes – Western Style breakfast – exit 6
• Korean Restaurant Recommendations in Seoul
  • 새마을식당 – Korean BBQ chain, Hongik station line 2 and City Hall station lines 1 and 2.
  • Dalkgalbi places – Hapjeong, exit 5, turn left before Paris Baguette and right after Skin Food. Sinchon ext 4, turn left before McDonald’s and right after GS25, and left at Bay Coffee.
  • Shabu Shabu – this is a chain - there are many of these restaurants around Seoul.
  • Korean tea house – Insadong, find the Insadong Tourist Information office and ask them to recommend a place. They can give you a map with directions.
  • Sancheon - in Insadong - this place does Buddhist food AND entertainment.  There is traditional dancing and drumming.  The food is fantastic and the ambience and entertainment is well worth the price.

Activities for Teachers in Seoul

Aside from the many museums and palaces and Namsan Tower and the hundreds of other places any good guide book will recommend, there are things you can do when you are just hanging out in Seoul.

Sports

• Screen Golf
• Fitness clubs
• Dumbell School – A gym with all new equipment and some staff member speak English, near Banghwa/Gaehwasan
• Baseball games
• Gym with a pool and dance classes – Banghwa Sam (3) dong, International Youth Centre
• Tennis Club – Banghwa next to the Hangan River Park
• Ice Hockey - Gecko Glaciers
• Sport Fishing Cluns
• Climbing Clubs
• Mountain Biking Clubs

Dancing

• Salsa Dancing – Itaewon
• Club Eden – Gangnam
• Bu2 – Itaewon exit 3, next to Between
• Club Heaven – In between Yeoksam and Seoulleung station across from the Renaissance Hotel
• Monkey Beach – Apujeong
• apa Gorillas – Sangsu Station exit 2
• Ska 2 – Sangsu Station exit 2
• Swing Dancing

Movie Theaters

There really are theaters everywhere - sometimes you could walk right by a block of buildings completely dedicated to movies but have no idea it's there.  ASK.  Stop for a coffee and ask what's around.  You WILL be surprised.  Movie theaters of note are:

• CGV – Myeongdong
• Cheonho Station has two theaters
• CGV – Gimpo airport
• Coex Mall – Samseong Station
• CGV – Gangnam exit 7
• Smaller theater on the way to the CGV at Gangnam station exit 7 on the right hand side.  It is next to the Starbucks and McDonalds.
• Gangnam station – exit 5
• CGV – Yongsan Station line 1
• Time Square – Yeongdeungpo station line 1
• LIVE THEATER AND CONCERTS - Hyehwa Dong.

Shopping in Seoul

English Book Stores

• Bandi and Lunie’s – Jongno 5 station
• Bandi and Luni – Gangnam station exit 5
• Kyobo – Ganghwamun station
• Kyobo – Gangnam station exit 6
• What the Book? – Itaewon
  • Take exit 3 and walk past Mr. Kebab and take a right at the corner.  Walk up the hill and it will be on your left.

Larger Size Clothing

• Itaewon – Exit 4, walk straight and look at the many stores on your left.
• Express Terminal Mall – Expensive but good

Good Local Shopping

• ongaemun History & Culture Park Station  - exit 14 for fashion
• Discount Department Store – Gimpo airport
• Large department store – Gayang line 9
• Namdaemun Market – Hoehyeon station
• Electronics – Yongsan Station
• Tailor in Itaewon (there are many - one of repute is Tailorable.co.kr
• Myeongdong

Western Areas in Seoul

Bars

• Itaewon, Hongdae, Sinchon, Gangnam
• Sports Bar – Banghwa or Banghwa Junction
• Irish Bar – Seongjong
• Woodstock – Pub in Gangnam, there are get togethers on Wednesday

Shopping

• Myeong-dong station – Gap, Forever 21, H&M, etc.
• Ewha Women’s University
• Uniqlo – Jamsil or Gangnam stations
• Itaewon
• Dongdaemeun
• Insadong
• Hyehwa

Groceries

• Bangwha market – fruits, veggies, meat, etc.
• Costco – three locations
• Foreign Mart – Itaewon exit 3.  Walk past Mr. Kebab and take a right on the corner.  Walk up the hill and it will be on your left.
• Nonghyop (Hanaro Mart) – Bangwha Sam (3) dong has a foreign food section

Festivals in Seoul NOT to Miss

• Lantern Festival
• herry Blossom Festival
• Mudfest
• DJ Fest
• Global Gathering
• Song Festival
• Festival of Lights
• Buddha’s Birthday (May)
• Chuseok (September)
• Jinju Lantern Festival

Best Places Foreigners Don't Seem to Know About In Seoul

• Jongro and Cheongdam
• Hyehwa
• Yeoido
• Olympic Park has concerts

 

Places to Bring First Time Visitors in Seoul

• Namsan Tower
• Gwanghwamun
• Sinsa
• Myeongdong
• Insadong – Jongno- 3ga exit 8, walk straight under the overpass.  Turn right and immediately left.  Walk until you see people.
• Dragon Hill Spa – Sinyongsan Station exit 5, more information online.
• Theater – Miso, Jump, Nanta and Bibimbap.  All non-verbal performances, more information online.

 

Areas to Avoid

• Itaewon at night
• Red light district

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