Seoul

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Seoul


Seoul's Grand North Gate

Location
Country South Korea
Latitude 37 30 N
Longitude 127 00 E
Time Zone GMT/UTC +9 (Standard Time)
Statistics
Population 9,747,972 (2005)
Area 607 km² (approximate)
Currency Republic of Korean Won (KW)
Electricity 220V 60Hz
Language Korean

Seoul Layover

City Overview

Seoul on Google Maps

Seoul is the capital of South Korea (the Republic of Korea) and one of the most populous cities in the world. On the establishment of South Korea in 1948, it became the capital of the country, except for a short time during the Korean War, and is now designated a Special City.

Seoul is located in the northwest of the country, near the DMZ, on the Han River, at 37°30′N 127°0′E.

The city is the political, cultural, social and economic centre of South Korea, as well as an international centre for business and global organizations. It is one of the most visible symbols of the Korean economic Miracle on the Han River.

According to UN Population Division figures, Seoul's Urban Area contained 10.3 million people in 2003, making it the 22nd most populous such area in the world. The larger Seoul metropolitan area and commuter belt, which includes the major harbour city Incheon and the largely residential city of Seongnam, is one of the world's most heavily populated. Its density has allowed it to become one of the most "digitally-connected" cities. It also has more than 1 million registered vehicles which cause widespread traffic-jams beyond midnight.

In recent years, the metropolitan government has carried out an extensive cleanup of the city's heavy air and water pollution, transforming the previously murky atmosphere into a cleaner one, though air pollution is still problematic.

The Airports

There are many other fine restaurants and facilities that are located at the airport itself (5 or more restaurants, food market, fast food, Gym, barber, massage, ect). These are all located at ICN terminal's bottom basement level (3rd level down).

Unlike in the West, vendors don't seem to gouge you just because their business is located on an airport.

Layover Hotels

Seoul

Grand Hilton Seoul (Website)

Reward Program: Hilton HHonors

  • The Grand Hilton has a shuttle bus that runs into downtown Seoul, and Itaewon. On the weekends it is every half hour, on the weekdays every hour.
  • Very nice gym and sauna facility (Sauna is free for Gold members or higher, $11USD for non-Gold)
  • Executive lounge for Gold or Diamond Hilton HHonors members: 5:30-7:30 Complimentary drinks and snacks.
  • Excellent hiking trails behind hotel
  • Dry Cleaner Located near the Grand Hilton: It is located on the same street as Donkey Fried Chicken. Descend the hill from the Hilton, turn left on the main avenue and a second left again at the very next street (uphill again). It is half way up the hill, located under the Young Market. They provide 2 day service. Shirts cost 2000 WON. Jeans/pants cost 3000 WON.

Sejong Hotel Seoul (Website)

  • For Air Crews, complimentary one shirt laundered upon checkin.
  • Subway station located just outside main entrance
  • 7-11 in lower lobby

JW Mariott Seoul (Website)

Located at next to the city bus station makes this hotel a great hub. The JW Marriott Hotel Seoul is the closest deluxe hotel to Incheon International Airport and is ideally situated at Central City: Korea's largest and most popular dining, entertainment and shopping complex five miles south of downtown. The hotel is located in Kangnam south of the Han River where major national and international corporations are headquartered and is a ten minute drive from the Korea Exhibition Center and Korea World Trade Center. The JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers the largest hotel rooms in Seoul and the most comprehensive health club in Asia offering the latest in Italian health and fitness equipment. Concierge level accommodations, meeting and banquet facilities, a variety of restaurants and lounges and complimentary shuttle to Kangnam's shopping area make this hotel a logical choice for both business and leisure travelers. Wireless Internet access is now available in meeting space and public areas of the hotel. * Experience Revive! Marriott's luxurious new bedding package is available at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul. This comfortable, plush and stylish package addresses clean and fresh bedding concerns, is consistent with residential trends and is a key component of The New Look and Feel of Marriott Now. The package includes a bed skirt and bed scarf, feather and foam pillows, sheeted duvet cover and comforter, softer fitted bottom and flat top sheets and "comfortable bed" standard mattress

Near Airport (Incheon)

Incheon Hyatt Regency (Website)

  • Excellent Sauna, Exercise Room

Air Garden Incheon

  • Tiny rooms, this hotel is actually located inside the airport.
  • There are actually 2 separate hotels -- Air Garden East and Air Garden West. If you make prior reservations, remember which one!
  • If you are simply transiting, staying at the Air Garden will allow you to bypass immigration formalities, since it is on the "air side" of the terminal.

Getting Around

  • Subway (Map of Subway)
    • The Subway system in Seoul is very easy to navigate, with plenty of English signage.
  • Taxi
    • Avoid Black taxi, twice as expensive

Things to See and Do

  • If you need a music fix while laid over and do not want to listen to Korean Pop or Talk there is a AFN (Armed Forces Network) Radio Station that plays a diversity of Western Music. "The Eagle" is located on 102.7 on the FM dial.
  • The DMZ - Most Hotels will have information in the lobby so that you can sign up for the tour of the DMZ. They usually have a day trip with lunch, or a half day trip.

Shopping

  • Namdaemun Market

Named for its nearby namesake of Namdaemun (Great South Gate) and located near the downtown area, one of Korea's largest wholesale markets covers over 10 acres. It is filled with over 1,000 shops, stalls, retailers, street vendors, and has several department stores nearby. Here you can find clothes, shoes, fabrics, tableware, flowers, vegetables, ginseng products, toys, and watches. Under Namdaemun-no (the main street to the north of the market) is an extensive underground arcade.

Directions: Subway line 4, Hoehyeon Station (or bus stop near Westin Chosin)

  • Dongdaemun Market

Dongdaemun Market is located near its namesake of Dongdaemun (Great East Gate). Dongdaemun Market also includes the Dongdaemun Stadium, constructed in 1926. It was also the site of the first Korean Baseball game in 1982. Inside the stadium is now a giant open air market.

Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district has 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. Within the ten blocks of the market area, you can find silks, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, plumbing and electrical supplies, electronics, office supplies, toys and just about everything else imaginable.

Directions: Subway lines 1 & 4, Dongdaemun Station; or Subway lines 2 & 4, Dongdaemun Stadium Station

Where to Eat

Around the Airport (Incheon)

The supermarket next to the Hyatt in ICN is called the e-mart. it is downstairs in the building right behind the Hyatt. There is also a food court on the 6th floor of that building. Rather cheap and good food. You can go down the the supermarket and get you drink (beer) and take it up to the food court. I think it is open until 10pm. Try number 89 (5,500 won or $5.50), very good.

The next block over offers the "octopus restaurant" This crowded restaurant is evident by the big fish tank full of octopi in the front window. Live octopi are added to a soup mixture while at your table (the octopi however, tend to crawl out of your bowl until held in place in the hot bubbling broth). Beer on tap is also available.

Around Seoul Grand Hilton

Chicken Donkey Beer

*NEED INFO*?

Tom's Pizza

Down the hill take a left. Go down to the first major intersection and continue across the street in the same direction. It's about 50feet up the road from the intersection on the left hand side. Not bad Pizza. It's about a 5 to 10 minute walk.

Sangam Daege House (Crab and Seafood House)

If you’re looking for the freshest crab and lobster in Seoul, look no farther than Sangam Daege House, in Sangam near the World Cup Stadium, about 3mi west of the Hilton. “Daege” is Korean for crab, pronounced “de-gay.” This place is identical to the one that was across the street from the hotel a few years ago, live Red King and Snow crab, and enormous lobster on death row in tanks on the sidewalk, sold by the Kilo all inclusive except drink.

As judge and jury, you get to select the hapless victim who then will be unceremoniously plucked from the tank, weighed, crated and slid down the Green Mile to the steamer by a smiling Mrs. Yu, executioner and owner’s wife.

Inside is fairly plain, except for the larger than life anatomically correct snow crab on the wall, used for dismemberment training exercises conducted at regular intervals to minimize sloppy executions.

Death is Jeffery Dahmer quick, with your crab brought to your decapitated and dismembered, arranged on a large plate, the carapace upside down ladling his expensive entrails floating in some brown This is a lot more crab than it appears; the plate is more than 12in across. The leg meats are hot dog size. Bring your own butter.

Getting there: From the Hilton a cab will take about five-ten minutes and run about $8us, tell the driver to take you to Sangam Daege House, near World Cup Stadium, at the Mapo-gu Office subway station. The phone number is 308-7703 if he needs better directions. You can also take the Hilton bus to the first stop, the Hongje subway station stop 324 on #3 line, change to the #6 line at Bulgwang (it’s one way) and get off at Mapo-gu, stop 620. The restaurant is on the street right at the stop. The ticket is $1000W one way. You could also walk along the storm drain under the highway west towards the river for about 2.8mi if you’re feeling perky. The owner’s name is Mr. Yu, he is the executive chef at the Ritz Carleton Seoul, and a very friendly guy. He and his wife and daughters run the place with some expert help from his mother.

Downtown Seoul

Itaewon

  • Outback - Western food, just like the Outback in the States
  • McDonalds
  • Burger King
  • Thai Place in the Alley - *NEED INFO*?
  • Indian Place in the Alley - *NEED INFO*?

Clubs, Bars, Nightlife

Itaewon

  • Gecko's
    • Upstairs and accross the street from Buger King. Gecko's is a hang-out for many ex-pats as well as Koreans. Western style food and plenty of beer selections. Pithers are the best value. Fish and Chips very good.
  • Nashville Extension
    • Next to the Outback Steakhouse.
    • Upstairs - Pool, darts, tap beer and cocktails. Food also available.
    • Downstairs - American feature movies always played on a big screen TV. This is more of a resturaunt environment. Okay food.
  • 3 Alleys Pub
    • From the Outback Steakhouse, cross the street, and go up the alley to the main alley that runs parallel to the main Iteawon strip. Hang a left down this alley.
    • Excellent food, $12-$20 USD. German, English style food. Jeager Schnitzel is quite good.
    • Guinness on draft, and many other good beers. Mostly ex-pats.

Safety Advisories

US Department of State South Korea Information Sheet

WARNINGS: Low

State Department Travel Warnings


There are no known safety advisories at this time.



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