You might have heard about South Korea through Samsung or Posco conglomerates. Yes, the tiny peninsula country is thriving in technology, arguably one of the best in the world in recent times.
If you are daring like me and want to explore a new place, l guarantee life in Korea will be a favourable one for you. It was the highlight of my staying abroad life, and l cannot help but make helpful recommendations of what you can do should you choose to live there.
Activities in Seoul-Korea’s powerhouse city, are numerous. Here’s what you can plan on in advance.
The first best activities in Seoul are to watch a blockbuster movie at a cinema and eat at a local market
Who doesn’t live movies? That will be a general question. Many people do. One way to enjoy high class comfort when watching a film is to go to a cinema in Seoul. The design of the inner hall is unique, and the chairs are stuffed with soft fabric to provide relaxation.
I need to comment about the video quality from the gigantic screens. It is bright, making the images almost realistic. As for the audio, it’s almost as if the person is sitting next to you. I could hear every sound with clarity.
I am not a movie fanatic, but it was an awesome experience watching movies at the cinemas around Korea. If you are wondering about the language, as l guessed, worry no more. There are English movies with Korean subtitles and vice versa. But as you guessed, more movies are in Korean.
How can to get tickets?
There are many ways to purchase your ticket. Most are affordable below 10USD.
To facilitate your time, you can download the cinema app, choose and buy your ticket online. There are also sales counters in front of the movie theatres, so don’t be shy to walk in and find out if you can watch a movie or reserve for another day.
Koreans love movies. It takes a short time before all tickets are sold out, especially if famous actors/actresses are part of the movie. That means, you will need to book early, but be sure to enjoy the time with a big cup of popcorn and plenty soda types to choose from.
I cannot overemphasize the fun you will have, but can assure you, you will have fun.
Go to this link if you want to have a guide on movie theatres in Korea.
Touring a market is a common thing for anyone who wants to enjoy the cultural vibe of a country. After a long street walk, l ended my evening eating at the Dongdaemun market food court.
It was time to dine on some delicious Korean food and feast on the side dishes too. The stores open even late at night, so shopping is not limited to the day alone
The second-best activities in Seoul are to attend network dinners and streets
Korea is a fast-growing country and there are a lot of activities to do in Seoul. This might come in as an unlikely tourist activity, but it’s a recommendation l couldn’t hide.
South Korea is a world giant when it comes to businesses, and they are open to encourage startups. Regardless of the area of interest, there are several startup events held weekly around Seoul. Most of them are held at the weekend to allow for more participants, but l am sure you can find some during the week.
I was elated to be a participant for one event aimed at encouraging youths. The event which was a dinner at 7pm began with an introduction from the organizers and a short time for interactions. My first surprise was that there were no seats. The small hall was well light with small tables and free coffee.
It was a networking event geared towards people meeting others and discussing further projects if they want to start a business.
What to expect at such events?
There are always rewards for participating in activities in Korea. I still don’t know if it’s a tradition. Koreans treasure their time, maybe that’s why they appreciate people who choose to spend theirs with them, especially for fruitful reasons.
Another surprise was a game. We answered questions, and those who gave the correct ones received gifts. I won one of the games and received an expensive set of body lotions from a famous brand. It was an evening well spent, and l was glad to speak to several people from different countries.
If you just want to make new friends, this is a perfect way to meet international students and foreign workers. One thing is sure, there will be smiles and a lot of conversation. Some people who had plans to stay longer in Korea were willing to exchange contacts and start up a business.
I didn’t continue communication with the many lovely people l met there, but l was glad l spent that evening productively.
Visit Gangnam Square
If you are a K-pop music fanatic, you might have heard of the popular Gangnam Style song. It’s one of Korea’s hits, loved by many people. The dancing energy in the song is contagious.
I was surprised to hear Gangnam was the name of one of Korea’s main, bustling streets.
Whether through the subway or the bus, l recommend stopping by the large monument at Gangnam Square. The lights in the night can be blinding, but the daytime view is remarkable. Shops are littered all around this area, so prepare a budget for a Korean souvenir. Your activities in Seoul will only be complete if you do this.
The third-best activities in Seoul are to shop at an underground shopping centre and relax at parks
Visiting shopping malls and shopping is one thing many people like to do. In Korea, there are several underground shopping centres. I have never been there at the early morning hours but l know from mornings (8amish) to late evenings, there are countless shoppers at underground markets buying clothes, shoes, cosmetics and anything simple to carry.
These places are located at subway stations. I used to say they were temptations calling my name to buy something. I cannot explain how surprised l was to see a whole new life outside the natural air. Every shop is well ventilated, large and has the same items as shops on the street.
You haven’t seen Korean life until you go under the ground. That’s hilarious to say, but l can guarantee you it is a little wonder. Coming from a country without subways, it left me in awe. I still wonder how long it took them to dig and build, but l can say l enjoyed my tours there.
Whether it’s just window shopping or actual shopping, there’s something for everyone.
What to expect?
Most times l just touched and appreciated things. Some items were cheaper there than outside shops. I still can’t forget the warm smiles and thankful comments from some Korean vendors. Be ready to engage in a small discussion. I think Koreans have built a strong customer service culture.
Many are very welcoming when you come to their places, and some will inquire about your nationality. Though English is not a common language, a few will dare to keep a conversation with you. For black skin people like me, don’t be surprised if someone asks for a picture. They just like your smile if you give one freely like I do.
If you are hungry, be sure you can stop by at any of the many underground restaurants. There’s something delicious everywhere in Korea.
Take a nature walk
Korea is one of the leaders in environmental protection. Growing grass and trees is a serious responsibility, and the government is deliberate about maintaining it. I spent some days touring parks and resting at small artificial-made lakes around the city. Though an unlikely thing to do among the activities in Seoul, if you need to chill, resting at a park is one way to enjoy nature in the heart of this beautiful Asian nation.
The vegetation in some places offer a picturesque view, l can promise you, your phone will ask you to take a picture.
In some places around Seoul, there are open wooden resting house-like buildings, designed with ancient Korean roof materials.
Inside, there are wooden benches attached to the walls. These places are public and free for anyone to rest. It was one of my best places to relax from the summer heat and just reflect on life.
The fourth best activities in Seoul are to attend and present at conferences
Koreans treasure knowledge and will do a lot to get it. I was impressed to hear and see them organize conferences and events, invite foreign guests and invest time to learn. This culture of seeking for knowledge remains one of the most remarkable thing about Koreans. They are determined to know new things and to invest time to teach people about their culture.
Despite attending several conferences at the United Nations in Bangkok and other countries, l never considered myself a keynote speaker until l got an invitation to be one.
What can you do at a conference?
My faded memory recalls l was recommended to the organizers of the Seoul Global Family Convention. They sent me a very tempting offer, l couldn’t refuse. Then, l was a Law School Student at the reputed Handong International Law School.
The organization which l later found was a coalition of several Korean churches was on a mission to condemn homosexuality in Korea. Their vision was designed in a very unique way to admonish the government to not legalise LGBTq as a whole because they said it was a sin against God.
Firstly, they invited about 30 foreigners from different countries around all continents. These people l soon found out where lawyers or people who were part of the legal societies in their countries. They didn’t get someone from Cameroon so l represented my country.
Every invitee was asked to make a short presentation and to present it during the conference within specific times. I was the only student among professional lawyers, but l was glad to meet many advocates. It was a great time to hear about the laws in other nations on the topic as well as to know about the judicial situation of Korea regarding the controversial sexual topic.
We (guests) stayed at the five star Sheraton Hotel for 3 days for free. All our meals were catered for at the hotel restaurant, but we had to share hotel rooms with a guest. I don’t recall if guests who came from abroad paid for their flights or half of it but l got a reimbursement for my roundtrip train ticket from Pohang city (down south) to Seoul city.
I learned so much within those days and will recommend anyone to make an effort to be a part of such if you can.
Why was the conference special?
Amazingly, the organizers didn’t just make us stay in the conference for those days, they took us out to explore Seoul. We were able to visit a cruise on the harbour and have lunch on the ocean.
Secondly, we spent a few hours to worship at a local Korean church of one of the organizers and all evenings were great times to chat with other guests.
The most strange activity we had to do was to take a long street walk holding fliers that contradict homosexuality. We weren’t alone. By the time we arrived at the large public street , Gwanghwamun Square, we understood it was a rally, full of Koreans who are urging the government not to legalize homosexuality.
We had to sit and support for a few hours while the church leaders spoke and Koreans applauded. Except me, no one else in the foreign group could understand Korean but we were told to show support. With the thousands if not millions, it was almost unnoticeable that we were there but we weren’t allowed to speak publicly.
Surprisingly, the government sent police to protect people and prevent a stampede situation as they always do during rallies. This left me in shock because a similar rally like this to condemn marginalization in Cameroon erupted into a civil war which lasted for over 3 years.
What were the benefits of the conference?
In summary, this conference made me understand the power of unity. Given how serious democracy is considered in Korea, the people’s voice means a lot.
I was impressed by the extent of the preparation, and the efforts to decry a social issue they felt will convert their culture into something unbiblical. If many countries could be open for people to share their thoughts like this, there would be peace instead of war.
I would say this conference was successful because since 2018 till now, homosexuality is still illegal in Korea. Though same-sex is legal for civilians, its illegal in the military. The Korean law still doesn’t recognise same-sex marriages or civil unions and couples cannot jointly adopt children.
In addition, no national document approves of it and it’s still seen as a taboo in the Korean society.
Whether this changes in the future or not as Korea is under international pressure from the UN and other human rights organizations, l remain proud of the Korean church for stepping out to express their believe publicly.
They will forever be in the archives for upholding God’s word above societal pressure. In all their discussions, they were determined to admonish Koreans not to emulate western countries. They claimed some Koreans are just copying Americans and forgetting their origins.
These might not be common activites to do in Seoul but they will be rewarding. If you are hungry for knowledge, consider these.
Please send me an email of what you did. I might attend that conference too.
To explore more activities in Seoul and other countries, check out this link.
