2023 Seoul Hallyu Travel Guide “Person:able Seoul”
Discover the charm of Seoul with the 2023 Seoul Hallyu Travel Guide “Person:able Seoul,” highlighting five vibrant districts in the city.
When deciding to travel and choosing a destination, the most common next step is gathering information about the place. Travelers search for what kind of city it is, must-see attractions, foods, and shopping items. Though the internet offers an overwhelming amount of information once you type in the destination, such abundance often leads to forgetting important details. That’s why a guidebook is necessary. A splendid guidebook has been published for travelers visiting Seoul, a global city harmoniously blending tradition and modernity, nature and urban life.
‘Person:able Seoul’, meaning a charming Seoul shared by people, is a guidebook developed with the travel app ‘DateTrip.’ It introduces especially attractive spaces in five of the hottest districts in Seoul right now—Gangnam, Hongdae, Jongno, Seongsu, and Yongsan—in collaboration with local cultural creators. Let's start enjoying your trip to Seoul, the hottest birthplace of Hallyu culture worldwide, with this guidebook packed with Seoul’s charm. It features 100 trendy hot spots across these five regions.
The categories include sightseeing spots where you can see Korea’s beautiful culture firsthand, restaurants and cafes representing Seoul’s culinary scene, shopping places to experience K-fashion, K-beauty, and K-life, and music venues to enjoy K-pop and other popular Korean music. The guidebook encompasses everything about traveling Seoul, a vibrant city filled with people. The biggest characteristic of “Person:able Seoul” is that it tells stories with people, not just lists places.
Five local creatives active in the distinct districts of Gangnam, Hongdae, Jongno, Seongsu, and Yongsan share the unique charms of their areas. Stories told by locals who know the neighborhoods well help you discover fresh charms of Seoul you might not have known. The vivid mood and narratives unfold through the guidebook, which can be explored in detail and downloaded for free via the link below. Discover Gangnam Style hidden among skyscrapers.
Gangnam, Seoul’s busiest commercial district with the most LED advertisements, is dazzling. The endless forest of buildings, splendid department stores, and world-famous luxury shops make it much more than flashiness. Upon closer look, nature and culture hide between the buildings. Jaejin Lim, bartender and CEO of Gangnam’s famous cocktail bar ‘Le Chamber’, ranked 4th in the World Class Bartender Competition, describes Gangnam as the most trendy place in Korea, creating styles ahead of the times. Yet he also shares that Gangnam’s hidden side reveals a soft sensitivity. In Apgujeong, a hotspot for gourmet restaurants, there’s Dosan Park, and next to cultural complex COEX stands the over 1200-year-old temple Bongeunsa.
Near the luxurious Galleria Department Store are complex cultural spaces like Maison Hermès Dosan Park, Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, Hyundai Motorstudio, House Dosan, Maison Southcape Dosan Park, Manmade Dosan, and Boon the Shop Cheongdam, as well as international galleries centered around SongEun and Horim Museums including Perrotin, Gladstone, König, and Tang Contemporary. Famous cherry blossom spots like Seokchon Lake and Seoul’s landmark Han River parks Banpo Hangang Park and Sebitseom showcase everyday Korean life.
The art-inspired hotel Anteoom Seoul, Michelin two-star Mingles, as well as dining spots such as Cheongdam Nine, Kwonsuksoo, Seokwan Myeonok, and 10 October are highlighted along with music venues like Compact Record Bar, Mood Seoul by Get All Night, and Solbitseom for enthusiasts. Cafes such as Magpie & Tiger Sinsa Tearoom, Felt Coffee Dosan, and Plant PH offer rest during your travels. Explore Gangnam’s surprising charm in “Person:able Seoul.”
Hongdae, a hub for youth, is the best area in Seoul to enjoy nightlife and culture. The streets are filled with live bars, clubs, and pubs, and busking performances pop up throughout. Additionally, the area hosts several major universities, so prices are relatively affordable. Kyungrok Han, a member of Crying Nut—the representative band in Korea’s indie scene—knows Hongdae best. He calls Hongdae a culture showcase flowing with music, art, romance, and passion, with its three major holidays being Christmas, Halloween, and his birthday—Kyungrok Day.
Hongdae’s influence expands beyond its entrance to nearby districts like Sangsu, Mangwon, Hapjeong, and Yeonnam. There are numerous cafes, clubs, restaurants, and art shops. Bars such as Midopa, Yeonnam 5701, Jebi Dabang, Club Evans, and eccentric cafes like Felln, Anthracite Seogyo, Emi Coffee, IRT Mangwon, Perception, and Cafe Wulpul enrich the scene. Restaurants like Base Is Nice and Tass and cultural spaces such as Chaegro and the cultural reservoir site also add to Hongdae’s identity.
Leading trends, Hongdae offers representative fashion showrooms like Musinsa Terrace Hongdae, Or Seoul, Thisisneverthat, and Sysology Hongdae Showroom. For relaxation and nature, places like Gyeongui Line Forest Park and Sky Park are must-visit. Listen to Kyungrok Han share about Hongdae and its spaces in the guidebook. To recharge youth’s vitality, head to Hongdae in Seoul.
Jongno embodies the poetic beauty of Seoul and is the heart of South Korea. All four major palaces of Joseon were and still are located here. Mountains like Bukaksan and Inwangsan surround Jongno like a natural screen, and traditional hanoks in Bukchon and Seochon soothe with their old charm. Jaehun Lee, owner chef of Cadelupo restaurant in Seochon, points out that travel and cooking share the use of all five senses as a commonality.
Chef Lee highlights Jongno’s appeal in the seasonal beauty of nature and the lyrical mood created by its ancient alleys and hanoks. Being ideal for historical and cultural travel, palaces like Gyeongbokgung—the largest among the Joseon palaces—offer unique scenes across seasons and day and night. Newly reopened Gwanghwamun Square, movie fans’ must-visit Jahamun Tunnel, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, and Seoul Craft Museum are essential tourist spots in Jongno.
Michelin-starred dining spots like Onjium, Zero Complex, and Mishmash, along with music bars and cafes such as Delpic, Bar Cham, Seoul Sanghoe, La Clé, Cheonnyeondongando, Silnakwon, Clique Records, and Music Complex Seoul satisfy your senses during your journey in Jongno. There are many cultural experience venues such as Accidentally Strolling, Cheongun Literature Library, Picnic, and Sulwhasoo Bukchon Flagship Store. Jongno’s rich culture and history make it uniquely attractive.
Walk alleys where traces of time breathe life, letting you feel both Seoul’s past and present simultaneously for a special trip. To learn more about Jongno’s hidden gems, refer to “Person:able Seoul.” Seongsu is a district that has changed the most in Seoul and seems set to continue evolving. Once an industrial complex area, Seongsu has become Seoul’s hippest neighborhood. New pop-up stores, exhibitions, and cultural complexes open every day, with factories, commercial facilities, and mixed spaces creating a fresh new scene.
Somi Sol, stylist and editor at Musinsa, describes Seongsu as an area where every alley feels like entering different worlds. She believes the eclectic and somewhat chaotic atmosphere forms Seongsu’s trendy vibe. Don’t mistake Seongsu as just a cluster of hip and trendy stores. It boasts Seoul Forest, reminiscent of New York’s Central Park, perfect for families and couples to spend diverse, relaxing times. Connected to the forest are beautiful areas like Songjeong embankment and Acha Mountain, offering fantastic views and nightscapes. The Seongsu-dong café street offers the joy of finding hidden favorite spots.
Unique flagship stores and cultural venues such as Other Space 2.0 Flagship Store, Archive PK, Atelier Seoul Forest, LCDC Seoul, D Museum & Understood Avenue, and Point of View—a complex stationery store—highlight Seongsu’s distinct character. Shopping venues like Your Naked Cheese are also present. Bars and restaurants such as Forest at Midnight, Easy Does It, Dido Jazz Lounge, Positive Zero Lounge, Tourtier, Uobo Pasta Bar, Your Naked Cheese, One Yard Seongsu, Kuna, Matcha Cha, and Owd Seongsu reflect the district’s unique atmosphere. Explore the Old & New harmony at Seongsu through “Person:able Seoul.”
Yongsan is known as the location of the iconic Namsan Tower, one of Seoul’s landmarks signaling arrival in the city. Situated between the traditionally northern and the dynamic southern parts of Seoul, Yongsan combines both cultures attractively. Jihye Lee, florist and CEO of Beigehae, who settled in Huam-dong by fate while exploring Seoul, compares Yongsan to the leaves around flowers—rather than shining in the spotlight, it enhances the center’s beauty by staying slightly aside.
Yongsan’s neighborhoods each have unique characteristics: quiet hiking trails in Huam-dong with Namsan, a bustling urban image in SinYongsan with big companies like AmorePacific and HYBE, and calm, upscale Hanam-dong. The area is great for recharging emotionally and enjoying culture. Cultural hubs include the National Museum of Korea, National Hangeul Museum, the art island Nodeul Island, Raum Museum, and many galleries. Due to Itaewon, a neighborhood popular with foreigners, Yongsan also offers diverse gourmet experiences.
Restaurants and cafes like Gallery The Square Yongsan, Mosu Seoul, Up Standing, Approach, Konhas Hannam, Urban Plant Seobinggo, and Bo Market Gyeongridan, as well as jazz and music bars including Hills & Europa, Hyundai Card Music Library, Sound Dog, and Orpheo Hannam, showcase Yongsan’s scene. The AmorePacific Group Headquarters embodies Korean traditional beauty in architecture and houses galleries, restaurants, and pubs. Brand stores like Monoha Hannam, Grand Hand Hannam, Nonfiction Hannam, and unique bookstores like Graphic are also in Yongsan. Like a bouquet of flowers made of different colors and shapes, Yongsan is a travel spot made of contrasting yet beautiful neighborhoods. For more detailed info, check “Person:able Seoul.” OUTRO Seoul is a vast city filled with treasures to see and enjoy. A wise way to explore the city is through a reliable guidebook. To preview Seoul’s brilliant charms, download the guidebook below. Once downloaded, you can travel Seoul anytime and anywhere without data or carrying a heavy book.