Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

A quick stop-over in a new city on another skiing trip to Japan.

The War Memorial of Korea (WMOK). Interesting museum covering wars on the Korean peninsula over the last two thousand years. The main focus is on the most recent conflict; the Korean war 1950-1955.

Large sections relating to Korean War 1950-55. Memorials for participating countries and roll of honor.

There are many tanks and planes, but also ships and canons from earlier conflicts on display.

Quite relaxing to walk along the canal Cheonggyecheon, which is an almost 11km long public place opened in 2005 along the former sewerage system.

Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁 is the largest of the 5 Grand Palaces. Build in 1395 and used until destroyed by fire in 1590’s. All 7,700 rooms in 500 buildings were restored in the 19th century. Systematically destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the palace is gradually restored again.

The National Folk Museum of Korea is situated in the center of Seoul next to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is an educational venue where visitors can learn how Koreans lived from the past to present. The National Folk Museum of Korea investigates, researches, and acquires artifacts and various resources about the daily lives of Koreans in the past and present. Interesting permanent and special exhibition with lots of interactive and video displays.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential neighborhood dating back to the 14th century. Many cafes and small shops in restored/renovated houses, called ‘hanok’. This has made it a popular tourist destination, which has caused some friction with the residents who live there.

Seoullo 7017, also known as the Seoul Skygarden or Skypark, is an elevated, linear park in Seoul, built atop a former highway overpass operating from 1970-2017. The path, which is about one kilometer in length and lined with 24,000 plants, is similar to New York City’s High Line.

Namsan Park is the largest park in Seoul and is home to many species of trees, plants, and animals. The park is well-known for its beautiful walking trails, which allow visitors to see the local wildlife, such as its squirrels. The park covers a large area and features a number of tourist attractions, including Baekbeom Square, the Namsan Cable Car and Namsan Seoul Tower, and statues of famous figures in Korean history. We were months too early for the Cherry Blossom Path in Namsan Park, which is the longest trail of cherry trees anywhere in the city and is said to be spectacular in full bloom.

Gwangjang Market – A huge market with a variety of goods sold retail and wholesale. The food street caters to a wide range of patrons due to the plethora of menus available. You can sit down by the stall on heated benches and watch your lunch being prepared for you.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) has a meaning of Dream, Design, and Play. It is a major urban development landmark in Seoul. Designed by Zaha Hadid and Samoo, with a distinctively neofuturistic design characterized by the “powerful, curving forms of elongated structures.” The landmark is the centerpiece of South Korea’s fashion hub and a popular tourist destination, Dongdaemun, featuring a walkable park on its roofs, large global exhibition spaces, futuristic retail stores, and restored parts of the Seoul fortress.

Deoksugung (Korean: 덕수궁) also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea’s royal family during the Joseon monarchy until the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910. It is one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty and designated as a Historic Site. The buildings are of varying styles, including some of natural cryptomeria wood, painted wood, and stucco. Some buildings were built of stone to replicate western palatial structures.