Indie pop band Manju Pocket shares their favorite spots in Seoul with us below, just a few days before their Sofar Sounds show in Seoul on August 13.
Club FF
This is the best live music venue in the Hongdae district, a mecca for indie band shows. The club mostly puts on rock shows, but sometimes they’ll bring in other genres. Every Friday and Saturday, they serve free cocktails from 11pm to 12am and the DJ sets go until 6am. The good news is, the DJs even take requests! Club FF is popular among both locals and foreigners. It’s definitely a place you don’t want to miss.
2 Samsan 1(il)-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Club-FF/213154478733706
Dongmyo Flea Market
This flea market is located in the Sungin-dong area in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They have lots of antique items and a wide variety of other products. The market became especially popular after the rapper G-Dragon visited it in a popular TV show a few years ago. You can find just about anything here, including vintage clothes, and there are over 600 stalls and stores. Dongmyo Flea Market has become one of the number one destinations in Seoul, bringing in over 100,000 visitors each weekend.
Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu
Naksan Park
Naksan Park is the best place to enjoy a stroll and has the best night view of the city. However, it can be rather difficult to get there. From the alley behind Hyehwa Station, you have to go up a steep hill which leads to a long set of stairs you have to climb to get to the park. But we promise, the view makes it worth the trek. You can see a 600-year-old castle wall and the modern buildings of Seoul beyond it, making this a fascinating experience even for people who live here. And don’t worry, there’s actually an easier way to get there. You can take the No. 3 bus from the Dongdaemun, Jong-no 5-ga, or Daehangno stations. But we don’t recommend taking the bus. It’s much better to work up a little bit of a sweat and earn the amazing view!
If you have time, we also recommend visiting the Ihwa Mural Village. It’s a romantic spot for young couples and only a 5-minute walk from the park.
54 Naksan-gil, Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu
Seonyudo Park
When it comes to parks in Seoul, this place is King. There are some small islands in the middle of the Han River, and Seonyudo is one of them. The park is on the island. The park is stunning and the arched bridge you cross to get there is beautiful as well. This used to be a water purification plant, but the city transformed it into a breathtaking park with gorgeous plants and fancy lights. This is the prettiest place to take a selfie for sure! You can also enjoy chicken and beer in the park while overlooking the Han River. The beer you drink while sitting at the little pavilions in the park will probably be the best you’ve ever tasted. This park was also ranked as one of the top 3 works of modern architecture in Korea.
343, Seonyu-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market was Korea’s first market and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The second floor of the market is home to the largest and most famous stores for silk, satin and linens in Seoul. But for Korean young people and foreigners, Gwangjang Market is especially famous for the food stalls and restaurants on the first floor. You can enjoy a variety of delicious street foods, traditional Korean foods, seafood, and much more. The restaurants and food stalls are open year-round. You can access Gwangjang Market from the Jong-no 5-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 8 or from the Euljiro 4-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2 & 5), Exit 4.
88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu
More infos about Manju Pocket: www.manjupocket.com
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