Any recs for places to check out or things to do in Seoul?
I'm heading over in a few weeks for work and will hopefully have some time to explore.
3 Replies
Generically or specifically for something you're looking for?
I spent a bit over a week there earlier this year. Okay, generically. Itaewon is interesting, but can be a little lame, if you're looking more for SK culture than foreign culture. Gangnam is cool. The big palace is cool, the old town next to it is cool. Walking along/across the river can be cool if the weather is good. Tons of great food, especially if you eat pork and chicken. Tons of interesting takes on western food too, if you're into that, and also tons of new flavor combos (like corn ice cream.) Some stuff you won't like and that's okay, I recommend trying it all.
For souvenirs, there's a certain attraction to the line friends and kakao friends stores. I know people who specifically request stuff from there when someone is going. Feel free to check it out. Also, nearly infinite beauty/makeup shops, again, someone back home that you know might appreciate you picking stuff up.
For menswear, a few things stick out. One, SK is currently in love with extremely wide, extremely straight fits (men and women.) SK also loves big long overcoats, though that is more of a winter thing. Two, there is a Nike store I think in Gangnam that customizes things in a way they don't do elsewhere, plus they sell some stuff not sold anywhere else, huge attraction to that from some folk, so if you're into that, stop by. Three, there are several highly rated bespoke tailors charging prices that are quite reasonable by western standards (not as cheap as HK but much cheaper than UK and roughly on par with lesser known tailors in the richer parts of italy.) Some also do MTM, and some of the MTM is essentially just bespoke with straight lines machine-stitched, or your-previous-bespoke-pattern-replicated, so a lot of decent prices for great quality.
Random other thoughts. One, the city is absurdly walkable. Two, the taxis are great, even better if you get the ... probably kakao app? Kakao is basically a huge internet conglomerate (that has mascots, hence the aforementioned toys.) Related, three, google maps sucks and you want to use kakao maps in SK, it works in english more-or-less. Anyways, the taxi drivers will understand if you give them your phone with a map on it, or if you just try to pronounce where you're going they might get it, and the cabs take credit cards like they should, and they're pretty dang cheap. Four, definitely go see the cultural stuff, go hike up to the top of ... whatever that tower is that you can see from all of Seoul ... sorry, bad at names.
Night markets are great. Fish is great. Chicken is great. Kimchi is great. Skate is a very very very acquired taste. Lots of great dessert. People are friendly enough. The prices are roughly 1 USD to 1000 KRW - not quite, but it makes your math easy, so if it says a beer is 7000 that means it's ~$7 USD, so you're not surprised. Lots of nightlife, very picturesque.
Anyways I spent literally only a week there so I don't know dick about shit so don't take anything I wrote as gospel.
In terms of menswear, I can't vouch for quality cos I never tried them in person but my personal list of brands that I'd like to check out there are:
- Eastlogue for gorp (https://eastlogue.com/)
- Pottery for relaxed fit officewear (https://www.ptry.co.kr/)
- Document (https://en.document-document.com/)
- A bunch of brands offering relatively cheap GATs, loafers, and other currently trendy shoe styles (e.g. https://m.daonato.co.kr http://m.brans.kr). Not sure if they're online only tho.
I also saw a few Korean brands mentioned in dieworkwear 
https://dieworkwear.com/2022/02/26/six-new-brands-ive-been-watching/
I heard Ziozia is a big brand there but not really my taste (https://www.goodwearmall.com/m/brand/ziozia?brndCtgryNo=BDMABR)
https://dieworkwear.com/2022/02/26/six-new-brands-ive-been-watching/
I heard Ziozia is a big brand there but not really my taste (https://www.goodwearmall.com/m/brand/ziozia?brndCtgryNo=BDMABR)EASTLOGUE
Based in Seoul Korea, ESTD 2011.
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Awesome, thanks so much you two! ๐