Life in Korea: Fun and Free Things To Do in Seoul

I love that there are so many fun and often free things to do in South Korea.  It's definitely a country that promotes tourism with it's quirky parks and museums just about every where.  Living in South Korea has really opened up my eyes to venturing out and seeing the country because of the "free99" stature when heading out for a day trip.  This is especially so on Jeju Island with the UNESCO World Heritage sites which are highly up-kept, with free admittance or highly reduced cost of admittance.   While there are lots to be seen on Jeju Islandand the other neighboring islands, every so often I like to escape to Seoul and get into the rhythm of big city life.  On my last visit to the metropolitan city, I did these three things that was pretty amazing.

Life in Korea: Seoul's Grand Park Station

The Grand Park Station on line 4 (exit 2), offers several things to do and see; enough for an entire day if you want.  I walked around aimlessly for quite sometime before I could really take in all that there is to do at Seoul's Grand Park Station.  I noticed there were at least twenty tourist busses parked in the huge parking lot, but as I got closer to the entrance, I noted that there weren't very many people out to the zoo on a Thursday.  This was good!

I noted the several different things to do at Grand Park Station; there's Seoul Land a huge amusement park filled with enough rides for to fill up an entire day, a charmingly small botanical garden, a rose garden which is pretty popular in early spring.  Today, I wasn't permitted to enter.  There's also the Seoul Museum of Modern Art and The Seoul Zoo.

Life in Korea: 3 Things to do at 63 Building (Square) in Seoul

I first learned of 63City (Korea's tallest building) from a student during my one year teaching at a  hagwon (private academy) in Pohang.  It's been on my list of touristy things to do in Seoul since then.  During my most recent visit to Seoul, I decided I would head there first to check out what all the hooplah was about.  Since I had been to the second tallest building in the world, Taipei 101, I thought 'Eh, it probably pales in comparison.'  And with summer showers looming, I questioned whether it would be worth it.  Still, I had my heart set on 63City so, with all the mojo I could muster, I took Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station (exit 4) and walked about ten minutes to the tall gold colored building you just can't miss.

Seoul, South Korea

"I get it now", I said during my first night out for beers at a local bar at Myeongdong Station in Seoul.  As a matter of fact, when as I approached a street lined with two Out Back Steakhouse, one TGIFriday's and (completely new to me) California Pizza Kitchen, "Yep, I get it" were the first words that came to mind.  Although I didn't see everything there is to see in Seoul or do everything there is to do, I (perhaps late) understood why Seoul (although expensive) is such a popular Seoul destination for expats.