Seoul, South Korea — Activities
Seoul Culture
Korean culture is alive and well, with traditional performances staged everywhere from palace grounds to night markets. The city’s most prominent performing arts centers are Seoul Arts Center (tel: (02) 580 1300; website: www.sac.or.kr) and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (tel: (02) 399 1114; website: www.sejongpac.or.kr), which offer music, theater, dance and film as well as art exhibitions.
The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (tel: (02) 580 3300; website: www.ncktpa.go.kr), National Theater of Korea (tel: (02) 2280 4125; website: www.ntok.go.kr) and Chongdong Theater (tel: (02) 7511 500; website: www.chongdong.com) have regular traditional Korean performances. Seoul Nori Madang (tel: (02) 410 3168/9), an outdoor amphitheater, and Namsangol Hanok Village (tel: (02) 2266 6923; website: http://fpcp.or.kr) have free outdoor performances in summer.
Dinner theaters such as at the traditional Korea House (tel: (02) 2266 9101/3; website: www.koreahouse.or.kr) combine traditional Korean table d’hôte with a folk music and dance show. The popular show, ‘Cookin’ Nanta’, which uses kitchen skills and tricks to create a spectacle, is held at the Nanta Theater (tel: (02) 739 8288; website: www.nanta.co.kr).
Cinemas such as the 16-screen state of the art Megabox, COEX Mall, 159-1 Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu (tel: (02) 6002 1200; website: www.megabox.co.kr), show English-language and world-renowned Korean films and are concentrated in Gangnam-gu.
Seoul Tours
Seoul City Tour Bus (tel: (02) 777 6090; website: www.seoulcitytourbus.com) is a 35-seat luxury hop on and off bus which takes in the city’s major sites and attractions.
Six subway tours ranging from The Scent of Life in Seoul to Nostalgic Seoul are offered by the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (tel: (02) 6311 2200; website: www.smrt.co.kr) and eight including Museum and Park and Shopping by the Seoul Metro (tel: (02) 1577 1234; website: www.seoulmetro.co.kr).
City Walking Tours (tel: (02) 3707 9453; website: http://english.visitseoul.net) suggest bookable accompanied and self-guided walks. For an unusual, eco-friendly walk, join locals on portions of the newly-restored Cheonggyecheon Stream, a five-mile walkway to Seoul Forest (tel: (02) 3707 9454; website: http://seoul.go.kr). Transit Tours, which range from city tours to golf, casino, spa and the DMZ are operated from the airport by East-West Travel Service (tel: (32) 741 3139).
Goodwill guides (e-mail: goodwillguide@mail.knto.or.kr), booked in advance, show foreigners around the city on a voluntary basis.
