In 2009, I joined the US Army, and because of that, I was sent to a lot of places. One place that really made an impact on my life was the City of Seoul, South Korea. Granted, I have not been back in the 16 years that I have been away, I can tell you some things about the place, especially if you want to see another country (which I recommend regardless of where), or if you go on a study abroad semester.

Basics

The first thing you will need to do is learn a little basic Korean, such as Annyeonghasaeo (Formal) or Annyeong (informal), both meaning “Hello”. This should help break the ice and help you make some new friends. Speaking of friends, Koreans are a social culture that often shares meals and food with almost every experience. It isn’t uncommon to hear someone ask you if you have eaten yet before they ask if you are doing alright. In speaking of meals, typically in Korea, the meal is usually started with the oldest at the table and usually finished with the oldest. Though among friends it isn’t observed strictly.

Public Transit is some of the best in the world in Korea. Cabs are easy enough in the city, but the subway/ trains are always nearby and very cost-efficient. Buses are very frequent, as well as easiest to navigate if you miss a stop; most tend to have another stop that is a very short distance away, making navigating the city easier for those not familiar with the language.

Sites

There are a lot of places to see and a lot of experiences in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Starting in Yongsan, there is the National War Memorial Museum. This was one of the first places I had seen when I had arrived. It is a memorial to the Korean War, as well as offering the history and struggle of the Korean people with every nation that has come against it. It is also English speaker-friendly, with signs in Korean and English to help out service members brand new to the peninsula. There is a rotunda with a light that illuminates a pool in memorial to all the fallen Korean soldiers.

If you enjoy shopping, Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun are the best for finding every kind of deal and fashion, with Dongdaemun hosting a large underground shopping mall. If you can’t find it in either place, it doesn’t exist.

There are also a great many castles in the city, which juxtapose the old-world Korean Kingdom with the modern cityscape around them. It’s a little unnerving at first with the grandeur of the structure being so close to the towers of apartments and businesses around them. Once you enter, however, it is a very clear difference with a wide open courtyard and very open buildings. Often, there is a historical guard who will dress in period garb and offer a ceremony to visitors.

Edited and Reviewed by Kien Powell