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Business trip at a glance
Country: Republic of Korea
Period: 05 Sep to 09 Sep 2007
Flight timings:
05 Sep: SQ 606, SIN-ICN, ETD 0800 ETA 1525
09 Sep: TG 659, ICN-BKK, ETD 0930 ETA 1305
Accommodation: Lotte Hotel, Seoul (05 Sep to 09 Sep)
Currency exchange rate: KRW 1000 = SGD 1.66 (Sep '07 period)
Airline Review
Singapore Airlines
SQ 606 had a joint-flight with Asiana Airlines when I took it, therefore saw quite a number of Korean tourists going back to their country from Singapore. FYI, joint-flights are very common among airlines under Star Alliance group.Flight journey was 6 hours and 25 mins, and two main meals were served. Breakfast (left photo below) seem rather light with bread & fruits, while lunch (right photo below) was typical of economy class meal. Snacks (right photo) were also served before lunch.
Thai Airways
Refer to Bangkok Sep '07 entry for my Thai Airways review.
Airport Review
Incheon International Airport (仁川国际机场)
Located in Incheon city, Incheon International Airport could be more than an hour's drive to Seoul city (depending on traffic). Incheon Airport has the third largest airport terminal in Asia after Hong Kong International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Its architecture and efficiency are definitely comparable to the above mentioned airports. The IATA code for this airport is ICN.
Spacious and modern in design of the Arrival Hall (left photo below) and the Departure Hall (right photo below) of Incheon International Airport.
There is a limousine bus service that runs from the airport to major hotels and back to airport every half hourly. Seats were comfortable and the price was reasonable, only KRW 13,000 per ride, much cheaper than taking a cab. Definitely recommended for any travelers on 'free and easy' trip.
All Korean drama fans take note: there is a 'Hall-Yu' (Korean wave) exhibition besides a souvenir shop at the Departure hall (photos below), near Gate 50. Definitely a must for all fans to take a look before departure.
Accommodation Review
Lotte Hotel, Seoul
Lotte Hotel is part of the largest hotel chains in South Korea. Located at the heart of downtown Seoul, its just 5-mins walk away from Seoul city hall and besides the famous Lotte shopping mall. There are two hotel buildings connected: the main building and the New Wing. My room was allocated at the New Wing located on the 24th floor and the view outside was great. Following were the views from my room of Downtown Seoul (photos below).
Guess my room number? It's very interesting: 2468. I often got doubtful look from waiter/waitresses when I told them my room number at the hotel restaurant.Charges for my Deluxe Room per night was KRW 245,000 excluding KWR 24,500 service charge and KWR 3,950 room tax (about SGD 430 in total per night). What constitutes to such high rate (I would think) might be the availability of personal computer / fax machine, ideal location of the hotel and not to forget the high living expenses in Seoul. Room was comfortable with soft pillows, cozy couch and even a writing desk (photos below).
Following is the short clip on my hotel room (video below).
Lotte group has recently engaged the famous Korean singer 'Rain' to be their spokesman for the Lotte duty-free shop. Here're the evidences:
Food Review
Due to my 'super food-conservative' American colleague, I only had two authentic Korean meals throughout my 4 days in Seoul. I had western food for the rest of my meals.
First Meal
- The first meal was the Korean BBQ dinner which was recommended by the contract manufacturer after our audit. The heat at the BBQ tray was generated by burning charcoal and there was a variety of meat to choose from (left photo below). The vinegar marinated "leaves" on the vegetable plate was used for wrapping the barbequed meat. Salad with strange purple-colored dressing and ice-cream like mashed potatoes were also part of the menu (right photo below). Overall not really satisfying as this small portion was shared among three adult men! Can’t really complain as this meal was paid by the contract manufacturer.
Second Meal
- The second meal was part of the one-day tour package. We had beef-soup for lunch at a restaurant near GyeongBok Palace. It is more authentic than the previous with traditional Korean utensils like metal chopsticks and spoon, and serving kimchi and some authentic Korean side-dishes (left photo below). Also we had to sit on the floor just like those in a typical Korean family. The beef tasted surprisingly sweet and I almost finished the whole bowl!
Third Meal
- Went to this Outback restaurant for dinner after some tired walk from Namdaemun market. This restaurant is originated from Australia and has many outlets throughout the world. The food remained their usual standard for beef steak; great choice of meat and grilled perfectly to the requested degree (right photo below).
Rest and Relax (R&R) Review
Korean drama 'Daejanggeum' Tour
Fortunately had two free days after the one day audit.Since my American colleague had no preference on the day tour, we booked a one-day Korean drama 'Daejanggeum' tour at the hotel concierge for KRW 90,000. This was the only Korean drama that I was familiar with and had watched most of the 56 episodes (left photo). The itineraries of this drama tour included Hotel pickup, Daejanggeum Theme Park, lunch, Chang Deok Palace, Ginseng show room and Hotel drop-off.
Our plan for the second day was to walk around Seoul and do some shopping.
MBC Dae Jang Geum (大长今) theme park
The theme park was built at Yangjoo city of Gyunggido, inside the MBC cultural village. It's more than an hour drive to this theme park from downtown Seoul.
The drama Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) was based on a real historic character that was born in a lowly class who rises to the position of court doctor. Lots of buildings in the park are based on the palace and village during Chosun Dynasty (left photo below). The theme park also allows visitors to dress as the characters in the drama (right photo below).
Photo boards showing the scene taken during the drama which help to refresh visitors' memories (photos below).
Outside the park, there were these huge screens showing past and current MBC productions (photos below).
Chang Deok Gung (昌德宮)
Changdeokgung Palace is one of the 'Five Grand Palaces' built by the Kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910). Because of its location at the east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung is also referred to as the East Palace and was the favorite palace of many kings of the Joseon Dynasty. The literal meaning of Changdeokgung (昌德宮) is 'Palace of Prospering Virtue'.
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Changdeokgung Palace was listed by UNESCO to be World Heritage site in 1997. |
- Donhwamun Gate is the front gate of Changdeokgung Palace. It was constructed in May 1412, the 12th year of the reign of King Taejong and burned down in Japanese Invasion in 1592. The gate was rebuilt together with Changdeokgung Palace in the 1st year of the reign of King Gwanghaegun in 1609. It is now the oldest palace gate among those still remaining in Korea. 'Donhwa' literally means to 'Teach and Influence the people'.
- Before entering Injeongjeon Hall, visitors would enter a outer courtyard encompassed by three gates. To the east is Sukjangmun Gate (粛章門), while to the west is Jinseonmun Gate (進善門) (left photo below). To the north is Injeongmun Gate (仁政門) (right photo below) which is the main gate to the Injeongjeon Hall. The outer courtyard is enclosed by a colonnaded structure that was used for storage and guard posts.
Injeongjeon Hall (仁政殿)
- The main attraction in Changdeokgung Palace is the Injeongjeon Hall (photos below). It is classified as National Treasure by Korean government. It was used for official ceremony such as celebrations by royal subjects and receptions for foreign envoys. Injeongjeon Hall was occupied with 5 bays (kans) in the front and 4 bays (kans) in the side, and was erected on the two-story platform. The roofs are in '八' shape and the top of the roof was decorated with a plum design, which was a symbol of an imperial family during the very end of the Joseon Dynasty.
Behind the high pillars in the middle, the throne is placed (left photo below). Behind the throne, there is a folding screen with the painting of Irwoloakdo (The Sun, the Moon and the Five Peaks). The throne hall was decorated with European-style hanging lights; evidence of the western influence in Korean during the late dynasty (right photo below).
- Behind the Seonjeongmun Gate (宣政門) is the Seonjeongjeon Hall where kings worked and discussed state affairs with their subjects (photos below).
- Huijeongdang Hall was originally used as the king's sleeping quarters and was later used by the king as an office and reception hall. The present building was constructed in 1920 with an westernized interior (photos below).
- Daejojeon Hall was the Royal residences for the Kings and Queens (photos below). The 3-kan space in the center was used as a living room, with a bedchamber on each side, the east one for the king and the west for the queen.
- Nakseonjae was originally built in 1847 (the 13th year of the reign of King Heonjong of the Joseon Dynasty) as the king's quarters. Unlike other buildings in Joseon royal palaces, Nakseonjae was built in accordance with the architectural style of aristocratic residences without using dancheong, or multi-color paintings, on the building's surface (photos below).
- The Buyongji Pond, located at the 'secret garden', is another peaceful scenery. It is a pond, measuring 34.5m by 29.4-meters, that was constructed based on traditional (Chinese) perception of the universe; that heaven is round and earth is rectangular (天圆地方). The rectangular pond refers to the earth while the round island in the middle symbolizes the heaven (right photo below). Three palace pavilions surrounded the Buyongji Pond, namely Yeonghwadang Pavilion, Juhamnu Pavilion and Buyongjeong Pavilion.
Around the Juhamnu Pavilion (宙合樓) is a three-tier flower garden through which Eosumun Gate leads to the pavilion (right photo below). The name 'Eosumun', meaning "Fish-Water Gate" (鱼水門), of the main entrance to Juhamnu refers to the harmonious relationship between the king (i.e. water) and his ministers (i.e. fish). The king used the main entrance whenever he visited Juhamnu, while his ministers were obliged to use the smaller archways at the side. Juhamnu Pavilion in Changdeokgung Palace is a two-story building built in the palace's rear garden as a storage facility for the writings produced by the king. The Junhamnu literally means the "pavilion where every kind of principle of the universe gathers."
The Yeonghwadang Pavilion (映花堂) stands majestically on the side of the Buyongji Pond (left photo below). The pavilion was originally the place where the king and his subjects enjoyed poetry and flowers. However from King Jeongjo's reign, it was where the imperial examination called "Jeonsi" was held.The Buyongjeong Pavilion (芙蓉亭), situated to the south of the pond, has a name plaque hung under the eaves of its front facing the east, and is surrounded by gentle hills on three sides. The pavilion takes a very perculiar form where its two "legs" are immersed into the pond (right photo below).
- The pavilion, Aeryeonjeong, was built in 1692 at Aeryeonji Pond (left photo below). Aeryeon means "loving the lotus" which symbolizes the virtue of a gentleman.
Seunghwaru Pavilion (承華楼)
- From the relative height of the Seunghwaru Pavilion (right photo below), one can look the whole view of Changdeokgung Palace. This was some sort of a library, where many books were stored. The Seunghwaru book list is the list of books that were stored in Seunghwaru. This list contains various paintings and calligraphy works of China and Korea that it contributes greatly on researches on bibliographs and paintings during the time.
Do note that there are different admission timings to this palace. The regular tour which cost KRW 3,000 for an adult would include a guide and had a limitation to the number of visitors in a group. Therefore to avoid disappointment, do purchase the tickets earlier or book them online. Also there are different language tours to choose from: Korean, Japanese, English and Chinese.
Deoksugung Palace (德寿宫)
As Deoksugung Palace was just nearby my hotel (near City Hall station), therefore it will be considered 'wasted' if I didn't visit this palace that was considered part of the 'Five grand palaces' in Korea. Deoksugung was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong. This residence later became the royal palace during the Japanese invasion. Several old buildings still remain till now.
Darhanmun Gate (大漢門)
- Darhanmun Gate is the main gate of Deoksugung and the only example of a one-story palace front gate (left photo below). The eaves of its hipped-and-gabled roof are supported by multi-cluster brackets. Was lucky to witness the royal guards rotation ceremony outside the gate (right photo below).
Junghwajeon Hall (中和殿)
- To enter Junghwajeon, one has to pass through the Junghwamun (中和門) located in front of the hall (left photo below). The main throne hall, Junghwajeon (中和殿) is the main building in Deoksugung. The hall and the gate, which were both constructed in 1902, were burnt down in 1904 and rebuilt in 1906, the 43rd year of the reign of King Gojong. Similar to Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, there were court stones in front of this hall that indicate where each civil and military officials should stand during the official ceremonies (right photo below).
The screen behind the King's seat in the hall was painted with the Sun, the Moon and the Five mountains (left photo below). Datjib, a carved wooden canopy, is installed on the ceiling above the throne which adds the dignity of royalty (right photo below).
Seogeodang Hall (昔御堂)
- Seogeodang was mainly used by King Seonjo and this is why it was named as 'the house where a very old king once lived'. However, this historical place was destroyed during the 1904 Deoksugung Palace Fire. Today's Seogeodang was rebuilt in 1905. As Seongeodang is a two storied building which was not painted, it creates a classical elegance (photos below). One observation was that traditional Korean architecture allows the door to be folded up to the ceiling, which gives more ventilation to the building. Probably that's one major difference between traditional Chinese and Korean architectures.
Seokjojeon Hall (石祖殿)
- King Gojong used the palace as a test bed for modern transformation. Telling evidence of this modernization drive is provided by the Western buildings remaining within the Deoksugung Palace compound today. In the late 1890s to early 1900s, a series of Western buildings were erected there as a place to receive foreign diplomats and hold royal banquets. Among them are Seokjojeon Hall, Jeonggwanheon Pavilion, and Jungmyeongjeon Hall. After the Korean War, Seokjojeon Hall (left photo below) became the National Museum and then the Royal Museum. Currently, it is undergoing restoration.
Statue of King Gojong (高宗帝)
- Statue of King Gojong was erected inside the Deoksugung Palace (right photo below). King Gojong (1852-1919) was 26th King of the Joseon Dynasty and the first Emperor of the Korean (Daehan) Empire.
Famous Landmarks in Seoul
Managed to visit several famous landmarks in Seoul during my short trip.
Namdaenum (南大门)
- Namdaenum, also known as 'Southern Gate' of ancient Seoul city (photo below). Famous for its beautiful structure and historical value. It used to have long walled connected to both sides of the gate, which encompassed whole of ancient Seoul city. Now we can only imagine how grand Seoul used to be during Chosun Dynasty.
- Namdaenum Market is located besides the famous gate (photos below). This is the place any tourists wouldn't want to miss; many shops and stores to walk around. There are also some interesting souvenirs like to 'Bae Yong-Joon socks', hallyu key-chains/cups, hand-made rice-clay dolls etc.
Cheong Gye Cheon (清溪川)
- Cheong Gye Cheon is a stream that runs through Seoul from west to east. It used to be a heavily polluted river by the residents of the makeshift houses along the river. Efforts were made to clean up the river in Jul 2003 and it was only completed in Oct 2005. Now it has become a popular place for family outings (photos below).
Tourist Information Center (韩国光观公社)
- Tourist Information Center is a one-stop information center for any tourist (photos below). There is also a permanent Hallyu exhibition for any Korean Drama fans to take photos with their idols. As you can see, its just paperboard only …
MyeongDong (明洞) Shopping Area
- MyeongDong Shopping Area is a best-known shopping and fashion district. Shoppers can enjoy total shopping and dining experiences at the pedestrian-friendly (car-free) zone in Myeongdong (photos below).
Interesting to see spiral-sliced potatoes sold in Seoul, this snack could also be found at Taipei night market (left photo below). MyeongDong is full of trendy stores mainly catered for youngsters. If want to find some fashionable cloths, do go to this Lotte young plaze (right photo below), definitely won't be disappointed.
CityHall Area
- Often there are performances or Carnivals in the open space outside the CityHall. Nearby is the Deoksugung palace. Many stores selling cosmetic, souvenirs can be found along the underground pedestrian walk (video below).
Statue of Admiral Yi Sun Sin
- Statue of Admiral Yi Sun Sin is located at the Gwanghwamun Plaza (left photo below). The statue is 17-meters tall and made from bronze. Admiral Yi Sun Sin (李舜臣) was a national hero who saved Korea from Japanese Invasion during year 1592 to 1598 by his invention "turtle ship" (right photo below). This ship is the first armored battle ship in the world.
Gyeongbok Palace (景福宮)
- Gyeongbok Palace was under restoration when I was there (photo below). Was rather disappointed as can't visit this beautiful palace. Well, hope there's chance for me to visit Seoul again!
Recomended Souvenirs
Here's some food samples I've bought. The individual packed instant noodles is a must-try and most of them are MSG-free (left photo below). Notice from the photo below that I accidentally bought a made-in Japan noodle! For chocolate-lovers, this strawberry coated with white chocolate is another must-try (right photo below). It was sold in the Incheon Airport and was the number one seller there!
