Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bobbyhanlon]

i guess the title says it all.. i know there are quite a few people on this board who are interested in photography, so i'd be grateful if any of you could recommend some photogenic places in seoul where i could spend an afternoon taking pictures, since i'm leaving seoul next week. i've already been to all the palaces etc. a million times, so something off the beaten track would be great, such as old neigbourhoods, places with an earthy sort of quality, places reminiscent of old korea, and so on.
고맙습니다!

[Bibbitybop]

Grab a Lonely Planet Seoul book and head to the attractions.

[pest2]

The palaces down town are good... nearby insadong... blue house is also nearby. That area down there is generally good.

[RACETRAITOR]

Just pick a street and start walking. It sounds like you don't want to see the big attractions. Walk through a Korean neighbourhood.

[pest2]

sorry, totally mis-read your post. Yeah, if you dont want the attractions, just walk through any older neighborhood and start shooting... Also, how about the han river or Tancheon river bike path?

[bobbyhanlon]

thanks guys..
racetraitor, i think you are one of the posters who mentioned interesting places to take photographs before, would you care to give me any specific suggestions?

[Qinella]

I've found Mokdong to have some very interesting areas. There's one spot in particular that is in front of a buddhist temple (I think) and regularly has those paper lamp things hanging outside along the sidewalk. I can't explain how to get there, but maybe someone here can.


The area called Hyehwa has some very cool buildings, many of them being in the Hanok (Korean architecture) style.

[georgiadawg]

There are some nice "city" views from Bugaksan (the small mountain behind the Blue House)... It is called the Bugak Skyway. There are quite a few traditional style houses (even though they are newly built) mixed in with the more modern, wealthy homes. Additionally, you will find a Budhist temple that was still decorated with lanterns as of last weekend.

Directions: Follow the road that runs along the right side of GyeongBokgung

[captain kirk]

The Secret Garden near Anguk/Insadong. This is the royal palace garden and it was designed to be serene. The pond, arrangement of buildings, the pavilions/gazebos, big old trees are a soothing mirage to help the uber-rich of old get over their crushing guilt while slaves fetched tissues. That's for 'days of yore' photos. The palace just across from City Hall and Kwangbukong (sp?) Palace, too.

Seoul Zoo down at Seoul Grand Park subway stop.

Dongdaemun fleamarket starts at Exit 7 Dongdaemun and is busiest with people on Sunday from noon until 5pm. There are some characters there, and bizarre fleamarket items. I once saw a guy in a dress with a beard, large pet monkey, Honda Goldwing. The monkey was chained to Goldwing carry-rack.