Korean Job Discussion Forums

[widespread123]

My parents are coming for Chuseok and I will be meeting them in Seoul. I live in Daegu so we will hang out in Seoul from the 22nd-24th and then head down Daegu. I have Daegu covered but I have not been to Seoul except for a drunken night in Hongdae. So, the question is, what are some attractions/restaurants to take two 55-year old, non-drinking, American parents that have never been out of the country? I am sure that they will just be astounded by Korea in general but I want to put them up in a good hotel. Things I am already planning:

-DMZ tour
-Dongdaemun shopping
-Namsan Tower



Here are the specifics:

-Where is good hotel in a nice area (restaurants, fun things to see at night) around 150,000W?

-Any good restuarants around suggested hotel?

-How do my parents get from Incheon--->their hotel? I will be working Friday night so they have to figure it out on their own and the easier way, the better.

-My pops loves music spots. He loves blues and old school rock n' roll (tink Kinks and Yardbirds). Any good spots for that?

Thanks in advance.

[kiwigirl :O)]

you parents can take the airport limousine from incheon to most of the popular hotels in seoul....or failing that can take the limousine bus to the city terminal near coex mall in samsung dong and then do the taxi or subway to their hotel... (depends on where the hotel is)

i think that namdaemun market is better than dongdaemun.....you can get great korean arts n crafts there and there is the awesome cross dressing guy who greets you!!! he sells the ajummas clothing and speaks english....you can also buy kimchi chocolate there (i tasted some and tastes quite good....its really spicy so a little goes a long way)

the jamsil olympic area is good to have a look around (i enjoyed it)

yongsan is good too...they may wanna pick up an relatively inexpensive new camera or other electrical goods...the ipark mall there is good and has a lot of shops....

in samsung dong across from the oakwood aparment complex is a great jazz bar....ive been there twice and the owner used to sing jazz in paris....her boyfriend is french and they do great duets together....also later in the evenings you can do karaoke....

your parents should try samgaptsal (삼 겹 살) im sure they will like it....a lot of my friends parents have come over and really loved it...

hope that helps

cheers
kg

[widespread123]

kiwigirl,
thanks a lot. Do you have any idea how much the airport limo is into Seoul?

Also, anyone know any nice mid-range >W150,000 that speaks English, has Western food, in a good area. Any ideas would be great as I can't really tell the quality from a computer. Thanks.

My parents appreciate it too

[excitinghead]

I don't live in Seoul, so I might be wrong, but I wouldn't recommend going there during Chuseok. I went with a friend then about 5 years ago, and we found virtually everything closed. Until we met up with friends in Itaewon 2 days later, which was as busy as always, we were so desperate for things to do that we ended up playing Starcraft in PC Bangs.

I don't know if things have changed since, I hope so, but you may well find that everything Kiwigirl mentions, like the markets, are closed and/or deserted. In Can anyone in Seoul tell us? If I'm right, I'd seriously recommend trying to go a week earlier or later, Seoul would be much more interesting for them.

[bossface]

i haven't stayed there (i live in seoul) but the hamilton hotel in itaewon sounds close to what you are looking for. rooms are, i believe, 80-120k, and finding western food or english speakers will not be a problem. also, an airport bus from incheon goes directly there (11-12,000, i believe) and it is right next to the subway (line 6) so it's easy to get around. also, if you are looking to do a dmz tour, the tours start from the USO in yongsan (a cheap cab ride from itaewon) at like 7 a.m. also, there are a couple of bars nearby with live rock every night (big electric cat in the alley behind the hamilton, also woodstock on the main itaewon street about a block from the hamilton) and several other bars with musical acts on weekend nights. also, being that itaewon is the "foreigner ghetto," it will be immune to businesses closing due to chuseok.

the downside - itaewon is unlike anywhere else in korea, not exactly local culture, and it can sometimes fell "unsafe" in some areas, though usually not until quite late at night.

check out www.lifeinkorea.com for info on the airport busses and hotels in general, the listings there are pretty good for hotels in this price range.