Seul

In South Korea’s intoxicating capital, the old and new intertwine. On the surface, Seoul is a thoroughly modern city dissected by the River Han and cluttered with towering skyscrapers and glitzy shopping malls. It is a city driven by the world of commerce, where the pace of life is always frenetic and the streets seem permanently choked with traffic. However, on closer inspection visitors discover ornate palaces, tranquil Buddhist temples and beautiful gardens. It is not just the city’s architecture that is varied, with fast-food chains and international restaurants co-existing alongside traditional Korean establishments serving the fiery and pungent hot kimichi. Street hawkers, selling everything from tasty ddukbokki (rice cakes with red pepper paste) to tailored suits and traditional dress, are also an inherent part of the city’s fabric, as are its charming tea houses and coffee shops. Seoul’s cultural life is equally diverse, and offers everything from world-class performance art to galleries and museums showcasing fine art and traditional works, covering many facets of life in South Korea. It is not unusual to stumble across traditional music or dance performances, yet karaoke bars are every bit as much part of the fabric of 21st-century Seoul.