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Namsan, a granite mountain located south of Namdaemun in the heart of the city, is surrounded by Myongdong and Itaewon. Its slopes are graced by such deluxe hotels as the Sofitel Ambassador, Hilton International, Grand Hyatt, Shilla and Tower. From the Seoul Tower on the mountain's summit, visitors can take in a panoramic view of the city while enjoying a drink or a meal at the skyline restaurant. A beautiful public park can be found on Namsan, featuring a botanical garden and statues of famous historical figures. The mountain's interior is criss-crossed by 3 tunnels connection the city's northern and southern districts. Korea House, on the north side of Mt. Namsan, is an excellent example of traditional architecture, where cisitors can enjoy authentic Korean food in one of the dining rooms of banquet halls. There is also a small auditorium for traditional Korean music and dance performances. A reservation is necessary for the meal and the performance. Performance hours are 19:00 and 20:40. Yejiwon is on institute established to teach traditional Korea culture and manners. Among the classes offered by Yejiwon, the courses offering direct participation, such as the tea-ceremony, cooking, dancing, how to wear korean traditional wedding ceremony, are very popular. Special programs for tour groups are also provided. The average class lasts one or two hours and both men and women are welcome to attend. http://www.yejiwon.co.kr/ The National Theater can be found on the eastern slope of Mt. Namsan. It houses large and small performance halls and experimental, outdoor stages. The largest theater has a seating capacity of 1,500. All of the stage, sound and lighting systems are of world-class quality. Performances by music, dance and drama companues all take place year round. Itaewon is a popular spet for visiting bargain shoppers and entertainment seekers. It is largely responsible fr Seoul's international reputation as a shopper's paradise. The area's main street runs for more than a mile and is subway lined with stores, boutiques and sidewalk stalls. The boutiques sell tailor-made and ready-made suits and dressed, leather and eel skin goods, shoes and handbags, brasses, leather, jewelry and fur coats at a fraction of the normal price. There are also mumerous antique shops and stores specializing in Korean art and calligraphy. Itaewon is always bustling with activity. During the day, shoppers and merchants crowd the sidewalks; in the evening, the air is filled with the sounds of spirited entertainment and good cheer. There is an abundance of fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, small bars, large discos and cafes that offer a wide selection of music including jazz, country and pop, English is widely spoken and US dollars are welcome. Opened on June 10, 1994, the War Memorial offers visitors on educational experience of the many wars in which Korea has been involved. Many documents and war memorabilia have been collected and are displayed as examples of Korea's 5,000-year history of resistance to numerous invasions, while still maintaining national self-esteem. The War Memorial has several display rooms, such as the one dedicated to the memory of those who died defending their country, the War History Room, the Korean War Room, the Expeditionary Forces Room, the Korean Forces Development Room and the Large-Scale Equipment Room. There is an outdoor exhibition center displaying the weapons of other countries and a model based on the tombstone of king Kwannaeto the Great of the Koguryo Kingdom. The Yongsan Electronics Market, specializing in eletric and electonic goods, is the largest electronics market in Asia. With approximately 5,000 stores housed in 22 buildings, this shopping area is filled with practically every kind of electric and electronic product, such as TVs, VCRs, computers and cellular phones, at a selling price up to 30% lower than in other markets. In each building, stores are identified with names and numbers to enable shoppers to retrun easily for more bargains. In addition, with the establishment of a computer training center and several rest areas, the Yongsan Electronics Market is gaining popularity as a great new shopping area in Seoul. |