Seoul in Dec 2022 - Day 1 Hongdae, Yeonname Dong, Myeongdong
It beens more than 3 years since our last trip to Seoul. Actually, it's been more than 3 years since we were able to fly anywhere due to the start of covid-19. Glad that the world is slowly getting back to normal and people can get back to life pre-covid.
It seems people are going crazy now that boarders are open with almost no requirements on quarantine and testing. A few years ago when I look for hotels or Airbnb studios, there were always abundant choices. However, this time when I try to look, all the listings of my choices were fully booked. Even plane tickets were being sell out fast and definitely a lot more expensive than when I last visited. At least a double of what I used to pay. Not a lot airline flying straight to Seoul as well. So, decided to go with Korean Air. Since all tickets are expensive, might as well go with the one that serves food and have check in baggage without extra charge.
Fortunately, we were still able to find a place in Hongdae through Airbnb (https://abnb.me/yaiC1BVqFvb). Can't say it's the best location within Hongdae, but already the best we were able to find. Just 2 minutes from the main shopping area and about 8-10 minutes walk from exit 9 of Hongik University Station. A cute duplex at 114, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Point Stay 11). Not my favorite layout of a studio around the area and the inside of the building such as the elevator and corridor area looks a little scary at night. No light.
There really isn't much we wanted to do in Seoul. We just wanted to fly out for the sake of flying out. We have been here so many times, so we really didn't know what new things we can do here. Just re-visiting the places to see what it's like after 3 years.
Hongdae is still very busy. But there are a lot of photo booth shops. There were at least 2 photo booth shops in every block. Each one filled with people on weekend. Felt like decades ago when sticker pictures were a new thing.
Headed to eat some cold noodle the in food court in the basement of LG Place. Found this place, 평안도상원냉면 (Eat 117 in below map), through Kakao Map app. Great app to use in Seoul since Google map is not fully supported and Kakao Map can use English input. It was freezing when I went, like -8C, but how can we miss eating cold noodle in South Korea....
Immediately after cold noodle, we needed to find some warm food. Some of the restaurants from a few years back are still there. Went to 홍대조폭떡볶이 홍대2호점 (38, Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Point Eat 114in below map). Lots of stores have Kiosk to order food now and only accepts credit card. No idea how to read Korean. Fortunately there are pictures and people in general are very friendly to help us order through the machine.
Good price for a pretty big portion.
Yeonnam Dong is just a block or two away. Wanted to check out the area and couldn't help but be stopped by shops selling cheesy pancakes and donuts.
Usually not a fan of queueing up to buy anything, but we are on vacation and got really curious why everyone on the street in carrying a box from Randy's Donuts (Point Eat 115 in below map). There are a lot of choices on the menu that seems interesting. However, most of them were sold out. Like that there are a few floors to this place. So, we could sit down to enjoy our donuts as long as we get 1 drink per person. I don't think it was really that good. I've had better donuts. I guess it's a new thing there?
Saw online there is a Donjin Market on Google map (Point Buy 47) that opens on weekend. Went to the pin point where Donjin Market is on Google map. Looks pretty dead to me. It was a Saturday. Don't know if it's permenantly closed or not.
There were still plenty of shops around the area with lots to buy. The clothes in this area seem to have a slightly better quality than the ones in Hongdae. Or maybe I was just in a good mood since it was the 1st day of our trip.
There is a 24 hr self serve pet supplies store in Yeonnam Dong. Even though there are CCTV installed in shops, I still think it takes a very honest general public for someone to open a shop with no staff inside and trust that people would check out and pay on their own. Saw a instant noodle for dog. Too bad I don't have a dog, if not, I would have bought.
Went to check out Myeongdong as well. The main street is still quite busy with lots of food stalls. But there were still streets that looks pretty dead to me. There were lots of empty stores. In my opinion, Hongdae is much better with more shops opened. Glad that I booked my stay in Hongdae and not in Myeongdong.
Walked around in the area to check out the Christmas lights at the time. Lots of people.
End up going to BBQ Chicken & Beer (Point Eat 116 in map) for some chicken and beer. Fried chicken can never taste bad, right? At least I haven't come across a restaurant that serves bad fried chicken.
Lots of walking on the first day already.
Points on map:
Airbnb - Stay 11
평안도상원냉면 (cold noodle) - Eat 117
홍대조폭떡볶이 홍대2호점 (Korean food dine in/take out) - Eat 114
Randy's Donuts - Eat 115
Donjin Market - Buy 47
BBQ Chicken & Beer - Eat 116 in map
Seoul in Dec 2022 - Day 1 Hongdae, Yeonname Dong, Myeongdong
Reviewed by chichicho
on
March 11, 2023
Rating:
Reviewed by chichicho
on
March 11, 2023
Rating:
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