Three Things You Must Try When Spending a Day in Seoul
If you only have one day to explore Seoul, the Korea Tourism Organization recommends three unique experiences you shouldn’t miss: creating a personalized seal, stepping into the role of a Joseon Princess, and visiting Namsan Tower.
1. Experience Making a Personalized Seal
In Korean culture, personalized seals play a crucial role in transactions and official documents, replacing signatures or fingerprint stamps. At the Eorayeon Exhibition Hall, located on the second floor in the historic Insadong district, visitors can participate in this experience. For around 20,000 won, you’ll be provided with tools such as paper, a pen, a stone seal, and ink to create your own unique seal.
Staff will guide you through writing your name and selecting a design for engraving. The entire process takes about 30-40 minutes, and you’ll leave with your own seal, just like Koreans use in official documents. This is a fascinating cultural experience you shouldn’t miss.
2. Become a Princess or Queen at Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most beautiful and largest palaces from the Joseon Dynasty. It’s the site where many kings, such as Jeongjong, Sejong, Danjong, and Sejo, were crowned. The palace has witnessed significant historical events, including the assassination of Queen Myeongseong. Today, the palace retains its original architecture, with structures like castles, ponds, and ancient sculptures still preserved.
Visitors often enjoy wearing hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, and transforming into noblewomen, princesses, queens, officials, or kings of the Joseon Dynasty. The entrance fee is 3,000 won, but visitors wearing hanbok are granted free admission. This offers not only unique photo opportunities but also a deeper understanding of Korean culture.
3. Visit Namsan Tower
Namsan Tower, located atop Namsan Mountain at 236 meters above sea level, is an ideal spot to view the entire city of Seoul from above. For couples, it’s known as the “witness of love,” thanks to the iron fence where people hang love locks as a symbol of eternal commitment.
The area around the tower often hosts traditional music and martial arts performances, with nearby stalls selling food and souvenirs. At the top of the tower, you can use binoculars to get a panoramic view of Seoul and learn about famous landmarks around the world through glass walls displaying distances from the tower.
There are two ways to reach the tower: by taking a bus and then walking up the mountain or using the cable car, which costs around 15,000 won for a round trip. To access the observatory at the top of the tower, tickets cost 21,000 won.
In addition to these main activities, you can also visit the Myeongdong night market or Namdaemun, Seoul’s oldest market, for shopping and traditional Korean food. For K-pop fans, a visit to the former headquarters of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) or LOL park offers a chance to immerse yourself in Korea’s vibrant music and e-sports culture.
