Seoul, city of K-pop and arirang

The entrance to Gyeongbukgung Palace, which stands with pride as a heritage building in Seoul. Photos: Foong Sow Kit

Mention South Korea, and most people would instantly think of K-pop, but that isn’t always the case. A vacation to Seoul, the capital of the country, gives you a taste of both traditional and modern Korean culture.

Our first day was heavily focused on the traditional side of the city where we visited palaces, monuments and villages with hundreds of years of history. Walking along the alleyways of Bukchon Hanok Village made me feel as if I had travelled back in time to the old days of the Joseon Era. What’s even more surprising was that the buildings weren’t for display because there were people still living in these houses. So don’t just walk in or you’re bound for a surprise!