Our Last Day in Seoul

The Silver Design Plaza

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Sitting area with wooden animals along the stream
Cheonggyecheon Stream Today is our final day in Seoul; actually South Korea. It is warm and sunny with no warnings today of North Korean garbage balloons falling from the sky.

We plan on having an easy going day, just wandering around.

Trees along the Stream We start the day with a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream. This stream runs 12km through downtown Seoul.

It is really pretty with cute sitting areas and stepping stones across the stream. Little fish swim through the currents and at one point a bigger fish jumps right out of the water.

Design Plaza

Design Plaza from across the street
John on top of the Design Plaza We leave the stream heading towards a large, curvaceous, football (missile) shaped silver building. This ultra modern building is called the Design Plaza. We explore it from all different angles (and I explore the craft market).

Heunginjimun Gate

Ancient Seoul Gate Nearby is the Heunginjimun Gate (also known as the Dongdaemun Gate. This ancient gate is a huge contrast from the Design Plaza.

Down the street is the Dongdaemun Market Building. It is filled with everything a seamstress needs. It’s actually mind boggling. If I had space to bring things back, I’d be all over this place.

Insadong Shopping Street

Ladies singing in a Korean Cultural Show We take the nearby subway and head to Insadong Shopping Street. We have some lunch (dumplings) in a Korean restaurant, I shop and we watch a bit of a cultural show before grabbing another subway for Seoul Station.

Sky Park

Roses in the Sky Garden

View of the highway from the Sky Garden Once at Seoul Station we take an escalator to Sky Park or Sky Garden. Similar to New York City’s Hi-Line Park, Sky Park is created on an old, highway overpass. They’ve done a really good job. Besides flowers, ornamental grasses and small ponds, they also added small kids trampoline area, an inside place where people can play piano and all kinds of sitting areas.

You can look over the edge of the park at the Seoul Train Station and highways below.

Namdaemun Market

Soon after we leave the park, we are in the Namdaemun market area. There are tons of street vendors but we are heading back to get our packing done because we leave early for the airport.

On the Way Back to the Apartment

Kimberly with the Heart of Seoul
John at the Sungnyemun Gate We pass Sungnyemun Gate, another ancient gate.

On our way back to the apartment, we pass City Hall. There is a big heart in front, (the Heart of Seoul). There is also an outdoor library and lots of sitting and lounging areas. Very creative use of space.

Seoul City Hall Outdoor Library

Myeong-dong Night Market

Night Market crowds
After a short rest at the apartment, we head out to Myeong-dong Night Market for supper and some final shopping in Korea. I love the unique and creative food stands at this market.