Between meetings
If you have a couple of hours…
When a 16th-century neighbourhood was unearthed beneath the new Centropolis Building, an unprecedented decision was made to preserve the ruins as a basement exhibit. The resulting and as yet littleknown Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum is the latest branch of the Seoul Museum of History (museum.seoul.kr). After exploring the exhibit, visitors can experience a virtualreality (VR) re-creation of the original neighbourhood.
If you have half a day…
Spend it in futuristic Gangnam, where Korea’s VR craze began. Bend your mind playing games in a VR café or catch an e-sports tournament in the Nexon Arena (arena.nexon.com). To glimpse how this technology will one day enhance our home lives, investigate the interactive exhibition at Samsung d’light (samsungdlight.com).
If you have a day…
Located just 30 kilometres south of Seoul, Suwon is the last walled city in South Korea. The almost six-kilometre stroll along the fortress wall takes in the more than 100-year-old village, Hwaseong Fortress and towering golden Buddha. The city is also famous for hiking, museum-hopping and galbi (barbecued ribs). Enjoy the latter at Kabojung (kabojung.co.kr), a rare barbecue restaurant that caters to solo diners.
If you have a weekend…
For a thousand years Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla kings. Now the UNESCO Heritage-listed city is known as “the museum without walls”. Only two hours from Seoul by KTX train, Gyeongju’s treasures include ruins, temples and royal tombs all surrounded by a national park. The city is an ideal place to experience the more traditional luxuries. For an overnight stay, the elegant suites at Hwangnamguan (hanokvillage.co.kr) offer standard or ondol (heated floor) bedrooms. Yosokkoong restaurant (yosokkoong.com), in a restored 200-year-old house, specialises in classic Korean aristocratic set meals. Don’t be intimidated by the menu – you only have to decide the number of courses.