South Korea, Part IX - Seoul, the country's capital with the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty

The five grand palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty are among the highlights of a visit to Seoul. There are also numerous interesting markets, picturesque neighbourhoods and modern design icons. A good first overview of the city can be obtained from the 263 metre high N Seoul Tower, inaugurated in 1975. The Bukchon district, the northern part of the city. You come here for the old, traditional houses. The curved roofs and facades decorated with brick ornaments form a surreal contrast to modern Seoul. In contrast, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, one of Seoul's architectural icons, is ultra-modern. With its cool, silver aluminium skin and amorphous structure, the building looks more like a spaceship. Nearby is the lively Insadong Avenue, known for its variety of Korean antiques and traditional goods. The Namdaemun market is also usually very busy. It is said to be the largest in Korea and is known far beyond the city limits. What you can't find here, you won't find anywhere else in Korea, they say.
Back in the city's past, we take a one-hour walk along the Seoul Wall Fortress. From the former city wall, you have good views of the modern metropolis. At the end of the path is Iwha Mural Village, known as the Moon Village. This district was doomed to ruin as it was considered a slum and run-down area until those responsible had murals painted by 70 artists as part of an art in the city project to revitalise the neighbourhood. They succeeded. The Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Museum is dedicated to the world of traditional Korean herbal medicine. It focuses on the history and knowledge of traditional Korean medicine. Fittingly, the museum is located opposite Seoul's Yangnyeong Market, a trading centre for oriental medicine. At Jegidong Market, on the other hand, people trade in all kinds of food.
The Cheonggyecheon Stream exemplifies the transformation of the city and its way of thinking. Once a small river, it was completely built over with an elevated road in 1950. As part of an urban renewal project, the eleven-kilometre-long river across the city was opened up again and a refuge for people and birds was created. The Deoksugung Palace, one of five residences of Seoul's rulers built during the Joseon Dynasty, is located in the centre of the city. The stroll through the city in the evening ends at Seoul Plaza, the central square in front of the city hall. It is popular with young couples and families. Numerous comfortable seating options, an open-air library and play equipment for the little ones ensure that it is always busy.
The next day, Gyeongbokgung Palace, certainly one of the highlights of a visit to Seoul. The name means Palace of Radiant Bliss. With its 330 buildings, it is said to be the largest and most beautiful of Seoul's five palaces from the Joseon period. In 1990, work began to restore parts of the former complex true to the original. The palace once had over 7000 rooms. Don't miss the royal guard's changing of the guard ceremony. Dressed in the uniforms of the 15th century, visitors are shown how a changing of the guard might have taken place in those days. A detailed travel report about the Japan and South Korea tour in German can be found at https://reiseinfo4you.de/japan-2024/