My nephew Kale was living in Seoul in 2007, or actually, in Incheon nearby. Seoul, Incheon and area is the centre of a huge metropolis, again one of the world's largest cities. Less orderly than Japanese cities, more western than Chinese cities, Seoul is a prettier-than-expected place with amazingly friendly people and a lot to see. I was fascinated by the small scale architecture around the city, especially commercial buildings and purpose-built galleries. Though some parts are quite sterile, one is never far from a massive commercial area, even way out in the burbs.
Photo List (Total 268 Photos)
Click bolded headers below to view, or click "just the best" for quick tour
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Downtown Seoul (57 photos) - Seoul Station, the Deoksugung Palace, Art Museum, Art Gallery, a former covered sewer that has been reclaimed as a beautiful stream, and some remarkable tall buildings.
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Insadong (18 photos) - This area close to downtown impressed me for its many purpose-built small art galleries, and commercial architecture. I also took a few photos of an area nearby with impossibly small and complex alleyways, yet close to monolithic buildings.
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Imperial Palace (22 photos) - The Gyeongbokgung or Imperial Palace is not old though it looks it, they are gradually rebuilding it so almost all the structures were constructed in the last 20 years. There used to be an office building in its midst! Nonetheless, the complex is quite beautiful, and though I was somewhat reluctant to enter, in the end I was glad I did.
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Leeum / Samsung Museum (24 photos) - This complex of three separate museums by three well known architects lies on the slope of Mt. Namsan not far from downtown, and is a real treat for architecture buffs. It was the first time I saw a building by Jean Nouvel, and though it was hard to photograph well, I was stunned by how beautiful and simple it was. Also two photos of a nearby building, not yet open to the public, that I am assuming is also a gallery.
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Yeouido (41 photos) - This area, sort of an island in the Hangang River, has one of Seoul's tallest buildings and also their National Assembly. These photos show parkland, views from the 63 Building, the Assembly, and various other buildings nearby.
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Gangnam-Gu (27 photos) - This area south of the river from downtown is fairly sterile, and consists mostly of office buildings. I was chasing down a building, which brought me here, but there were a few surprises after my arrival. These photos show mostly modern buildings, and a park.
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Hongik and Ewha Universities (27 photos) - This area west of downtown has some great commercial buildings, including one that I fell in love with. Most shots are not of the universities at all, but just of the area as I walked towards downtown.
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Incheon (27 photos) - My nephew Kale actually lives in Seoul's sister city, Incheon, itself a city of over 2 million people. These photos are an unpredictable bunch of photos of Incheon's commercial areas, subways, and various other oddities that really didn't belong anywhere else.
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Transit photos (27 photos) - This includes many photos of the unforgettable transit centre at Incheon Airport, and also shots of the subway, subway stations, and signage.
