Grad Trip // Seoul 02

If there’s one thing that I love about Seoul, is its ability to be a huge, bustling metropolis armed with weaving buses and towering office complexes, while still maintaining and preserving the historical buildings that helped make Seoul what it is today. I adore how yesteryear is juxtaposed alongside the massive city that Seoul has become. Of note are Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, and the Sungnyemun Gate.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Besides the aforementioned massive buildings, Seoul has also preserved this Korean traditional village. Known for its intricate, tight alleys (most of which are still wide enough for cars to pass through), this neighbourhood exemplifies how Seoul aims to preserve its cultural and historical identity amongst its urban complexes. This isn’t just a tourist destination either, because these are real homes to real people - however I can’t imagine them being too happy with the huge numbers of visitors on a daily basis.