August 2009 | Discovering Korea

Seoul Fringe Festival

During Seoul’s hot summer weeks, a seasonal highlight is the always funky Seoul Fringe Festival, which takes place in the trendy Hongdae neighborhood.

Seoul Tapgol Park and Korea’s Independence Movement

Close up of an ornate door, with turquoise carving on either side of red wood with slightly rusty metal locks and latches.

Opened in 1897, Seoul Tapgol Park was one of Korea’s first Western-styled parks and the site where Korea’s Declaration of Independence was read in 1919.

Gwanghwamun Square as Seoul City Center

A large multicolored flower carpet as part of Gwanghwanun Square, circular plantings of different colored flowers with stone walkways down either side, with pedestrians, against a backdrop of a large building and a mountain in the distance.

When 16 traffic lanes were converted into a 19,000 sq.m public plaza, the renovated Gwanghwamun Square became a controversial centerpiece in downtown Seoul.

Seoul Metro’s New Gold Line 9

Close up of a city map showing a metro line, and a red pointer with white text. The background fades to soft focus.

Seoul Metro’s New Gold Line 9 adds 25.5-kilometers of rail track to one of the world’s largest and most-used urban public transportation systems.