A Seoulite's Healing Day Trip to Seochon
People often describe Seoul as a gray city.
A place with no breathing room, a desolate landscape of buildings.
But as someone who has lived and grown up in Seoul my whole life,
I find that a bit unfair, haha.
Seoul alone has 25 administrative districts (gu).
And, of course, each district has its own unique vibe.
So, as a Seoul native,
I'd like to share a travelogue of my healing trip to Seoul, when I was tired of Seoul.
The story begins when I left work early and went to Apgujeong Hyundai Department Store.
I had taken a half-day off, but I was still working.
Leaving the office, dragging my suitcase, and picking up the moon jar cake I had pre-ordered—all while attending a Google Meet.
To make matters worse, Apgujeong Hyundai's food court was crowded like a marketplace.
I really wanted to escape somewhere.
So, where did someone as busy as me escape to?
Seochon.
My arrival time was slightly off from my partner's, so I decided to head to the accommodation I had booked first.
It wasn't easy getting there with a suitcase and a cake on a rainy, humid day.
But once I arrived,
I finally felt like I could relax,
and my heart felt lighter.
I did do a little work during the break, but…
After my partner arrived, we had lunch.
It was ongsimi makguksu (potato noodle soup) and buckwheat crepes.
With our bellies full,
our Seochon trip began.
My partner and I really love Seochon.
Seochon refers to the neighborhood west of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
It generally encompasses Cheongunhyoja-dong and Sajik-dong, nestled against Mount Inwang.
Perhaps because it's near Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the most historically significant areas in Seoul(?)
It's famous for its concentration of traditional Hanok houses.
It is also a neighborhood where tradition and modernity blend together.
More than anything, it's a place where you can feel the old ways and a sense of leisure in the heart of bustling Seoul.
After lunch, the first place we visited was
Intelligentsia Coffee Seochon.
I've been to the one in Myeongdong before,
but I heard the Seochon branch was in a Hanok style,
so I was curious and decided to go.
My partner smelled the coffee.
Since it's an American coffee brand known for its drip coffee and beans, they offered a scent test.
Even though it's an American coffee chain,
the fact that they built the Seochon branch using a Hanok was
interesting and somehow strange.
Anyway, we ordered a house blend drip coffee and
an Angelino, Intelligentsia's signature drink.
It wasn't bad, but it didn't have the same wow factor as when I had it in Myeongdong (why?).
After that, we wandered around without a destination and stumbled upon a bookstore.
Internal photography was not allowed,
so I can't upload any pictures, but
the owner seemed very passionate about the books.
There were also reviews attached and books selected to fit certain themes,
which made it fun to browse.
After that, we kept walking without a destination.
My partner is great at finding his way around.
I, on the other hand, am a notoriously terrible navigator.
He has the ability to know which way we've come and what new paths lie ahead.
Walking into an area we hadn't been before, we found
Dodo, a pottery studio by a ceramic artist.
Each piece of pottery, made using a potter's wheel,
had its own unique charm.
I really wanted to buy something, but I already have too many ceramics, so I just admired them and left.
Nearby was a place called Eco Coop,
so we went in as if we were drawn by magic.
It had a plastic mill that I hadn't seen in a long time.
It was a place that upcycled plastic lids, etc.,
and it had been years since I last saw one!
Eco Coop Jongno not only had a plastic mill,
but also a store that mainly sold products made with Korean agricultural products and eco-friendly goods.
I think this was 7,000 won.
We bought rice bread here!
The size was small and the ingredients were good,
so we ate it without thinking, but later I realized
it had over 1,000 calories, which was betraying. (Still, it tasted good toasted.)
It was time to go home~
But on the way, we discovered Youngkwang Chicken.
It was a market-style chicken, which is rare these days.
My partner wanted to eat it while watching the Asian Cup Korea vs. China game,
so we bought it.
The price was 20,000 won, but the portion was huge.
It also came with fries and chicken gizzards, which made it a great deal.
I don't really like chicken that much,
so I only ate one drumstick, but it tasted good.
After buying drinks at the supermarket, it was already almost 8 PM.
After showering and feeling refreshed,
we watched the Asian Cup, but unfortunately,
we didn't make it to the semi-finals.
Nevertheless, we were very moved
by the national basketball team's tenacious efforts to win, even by a little,
and by the unique teamwork of One Team Korea.
My partner says he cries whenever he sees player Lee Hyun-joong, haha.
After the first half of the basketball game,
we had a 2-year anniversary celebration during a short break.
My partner asked if we should have dinner at a fancy restaurant,
but for some reason, I didn't want to do that in Seochon.
Our two-year anniversary party ended with
Asian Cup talk, fried chicken, and dalgona cake—
a messy mix of everything.
A day in Seochon, spent not following what others do,
not following a course set by Instagram,
but entirely on our own whims and impulsive preferences.
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