What makes Seoul so cool? - Reasons Why I Want To Go To Seoul Again? ;D
An online portal operated by CNN recently introduced 50 reasons why Seoul is the world’s greatest city. Written from the perspective of a non-Korean, the list is beginning to grab international attention.
The Han river Floating Island (Yonhap News)
Concerning the fact that Asian tourists have designated Seoul the first city to visit, CNNGo selected several reasons why.
At the very top of the list was galbi, a typical BBQ in Korea with beef soaked in traditional sauce. The scene where one person from the group must focus on flipping meat was new to non-Koreans. Other treats on the list were kalguksu (Korean noodle soup), bibimbap, soju, green tiramisu, hangover stew and live squid. McDonalds’ delivery was also something new for foreigners.
The Korean tradition of serving guests was also in the list. Not only were the superb service, random freebies, no tipping and free side dishes on the list, but also the hospitality at Korean and Asiana Airlines made Seoul attractive. The free information call center 120, which operates 24 hours a day in different languages, was included too.
Entertainment such as booking (speed dating at night clubs), screen golf, jjimjilbang (Korean spa) and bang (rooms for different occasions, such as games, movies, singing, etc.) were a few other examples on the list.
Categories such as “wildest celebrity scandal” were also included, reflecting the popularity of hallyu, the Korean wave, around the world.
The list also said Seoulites “have never met a job they couldn’t finish ahead of schedule.
By Kang Yoon-seung(koreacolin@gmail.com) Intern reporter - Edited by Rob York
CNNGo Lists 50 Reasons Why Seoul Is a Great City
Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na performs at the KCC Switzen 2011 All That Skate Spring ice show at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul on May 6. /Newsis
CNNGo, the 24-hour news channel’s Asian culture website, on Wednesday offered "50 reasons why Seoul is the world's greatest city." It also describes Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na as "the pride of every Korean's heart."
Besides Kim, which it calls "an ice princess you actually like," CNNGo also lists Korean food including galbi (grilled beef ribs), kimchi, bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetables and meat) and live squid, actresses who lead the Korean Wave, G-Dragon of the popular boy band Big Bang, Incheon International Airport, COEX, and Korean sauna or jjimjilbang.
Seoul also boasts the "wildest celebrity scandal" involving the divorce of Korea's "cultural president" Seo Tai-ji and actress Lee Ji-ah, according to the site.
englishnews@chosun.com / May 26, 2011 12:01 KST
Seoul's Skyline About to Be Transformed
Seoul's skyline will undergo a major transformation, with five skyscrapers in the works that will be more than 100 stories tall, while a rash of building 60 stories or taller are being built. The 63 City building, once the tallest building in Korea, will soon be dwarfed by these new developments.
The banks of the Han River in Seoul will be the site of the race for the tallest building. This week alone, plans were announced to build two new skyscrapers in the city. On Mar. 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it would begin construction in September of the world's second tallest building, the Seoulite (133 stories, 640 m) or DMC Landmark Tower in the Digital Media City, a media cluster under development in the northwestern district of Sangam-dong. And a day later the government gave the green light for the construction of the second Lotte World complex in Jamsil (112 stories, 555 m). The river bank will also be the site of the Hyundai Automotive Group headquarters building envisioned in Ttukseom (110 stories, 550 m), and the Dream Tower (152 stories, 620 m) to be built in the Yongsan international business zone.
Yeouido Island, which is in the process of changing into an international financial center, is also expected to join in the transformation of Seoul's skyline along the Han River. In addition to 63 City, which was built in 1985, the 72-story Parc One tower and the 55-story International Finance Centre Seoul are slated to open there between 2011 and 2013 to house both domestic and foreign financial companies.
Artist's impressions of skyscrapers to be built: 1) Seoulite or DMC Landmark Tower, 2) Parc One, 3) IFC Seoul, 4) Lotte World, 5) Hyundai Automotive Group headquarters building, 6) Incheon City Tower, 7) Dream Tower, 8) National Asia Trade Tower, 9) Incheon Tower
The construction of these skyscrapers can create jobs during the economic slump and they could become major tourist attractions after completion. But experts say the skyscrapers also have drawbacks. First of all, special construction techniques and materials are necessary in the construction of buildings that are more than 100 stories tall. This means double or triple the cost of building such structures compared to ordinary buildings, which translates into higher maintenance costs and rent.
As a result, acres of office space could be left vacant. On top of that, the construction projects themselves could end up being scrapped if they run into problems in funding by investors due to the global financial crisis.
englishnews@chosun.com / Apr. 03, 2009 07:45 KST
The Han river Floating Island (Yonhap News)
Concerning the fact that Asian tourists have designated Seoul the first city to visit, CNNGo selected several reasons why.
At the very top of the list was galbi, a typical BBQ in Korea with beef soaked in traditional sauce. The scene where one person from the group must focus on flipping meat was new to non-Koreans. Other treats on the list were kalguksu (Korean noodle soup), bibimbap, soju, green tiramisu, hangover stew and live squid. McDonalds’ delivery was also something new for foreigners.
The Korean tradition of serving guests was also in the list. Not only were the superb service, random freebies, no tipping and free side dishes on the list, but also the hospitality at Korean and Asiana Airlines made Seoul attractive. The free information call center 120, which operates 24 hours a day in different languages, was included too.
Entertainment such as booking (speed dating at night clubs), screen golf, jjimjilbang (Korean spa) and bang (rooms for different occasions, such as games, movies, singing, etc.) were a few other examples on the list.
Categories such as “wildest celebrity scandal” were also included, reflecting the popularity of hallyu, the Korean wave, around the world.
The list also said Seoulites “have never met a job they couldn’t finish ahead of schedule.
By Kang Yoon-seung(koreacolin@gmail.com) Intern reporter - Edited by Rob York
CNNGo Lists 50 Reasons Why Seoul Is a Great City
Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na performs at the KCC Switzen 2011 All That Skate Spring ice show at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul on May 6. /Newsis
CNNGo, the 24-hour news channel’s Asian culture website, on Wednesday offered "50 reasons why Seoul is the world's greatest city." It also describes Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na as "the pride of every Korean's heart."
Besides Kim, which it calls "an ice princess you actually like," CNNGo also lists Korean food including galbi (grilled beef ribs), kimchi, bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetables and meat) and live squid, actresses who lead the Korean Wave, G-Dragon of the popular boy band Big Bang, Incheon International Airport, COEX, and Korean sauna or jjimjilbang.
Seoul also boasts the "wildest celebrity scandal" involving the divorce of Korea's "cultural president" Seo Tai-ji and actress Lee Ji-ah, according to the site.
englishnews@chosun.com / May 26, 2011 12:01 KST
Seoul's Skyline About to Be Transformed
Seoul's skyline will undergo a major transformation, with five skyscrapers in the works that will be more than 100 stories tall, while a rash of building 60 stories or taller are being built. The 63 City building, once the tallest building in Korea, will soon be dwarfed by these new developments.
The banks of the Han River in Seoul will be the site of the race for the tallest building. This week alone, plans were announced to build two new skyscrapers in the city. On Mar. 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it would begin construction in September of the world's second tallest building, the Seoulite (133 stories, 640 m) or DMC Landmark Tower in the Digital Media City, a media cluster under development in the northwestern district of Sangam-dong. And a day later the government gave the green light for the construction of the second Lotte World complex in Jamsil (112 stories, 555 m). The river bank will also be the site of the Hyundai Automotive Group headquarters building envisioned in Ttukseom (110 stories, 550 m), and the Dream Tower (152 stories, 620 m) to be built in the Yongsan international business zone.
Yeouido Island, which is in the process of changing into an international financial center, is also expected to join in the transformation of Seoul's skyline along the Han River. In addition to 63 City, which was built in 1985, the 72-story Parc One tower and the 55-story International Finance Centre Seoul are slated to open there between 2011 and 2013 to house both domestic and foreign financial companies.
Artist's impressions of skyscrapers to be built: 1) Seoulite or DMC Landmark Tower, 2) Parc One, 3) IFC Seoul, 4) Lotte World, 5) Hyundai Automotive Group headquarters building, 6) Incheon City Tower, 7) Dream Tower, 8) National Asia Trade Tower, 9) Incheon Tower
The construction of these skyscrapers can create jobs during the economic slump and they could become major tourist attractions after completion. But experts say the skyscrapers also have drawbacks. First of all, special construction techniques and materials are necessary in the construction of buildings that are more than 100 stories tall. This means double or triple the cost of building such structures compared to ordinary buildings, which translates into higher maintenance costs and rent.
As a result, acres of office space could be left vacant. On top of that, the construction projects themselves could end up being scrapped if they run into problems in funding by investors due to the global financial crisis.
englishnews@chosun.com / Apr. 03, 2009 07:45 KST