Seoul Diaries: First Impressions of a City That Never Sleeps

Hello to all of you. I wish you all the best. Today I am very happy to share something that is very important for me. One of my dreams has always been to go to Korea and every time I imagine myself there, I start my trip from Seoul. I feel like Seoul is the best place to start. It is the capital, the heart of everything, and a city that combines history and change in a way that amazes me. I can almost feel the excitement of getting off my plane and immersing into it.

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The first thing that comes to my mind is the skyline. Skyscrapers of the utmost height reaching the skies, at the same time ancient castles can be seen standing in the very heart of the city. During the night, colorful neon lights are dazzling, but at the same time, the integrity of history is still audible through the stone walls and wooden gates that have been there for centuries. It looks like one place where you can have both worlds.

The first place I would visit is Gwanghwamun Square. I imagine myself next to the monument of King Sejong, the man who invented the alphabet for Korea. It would just not be a tour for me. It would be a chance to experience the language that was my first contact with Korea through music. After that, I would go directly to Gyeongbokgung Palace. I can see the guards in their multi-colored uniforms, the high gates, and the peaceful courtyards which are a part of the past, with so much history.

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After such a serene experience, I wouldn't mind going to the vibrant area of the city. The first place that pops into my head is Myeongdong. That place is just bursting with neon lights, boutiques, and food stalls. I would definitely eat tteokbokki, hotteok, and any other delicious food I could find, while I would be shooting the crowd and atmosphere with my camera.

However, the Han River at night is what excites me the most. I have come across photos of people sitting there by the water, eating together, and watching the city lights shining on the water. I could see myself there, just sitting there silently, thinking about how music was the first thing that brought me into this world, and now I am actually in the middle of it.

If I were in Seoul, another place I’d love to visit is Bukchon Hanok Village. Traditional houses, tight alleys, and wooden roofs that breathe the history of Korea. Being there would be like time traveling, but the city is still alive just a little far from the village. That combination of the past and the present is what makes Seoul my lovely city.

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Seoul never seems to sleep. Even at midnight, the city is alive cafes open, markets busy, and music echoing from karaoke rooms. I imagine myself walking through the streets, too amazed to even feel tired.