Seoul/Yongsan

Yongsan (용산) is in Seoul's geographic center, sandwiched between Seoul's two major cultural and economic centers, Gangnam and Jongno/Jung. The main area of interest here for travelers is Itaewon, the most international and foreigner-friendly neighborhood in Seoul, and one of the only places where you can find authentic Mexican, Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Indian food on the entire peninsula. It has Korea's largest mosque, markets hawking souvenirs and cheap t-shirts, Turkish ice cream parlors, and a nightlife scene dominated by foreigners. This may be partly due to the presence of the nearby US military base, which is also in Yongsan. Other attractions include the National Museum of Korea, the War Memorial Museum, and the Yongsan Electronics Market, a huge building selling gadgets at a steep discount.

For the time being, Yongsan is relatively quiet compared to its northern and southern neighbors, with many one- and two-story houses covering rolling hills and the southern side of Namsan. However, things may soon change: the U.S. military base is moving to a different location, and talks are underway to develop a natural park around the area.

Get in
Itaewon Station is on Line 6 (Brown). All exits empty out onto the main drag. The subway does stop running early, so if you are hitting the bars, plan on finding another way home or staying out all night.

At Yongsan-gu, there is a. Unlike Seoul Station which handles Gyeongbu-line trains (trains to Busan, Daegu, etc.), Yongsan Station handles Honam and Jeolla line (trains to Jeonju, Mokpo, Gwangju, Yeosu).

See




Climate
Seoul Yongsan-gu experiences a typical climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and dry, with temperatures ranging from -7°C to 4°C in January. Summers are warm and humid, with July and August being the hottest months, where temperatures can reach up to 29°C. The region receives the most rainfall in July with 317.9 mm of precipitation. Snowfall is not common in Yongsan-gu.

Do

 * Haebangchon, Seoul.png
 * Haebangchon, Seoul.png

Eat

 * Indian curries. There are a number of Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Itaewon. A curry is around ₩15,000, and a few do buffets which are around ₩20,000.
 * Fast food. Itaewon has a McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Kraze Burger, Quiznos, and Taco Bell.
 * Nashville steakhouse. Prices are around ₩25,000.

Itaewon
Itaewon is Seoul's international district, with a wide variety of Western-styled venues to eat, drink and be merry. Since many foreigners congregate there, Itaewon remains somewhat of a niche nightlife area for Koreans interested in a more international scene. A number of notable bars and clubs spot the area, both on the main street and in the nearby alleys. Long notorious for being somewhat seedy, with prostitutes plying their trade and alleged (gasp!) drug dealings, Itaewon has become cleaner and more gentrified. Of course, this is by Korean standards—Western travellers, especially American travellers, will wonder what all the fuss is about. Due to Itaewon's proximity to the nearby United States Army base, many GIs are found here in the evenings and weekends. However, the US army has decided to move the base outside of Seoul within the next few years, so expect regular changes to the area.

Bars and pubs
Many bars in Itaewon celebrate Thursdays as Ladies' Night, which often means that women drink free before 24:00. There are also a few gay bars two alleys east of the main street, with a mix of clubs and places to drink.

Nightclubs
For some good house and trance music, try some places such as:



Connect
As with elsewhere in the capital, there are plenty of PC Rooms available.