Seoul: Got Seoul?
by Helene Goupil
Meetings AsiaPacific
With Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing only a two-hour flight away, Seoul is truly the heart and—wait for it—"soul" of Asia.
A major business hub, the city has become an ideal meeting destination with a range of meeting venues and accommodations sure to please any planner. According to a news article on the Seoul CVB website ( http://www.seoulcvb.org/eng/sub06/sub06_05.asp), in May 2007 the city ranked seventh as an international convention destination for associations.
With 84 airlines that connect Seoul to 121 cities worldwide, you can easily get here from anywhere. Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport are less than an hour away from the downtown business district and a new airport railway connects the airports to the centrally located Seoul Station. Getting around the city is also a breeze thanks to the eight subway lines. (Two new subway lines are under construction).
The valley of Cheonggyecheon is the heart and soul of the city. Attendees will find a wealth of historic palaces, high-class hotels and happening traditional markets. Although typically known for its never-ending skyscrapers and 12-lane highway—a sort of paean to the future—the capital of South Korea is becoming greener. A massive reclamation of open space was completed to the tune of $350 million—the Cheonggyecheon project destroyed highways to uncover a buried stream. And now, pedestrians and bicyclists meander in leisure where cars once ruled the road.
Most meetings and conventions take place across the Han River in the recently developed area of Gangnam-gu. The neighborhood is home to the World Trade Center of Korea and the COEX Mall, a large indoor shopping and entertainment complex. The world’s 10th-largest conference center, the COEX offers spectacular facilities, with more than 2 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space. SETEC is another major exhibition complex and boasts more than 107,600 square feet of floor space.
Among the 17,343 superior and deluxe hotel rooms the city has to offer, a popular choice due to its proximity to the convention hall is the COEX InterContinental Seoul. Just as popular is the Tower Hotel Seoul, a property created by Sugeun Kim. The architect designed the hotel in 1969 to honor South Korea’s allies in the Korean War. Facing the city, the suites enjoy surreal views of the modern metropolis.
Korea’s history lives on in the many temples, palaces and pagodas. Parts of the fortress walls that once surrounded the city are still standing. Check out the recently reopened Mount Bukak for a blast from Korea's past.
Insa-dong is a favorite of attendees who enjoy walking and shopping. Filled with antique shops, old bookshops and galleries, guests can find all the souvenirs they could ever want, and more.
Experiencing Seoul isn’t complete without trying the local delicacies offered at the many restaurants around town. Must-haves include kimchi, fermented cabbage, neobiani, a broiled beef dish, and sinseollo, a traditional casserole made with gravy, seafood, meatballs, and nuts simmered in beef broth.
To top off a fun evening and wash down all that good food, visitors should head to Baesangmyun juga brewery, near the Seoul Finance Center, to taste the country’s traditional spirits. The corn and green tea liquors are tasty and pack a punch.
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