Author’s note: ‘Coming to Korea’ posts are written with tourists in mind. For the complete series, please check out the ‘coming to Korea’ category

Seoul is a huge place – beyond being one of the largest cities in the world, the surrounding metropolitan area is filled with plenty of other attractions. While you can spend weeks touring Seoul and not see it all, there are several places you can safely skip if you’re on a tight time schedule.

1. Unhyeongung - one of Seoul’s five palaces, albeit the smallest.
Why you should see it: it’s calm and peaceful – a nice break from the bustling streets..
Why you should skip it: You’ve already seen one of Korea’s other, larger palaces. While there are subtle differences, the untrained eye will have a hard time seeing them.

2. Itaewon – Korea’s largest selection of international cuisine
Why you should see it: You like to party it up with locals that speak English and are more familiar with Western customs
Why you should skip it: It’s a tourist trap with an earned (though fading) reputation of seediness. Go buy souvenirs somewhere else – Insa-dong or Jogyesa are downtown.

3. World Cup Stadium – Korea was co-host of the World Cup in 2002.
Why you should see it: there’s a game – Korea’s soccer leagues are quite good, and admission is cheap.
Why you should skip it: because it’s a freakin’ stadium – who goes to a stadium if there’s nothing going on? Keep walking to the World Cup Park instead.

4. Olympic Park – part of the 1988 Summer Olympic Festivities
Why you should see it: there’s plenty to see here – enough to keep you busy for a day. Sculptures galore, greenspace, some ancient Korean history to learn about, and the Olympics themselves.
Why you should skip it: there’s plenty to see here – enough to keep you busy for a day. Its size and diversity is either exactly what you might be seeking or a reason to go elsewhere.

5. Times Square - one of the largest, most modern malls around.
Why you should see it: you love shopping and have some money to spend.
Why you shoud skip it: because it’s basically a huge Western mall. You didn’t travel 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) to visit a mall, did you? If you’re looking to shop, check out Dapsimni’s antiques or the Seoul Folk Flea Market in a modern building.

Readers – where else in Seoul is worth passing on if you’re short on time?

© Chris Backe – 2011
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