You can be in Seoul for three days and still not be able to see all the best destinations in the city. That is how many interesting attractions there are in South Korea's capital.
Well, at least, that was the experience I had in my first and second trips to Seoul.
But aside from the usual itineraries that include palace tours, K-drama location visits, and shopping in Myeongdong—which are great itineraries, still—there's so much more to see in Seoul, more so outside of the capital.
And that was what the Korea Tourism Organization Manila wanted to prove in the recent familiarization tour it organized for select members of the Philippine press.
A trip to Hanseong
It's one thing to take a few photos at a coffee shop where a scene from a K-drama was shot, but it's quite another when you can literally walk around the set of a popular series; take photos and rent the same costumes worn by the characters.
At Sunshine Studio in Nonsan Sunshine Land in Chungcheongnam-do, a province in South Korea, fans of the critically acclaimed drama series “Mr. Sunshine” can spend a day enjoying the film set whose streets are lined with skillfully reproduced houses and buildings in Hanseong (former name of Seoul) during the late Joseon period in 1900s.
The 6,000-square meter complex served as the main filming location of the period series; about 75 percent of the show, officials said, was filmed there.
Officials also said the film set, which officially opened to the public in November 2018, receives about 30,000 visitors a month.
Visitors can walk around the set in costumes they can rent for a fee.
A journey of faith
The tour had also brought us to several religious destinations, mostly of Catholic faith. During our “pilgrimage,” our amiable tour guide told us that in terms of religion in South Korea, 50 percent are members of a religion and 50 percent are not. And of those 50 percent faithfuls, about 40 percent are Protestants, 30 percent are Buddhists, and 30 percent are Catholics.
One of the interesting religious sites in the country is Daeheung-dong Catholic Church in Daejeon, the country's fifth largest metropolis. Our tour guide said the city, which is a few hours away from Seoul (1.5 hours by KTX / 2.5 hours by bus), is popular for its Catholic churches.
The church features a modern Gothic design, a modern bell tower, and a cantilevered steel canopy. It was built without columns. At the time of its completion in 1962, the Daeheung-dong Church was the tallest building in Daejeon.
Interestingly, when you look from the outside, the towering structure looks like two hands together in prayer.
A stone's throw from the church is Sung Sim Dang Bakery, whose founder hailed from North Korea.
The charming bakery, divided into two outlets—one sells cakes and the other sells breads—not only offers delectable goods which locals patronize, but also donates part of its profits to charities. The bakery gives about P875,000 to the institutions it supports every month, our tour guide said.
When Pope Francis visited South Korea in 2014, he went to Daeheung-dong church and bought ciabatta at the bakery.
At night, the nearby Uineungjeongi Cultural Street, Daejeon's version of Myeongdong, lights up with lines of shops selling beauty and fashion items, and the 214-meter long arcade-type LED screen dubbed the “Sky Road” which shows promotional videos and product commercials.
Meanwhile, in Chungcheongnam-do, other Catholic pilgrimage sites include Shinri Holy Ground in Dangjin, a huge site that has a modern chapel, an outdoor chapel with a wall designed with a bas-relief of Jesus Christ, and a museum which tells the story of the birth and spread of Catholicism in Korea.
Also in Dangjin is Solmoe Holy Ground, the birthplace of the first Korean-born Catholic priest, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon.
Aside from the popular Myeongdong Cathedral, there's also Kahoe Catholic Church located in Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul.
Speaking of Bukchon Hanok, we discovered a new and fun way to tour the village—via the Artee Pedicab Tour, wherein skilled (and good looking) drivers take guests around the popular heritage site, making stops at a few establishments.
A day or two of photo shoot
It's no longer news that Korea is replete with places great for selfies and photo shoots. Sajinchango Café and Photo Studio in Daejeon offers a special photography experience. It has a retro ambiance complete with vintage knick-knacks, and a studio where guests can take their self-portraits using a remote shutter.
Another popular site for photo shoots among locals is the Ami Art Museum in Dangjin. The art gallery has various exhibition halls featuring contemporary artists. The interesting artworks and the sprawling garden make for a great photo background.
For Santorini-inspired photos, head over to Blue Crystal Village in Asan, where streets are lined with white buildings that house boutique shops and restaurants.
For a charming traditional village scenery, the Oeam Folk Village is another must-visit. Guests can walk around the rustic village where they can see traditional thatched-roof houses, stone walls, gardens, and an artificial waterway.
Not yet satisfied with those photos? Head over to Harry Potter-inspired King's Cross Cafe, a multi-level pub and coffeehouse where guests can borrow robes and scarves and take photos at its many spots; or to Byeol-Madang Library (more popularly known as Starfield Library) inside Coex Mall, which boasts over 50,000 books and magazines.