Seoul Day 1: Yonsei, Seonyudo Park and Paris Park

Hi everyone! Today I'm taking you through our first day in South Korea. I covered how we got from Bangkok to Seoul in the flight and K-ETA guide, and how we got from the airport into the city in the Incheon transport post. This post is about the day we actually started exploring the city.

My day 1 route went like this: a chicken burrito I couldn't identify, a walk around Seoul with K-drama soundtracks in my ears, Yonsei University, Seonyudo Park on the Han River, Paris Park with its mini Eiffel Tower, an iced chocolate break at Mega Coffee, and a funny evening in a hotel room where everything runs on one remote.

In short: Lunch cost 8,800 won (about US$6), and an iced chocolate plus a bottle of water at Mega Coffee came to 3,600 won (about US$2.50). The Yonsei campus, Seonyudo Park and Paris Park are all free to visit, and the three fit comfortably into one day.

Lunch: A Chicken Burrito I Couldn't Name

My first lunch in Korea was a strange chicken burrito, and I still don't really know what it was. I can't read Korean, so I never learned its name; I basically ordered by looking at the picture. I also don't have a good answer to "you went to Korea and your first meal was a burrito?"

It cost 8,800 won, roughly US$6 (about 300 Turkish lira at the time). Keep that number in mind as a typical lunch price when eating out in Seoul. Coming straight from Thailand, we felt the difference on day one.

If you're wondering where we exchanged money for won, see the Myeongdong money exchange post.

Walking Seoul with K-Drama Soundtracks

After lunch I decided to wander around Seoul. To really get into the mood of Korean dramas, I put on my headphones, played a few K-drama soundtracks and walked while listening.

Honestly, the atmosphere was magical. With drama music playing in the background on Seoul's streets, you feel like you're inside a scene. If it's your first time in Seoul, give it a try at least once.

Yonsei University: Like Walking onto a Drama Set

Next I headed to Yonsei University. We were staying at Urban Hotel & Play in Sinchon, so the campus was very close.

As soon as I walked in, it felt familiar. I'm convinced one of the dramas I've watched was filmed here, because the stone buildings, wide paths and crowds of students looked so recognizable. Yonsei is one of Korea's oldest and best-known universities, and it shows up on a lot of Seoul sightseeing lists.

What surprised me most was that part of the school seemed to be built underground. The space beneath Baekyang-ro, the campus's main road, has been developed into an underground complex, while the surface was turned over to pedestrians. Walking along a wide path on top and realizing there's a whole structure below you is a strange experience.

As a visitor, you can walk around the campus's open areas. It's still a working university, though, so keep your voice down and stay out of the lecture buildings.

Seonyudo Park: An Island in the Middle of the Han River

From Yonsei I went to Seonyudo Park. Seonyudo is a small island in the middle of the Han River. It used to be home to a water treatment plant; after the plant closed, it was turned into a park in 2002. The plant's old concrete structures and tanks were converted into plant gardens, which makes the park look quite different from an ordinary green space.

Overall, I'd say they made great use of the island. It's a good spot both for a walk and for sitting down with a view of the river.

What made me happiest was a public piano that anyone can play. Nobody bothers you; you just sit down and play whatever you like. I really loved the sound of that piano.

The easiest way to get to Seonyudo is from Seonyudo Station on Line 9, or on foot from the Dangsan side. Since we were using the Climate Card, we never had to count how many times we took the subway.

Paris Park: An Eiffel Tower Everywhere I Go

After leaving Seonyudo, I found a mini Eiffel Tower. The park turned out to be called Paris Park. It's in the Mok-dong area of Yangcheon-gu and was built to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.

In Pattaya we had already seen an Eiffel Tower inside Terminal 21. I guess seeing an Eiffel Tower wherever I go is just my destiny. My Eiffel collection keeps growing without me ever going to Paris.

It's a smaller neighborhood park compared to Seonyudo; if you're in the area, it's worth stopping by for a photo with the Eiffel.

Bikes in Korea: What Scooters Are to Thailand

Another thing that caught my eye all day was bicycles. What motorbikes are to Thailand, bicycles are to Korea. You constantly see people cycling along the river, through parks and down the streets.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also runs a bike-sharing system called Ttareungyi (따릉이), and you'll spot its green bikes parked all over the city. The bike paths running along the Han River go a long way toward explaining why cycling is so common here.

Mega Coffee Break: Iced Chocolate and Water for 3,600 Won

After a long walk, I stopped at a Mega Coffee near Paris Park to rest. I got an iced chocolate and a water, and the total was 3,600 won, about US$2.50 (roughly 120 Turkish lira).

Given Seoul's overall prices, that's ridiculously cheap. And I never expected it to taste this good. Mega Coffee is a budget coffee chain you'll find on almost every corner in Korea, and it's a great option for a quick break between walks. It reminded me of the value we got from our Cafe Amazon break in Pattaya.

The Hotel Room: One Remote to Rule Them All

Toward evening I headed back to the hotel. The funniest thing about it was that everything in the room is controlled by a single remote. The lights, the TV and the room system all run from the same device.

I have to admit that while trying to change the TV channel, I kept switching all the room lights on and off. If you stay at this hotel, spend a few minutes playing with the remote when you first walk in.

I spent the rest of the evening editing our Thailand videos and teaching my online class. That's how we wrapped up our first day in Korea.

Seoul Day 1 Route at a Glance

• Lunch: A chicken burrito I couldn't name, 8,800 won (~US$6)
• Seoul walk: Exploring the city with K-drama soundtracks
• Yonsei University: A campus that feels like a drama set, with an underground complex
• Seonyudo Park: An island in the Han River with a piano anyone can play
• Paris Park: A mini Eiffel Tower in Mok-dong
• Mega Coffee: Iced chocolate and water, 3,600 won (~US$2.50)
• Hotel: An evening battle with the do-everything remote

Locations

Here are the Google Maps links for the places I visited:

• Yonsei University: Google Maps location
• Seonyudo Park: Google Maps location
• Paris Park: Google Maps location
• Mega Coffee: Google Maps location
• Urban Hotel & Play Sinchon: Google Maps location

Conclusion

My first day in Seoul turned out much fuller than I expected. A city walk with K-drama music, a Yonsei campus that feels like a drama set, a park in the middle of the river with a public piano, yet another Eiffel Tower and a surprisingly cheap iced chocolate: the city won me over on day one.

If it's your first time in Seoul, staying in Sinchon, starting with Yonsei and ending the day by the Han River makes a great first-day route. Stay tuned for the next days, and drop your questions in the comments. See you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yonsei University open to tourists?

Visitors can walk around the campus's open areas, which is what we did. Since it's an active university, you should stay out of the lecture buildings and keep the noise down.

Where is Seonyudo Park, and is there an entrance fee?

Seonyudo Park is on a small island in the middle of the Han River in Seoul. The site was a water treatment plant until it became a park in 2002. Entry is free, and the easiest access is from Seonyudo Station on Line 9.

What is there to see at Paris Park in Seoul?

Paris Park is in Seoul's Mok-dong area and was built to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Its highlight is a small Eiffel Tower model. Entry is free.

How much does a coffee break cost in Seoul?

At budget chains it's quite cheap. At Mega Coffee we paid 3,600 won (about US$2.50) in total for an iced chocolate and a water.