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4 | www.travelweekly-asia.com
SOUL OF SEOUL:
WHERE OLD AND NEW COLLIDE
government hopes to include to its
list of UNESCO cultural heritage
sites; and visited the modern
Seoul Museum, which connects
to Seokpajeong, a restored 19th
century hanok on the third floor.
With its juxtaposition of old and
new, the Seoul Museum was one
of five venues last year that made
it to the Seoul MICE Alliance (SMA)
– formed by the Seoul Tourism
Organisation and the city of Seoul
– list of unique MICE venues aimed
at enhancing the city's global
business events competitiveness.
Our English-speaking guide,
Stewart, shared that there are
ongoing plans to make more
interesting heritage sites available
for events. Unfortunately, this has
been hampered by worries that
having large-scale events on a
frequent basis would hinder efforts
to preserve them.
It's a valid concern, and having
caught a glimpse of what Seoul has
to offer culturally, I can definitely
see its appeal, be it for leisure or
business.
As the city strives to become
a top-notch conventions and
meetings city, it is important that it
continues to cherish its treasures
from yesteryears, not just for the
sake of making it to global lists, but
for how they have come to define it
as a nation with soul.
After all, once cultural assets
are ruined, they are irreplaceable.
VOICES
It was three years ago when I first
visited Seoul on a leisure trip.
Myeongdong, Hongdae,
Dongdaemun, Apgujeong… you
name it. As long as there were
young people, hip cafe joints and
free beauty samples, you will find
me there (with shopping bags in
hand).
Friends asked if I enjoyed
the historic palaces and cultural
village, but I hadn't seem them
at all. Back then I had a singular
focus to spend my limited time (of
two days) on the city's arguably
greatest draw: shopping.
Fast forward to May this year,
I am thankful to say that I was
able to revisit the city with fresh
eyes, during the media fam tour
organised by the Seoul Tourism
Organisation.
Besides witnessing a large-scale
incentive event held beside the
Han River for Zhongmai Chinese
delegates, and making our rounds
at modern convention centres and
interesting event venues (the Some
Sevit floating islands were truly
eye-opening), we had the chance to
delve deeper into the city's heritage,
which I noticed was listed as one
of "10 reasons to choose Seoul as
your MICE city" in a pamphlet that
was handed out to us.
We stayed in the elegant
Grand Hyatt Seoul nestled on the
historic Mount Namsan; saw parts
of the Seoul City Wall, which the
Seokpajeong, the beautifully restored 19th century hanok, which was home to the
father of King Gosong from the Joseon era.