The Modern Seoul

Filed in archive A World Away on July 30, 2007

Seoul is on display at the COEX Mall in the city's Gangnam District. The mall and adjoining convention center is the place to observe and enjoy all things modern. Though X-box games might not be the reason travelers come to Korea, the massive store dedicated to Microsoft's X-box is a sort of Mecca for gamers and a spectacle for everyone else. They even film video game competitions for local TV.

The sheer volume of stores in the mall makes this a great place to wander, though a nightmare for indecisive shoppers or those searching for a specific product. The multiplex and food courts offer ample distraction when the consumerism gets too overwhelming.

This being Seoul, there is tradition in the midst of the modern. In COEX Mall, it takes the form of a fun exhibit dedicated to kimchi, the spicy, pickled cabbage dish that is the very definition of Korean cuisine. Finding kitschy places like the Kimchi Museum is part of the magic of visiting Seoul. You never know when you'll find the interesting, the humorous, or the bizarre.

There is also a world-class aquarium in the COEX Complex.