Seoul Day 12: Bukchon Hanok Village & Ssamziegil

We did plenty of stuff on day 12 but just not recorded in camera. Haha Too busy shopping la. Anyway here’s a brief summary of what we did.

It was a half drizzling half cloudy morning. Not a good day for photography hence you’ll see I only posted few photos. Most didn’t came out good and also because of busy shopping later that day. Around 9am we walked from Stay In GAM (our hostel) to Bukchon Hanok Village. I’ll say it took about 15 minutes. It was a pleasant walk.

Like Jeonju Hanok Village which I visited few days earlier, Bukchon Hanok Village is a village with hanok (traditional Korean houses) that is located right in the heart of Seoul. That’s right. How cool is that right? Initially I wanted to stay in Bukchon Hanok Village but upon finding out the hanok in Bukchon are actually newer (since mostly have been renovated; they’re from Joseon era), I changed my mind and choose Jeonju instead. And it was a wise choice since I feel Bukchon Hanok Village is too modern to my liking. Anyway there are 8 scenic viewing points in Bukchon Hanok Village and we went to several of them (Bukchon view 4 to 8) which is the left side of Gahoe-ro. I did not venture into the right side of Gahoe-ro. We dropped by the Tourist Information Center to grab a map of Bukchon Hanok Village before our quest. From the map we follow the route to these scenic spots.

This is Bukchon view no. 4 where you get to see hanok’s rooftops. It’s actually a beautiful view but my camera skill was lacking that day.


Bukchon view no. 5 uphill.

Still view no. 5.

Bukchon view no. 6 downhill. Same road with view no. 5. In all of Bukchon, view no. 5 and no. 6 are the most scenic. Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential area therefore when visiting we need to be quiet.

This is a hanok which appear in the Korean drama Personal Taste, starring Lee Min Ho and Son Ye Jin. I didn’t completed the drama because it ain’t my taste but anyway I sort of remembered this hanok.

We then had our lunch in Samcheongdong (same area as Bukchon). We ate sujebi (click to read my review) which is like mee hoon kueh. Very delicious!

After lunch, we had a walk around Samcheongdong area which has plenty of shops. This place is more upscale and the clothes here are pretty expensive. Then we walked to Insadong to visit a mall which we had earlier on gave it a miss due to time constraint.

This is the fame Ssamziegil mall in Insadong.

What’s cool about this place? The mall is built in a spiral-like stairway.

What you can find here? Arts and culture stuff and they’re expensive too.

This is shit bread or 똥빵 ttong ppang in Korean. I didn’t dare to try it. Hahaha 1 piece cost 1,000 won.

Then we proceed to Jonggak subway for its underground shopping. So much fun since the price agree with me. Haha

We had a snack of tteokbokki @ 2,500 won somewhere near Jonggak. Super delicious and yet so spicy.

This is the shop where we had the tteokbokki called Jaws Tteokbokki. Apparently it’s a chain restaurant.

Then we took subway to Seoul Station where Lotte Mart is located. It’s a shopping mall alright. We went clothes shopping but could not find anything nice. Then in the evening we went to their supermarket for groceries shopping. Bought seaweed, biscuits, instant noodles, etc. I’ve seen tourist buy in bulk and then have the mall ship back to their home country. We’re not that crazy la since we can find Korean goods in Malaysia too.

Our dinner at Lotte Mart Food Court. Left is pork rice and right is kimchi fried rice. They’re good.

That completes day 12. Told ya it was short. Stay tuned for day 13. 🙂

Read the rest of my South Korea journey here…
Incheon + Jeju-do Self Drive Day 1: MAS, Car Rental & Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival
Jeju-do Self Drive Day 2: Yeongsil Trail at Hallasan National Park (Part 1)
Jeju-do Self Drive Day 2: Jusangjeolli Cliff, Yongmeori Coast & Cheonjiyeon Falls (Part 2)
Jeju-do Self Drive Day 3: Yilin Pension & Seongsan Ilchulbong (Part 1)
Jeju-do Self Drive Day 3: Seopjikoji & Seongeup Folk Village (Part 2)
Jeju-do + Busan Day 4: Bye Jeju, Dynamic Guesthouse, Cherry Blossom at Dalmaji Road, Haeundae Beach & Gwangalli Beach
Busan + Jinhae Day 5: Cherry Blossom at Yeojwa Stream & Gyeonghwa Station (Part 1)
Busan Day 5: Jagalchi Market, Gukje Market & Dinner at Lotteria (Part 2)
Busan + Jeonju Day 6: Bukyungdang Hanok Guesthouse, Jeonju Hanok Village Scenic Walk & Omokdae
Jeonju Day 7: Jeondong Catholic Cathedral, Pungnamun & Nambu Market
Jeonju + Seoul Day 8: Stay In GAM, Hongdae & Ewha Womans University
Seoul Day 9: Noryangjin Fish Market, Yeouido Cherry Blossom, KBS & Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain
Seoul Day 10: Gwangjang Market, Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon & Insadong
Seoul Day 11: Bangsan Market, Namdaemun Market & Myeongdong Shopping

Photos from Nikon D80 and Panasonic TZ-7.