Posts Tagged ‘Seoul Special City’ (Page 3)

Seoul at night – Namdaemun Market (closed)

360° VR panorama of late evening in Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장), in central Seoul, South Korea. Most shops and traders have shut up shop by 9.30pm, while rubbish has been piled in front of a pair of telephone boxes.

From Wikipedia:

Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, the “Great South Gate,” which was the main southern gate to the old city.

Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of King Taejong, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, King Seonjo set up the office of seonhyecheong (hangul:선혜청, hanja:宣惠廳, “tribute bureau”) in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods.

The management of the market went over to the Japanese in 1922, but after liberation in 1945 the merchants established the Namdaemun Merchant Organization and took over management. The market, however, turned to ruins during the Korean War and succumbed to fire in 1953. The Seoul Namdaemun Market Co. Ltd. was found in 1954 to rebuild the market, but efforts fell short due to financial troubles. Endeavors for reconstruction continued in the following years, but fires swept the market again in 1968 and 1975.

Namdaemun Market is one of the oldest continually running markets in South Korea, and one of the largest retail markets in Seoul. The streets in which the market is located were built in a time when cars were not prevalent, so the market itself is not accessible by car. The main methods of transporting goods into and out of the market are by motorcycle and hand-drawn carts. It occupies many city blocks, which are blocked off from most car traffic due to the prevalence of parking congestion in the area. The market can be accessed by subway or bus; the location is within a 10 minute walk from Seoul metropolitan station and is even closer to the subway Hoehyeon Station, Line 4.

Much of the market is outside, but there are also many stores which line the streets. Many retailers buy their items, particularly clothing, at wholesale prices at Namdaemun, to resell in their own stores in other cities. Namdaemun is a popular tourist attraction.

Seoul at night – Namdaemun Market

360° VR panorama of the street sellers and shops selling a range of foods, clothing, and accessories in Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장), in Seoul, South Korea. Most stores are open all day and well into the evening.

From Wikipedia:

Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, the “Great South Gate,” which was the main southern gate to the old city.

Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of King Taejong, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, King Seonjo set up the office of seonhyecheong (hangul:선혜청, hanja:宣惠廳, “tribute bureau”) in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods.

The management of the market went over to the Japanese in 1922, but after liberation in 1945 the merchants established the Namdaemun Merchant Organization and took over management. The market, however, turned to ruins during the Korean War and succumbed to fire in 1953. The Seoul Namdaemun Market Co. Ltd. was found in 1954 to rebuild the market, but efforts fell short due to financial troubles. Endeavors for reconstruction continued in the following years, but fires swept the market again in 1968 and 1975.

Namdaemun Market is one of the oldest continually running markets in South Korea, and one of the largest retail markets in Seoul. The streets in which the market is located were built in a time when cars were not prevalent, so the market itself is not accessible by car. The main methods of transporting goods into and out of the market are by motorcycle and hand-drawn carts. It occupies many city blocks, which are blocked off from most car traffic due to the prevalence of parking congestion in the area. The market can be accessed by subway or bus; the location is within a 10 minute walk from Seoul metropolitan station and is even closer to the subway Hoehyeon Station, Line 4.

Much of the market is outside, but there are also many stores which line the streets. Many retailers buy their items, particularly clothing, at wholesale prices at Namdaemun, to resell in their own stores in other cities. Namdaemun is a popular tourist attraction.

Seoul at night – Namdaemun Market Gate 6

360° VR panorama of stall holders selling cooked snacks in the evening, near gate 6 of Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장) in central Seoul, South Korea.

From Wikipedia:

Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, the “Great South Gate,” which was the main southern gate to the old city.

Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of King Taejong, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, King Seonjo set up the office of seonhyecheong (hangul:선혜청, hanja:宣惠廳, “tribute bureau”) in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods

The management of the market went over to the Japanese in 1922, but after liberation in 1945 the merchants established the Namdaemun Merchant Organization and took over management. The market, however, turned to ruins during the Korean War and succumbed to fire in 1953. The Seoul Namdaemun Market Co. Ltd. was found in 1954 to rebuild the market, but efforts fell short due to financial troubles. Endeavors for reconstruction continued in the following years, but fires swept the market again in 1968 and 1975.

Namdaemun Market is one of the oldest continually running markets in South Korea, and one of the largest retail markets in Seoul. The streets in which the market is located were built in a time when cars were not prevalent, so the market itself is not accessible by car. The main methods of transporting goods into and out of the market are by motorcycle and hand-drawn carts. It occupies many city blocks, which are blocked off from most car traffic due to the prevalence of parking congestion in the area. The market can be accessed by subway or bus; the location is within a 10 minute walk from Seoul metropolitan station and is even closer to the subway Hoehyeon Station, Line 4.

Much of the market is outside, but there are also many stores which line the streets. Many retailers buy their items, particularly clothing, at wholesale prices at Namdaemun, to resell in their own stores in other cities. Namdaemun is a popular tourist attraction.

Seoul at night – Banpo-ro and Toegyero intersection

360° VR panorama of the streaks of light from car lights as evening traffic moves along Banpo-ro (running north-south) and Toegyero (running east-west) in central Seoul, South Korea.

Buildings visible from this point include the LG-CNS Prime Tower (프라임타워), the Shinsegae Department Store (신세계백화점), Woori Bank (우리은행), and the Daeyeongak Building (대연각빌딩). In front of the Prime Tower is an empty lot where the State Tower Namsan (스테이트타워남산) is being built.

Seoul at night – Migliore Myeong-dong

360° VR panorama of outside the Migliore store in the Myeong-dong neighbourhood of Jung-gu district, Seoul, South Korea. Other nearby shops include the Myeong-dong food court, Nature Republic, and Calvin Klein Jeans. Street sellers also have stalls set up selling shoes and clothes.

The Myeong-dong area is a popular area with young people, who go there in the evening to do some shopping or have a meal out.

Seoul at night – Domino’s Pizza Myeong-dong

360° VR panorama taken at night time outside the Domino’s Pizza Myeong-dong branch (도미노피자 명동점), located on Chungmuro 2(i)-ga (충무로2가) in Jung-gu (중구), Seoul (서울특별시), South Korea (대한민국).

Across the road is the Seongchang Building (성창 빌딩), which houses various shops and the Outback Steakhouse Chungmuro branch (아웃백스테이크하우스 충무로점). In the distance can be seen the N Seoul Tower (엔 서울타워) lit up on top of Mount Namsan (남산).

Jibokjae Royal Library

360° VR panorama outside Jibokjae Royal Library in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea.

From Wikipedia:

Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.”

Heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.

Jibokjae (Hangul: 집옥재; Hanja: 集玉齋), located next to Geoncheonggung Residence, is a two-story private library used by King Gojong. In 1876, a major fire occurred in Gyeongbokgung Palace, and King Gojong, for a brief period, moved and resided in Changdeokgung Palace instead. He eventually moved back to Gyeongbokgung in 1888, and he had the already-existing Jibokjae building dissembled and moved from Changdeokgung to the present location in 1891. Its name, Jibokjae, translates loosely in English as “Hall of Collecting Jade.”

The building uniquely shows heavy influence of Chinese architecture instead of traditional Korean palace architecture. Its side walls were entirely constructed of brick, a method commonly employed by the contemporary Chinese, and its roof design, interior screens, and columns also show Chinese influence. Its architecture possibly was meant to give it an exotic appearance.
Jibokjae is flanked by Parujeong (Hangul: 팔우정; Hanja: 八隅亭), an octagonal two-story pavilion, to the left and Hyeopgildang (Hangul: 협길당; Hanja: 協吉堂) to the right. Parujeong was constructed and used to store books, while Hyeopgildang served as a part of Jibokjae. Both of the buildings are connected to Jibokjae by internal corridors.

Bohyeondang (Hangul: 보현당; Hanja: 寶賢堂) and Gahoejeong (Hangul: 가회정; Hanja: 嘉會亭), buildings that also formed a library complex to the south of Jibokjae, were demolished by the Japanese government in the early 20th century.

Geoncheonggung residence – Jeongsihap and Nokgeumdang

360° VR panorama of Jeongsihap and Nokgeumdang, two buildings forming part of the Geoncheonggung Residential Palace in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea.

Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.”

Heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.

Geoncheonggung (Hangul: 건청궁; Hanja: 乾淸宮), also known as Geoncheonggung Residence, was a private royal residence built by King Gojong within the palace grounds of Gyeongbokgung in 1873.

King Gojong resided in Geoncheonggung from 1888 and the residence was continuously expanded, but Empress Myeongseong, the wife of King Gojong, was brutally assassinated by the Japanese agents on October 8, 1895 at the residence. Her body was raped and cut, and was burned and buried near the residence.

Haunted by the experiences of the incident, the king left the palace on January, 1896, and never returned to Geoncheonggung Residence. Demolished completely by the Japanese government in 1909, the residence was accurately reconstructed to its former design and open to the public in 2007.

Above description taken from Wikipedia article on Gyeongbokgung.

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, Hyangwonji Lake, Chwihyanggyo Bridge

360° VR panorama of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, Hyangwonji Lake, and Chwihyanggyo Bridge in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea.

Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.”

Heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.

Hyangwonjeong (Hangul: 향원정; Hanja: 香遠亭), or Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, is a small, two-story hexagonal pavilion built around 1873 by the order of King Gojong when Geoncheonggung residence was built to the north of the Hyangwonjeong site within Gyeongbokgung.

The pavilion was constructed on an artificial island of a lake named Hyangwonji (Hangul: 향원지; Hanja: 香遠池), and a bridge named Chwihyanggyo (Hangul: 취향교; Hanja: 醉香橋) connects it to the palace grounds. The name Hyangwonjeong loosely translates as “Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance,” while Chwihyanggyo translates as “Bridge Intoxicated with Fragrance.

The bridge Chwihyanggyo was originally located on the north side of the island and was the longest bridge constructed purely of wood during the Joseon Dynasty; however, it was destroyed during the Korean War. The bridge was reconstructed in its present form on the south side of the island in 1953.

Above description taken from Wikipedia article on Gyeongbokgung.

National Folk Museum of Korea – Muninseok

360° VR panorama of the stone statues of Civil officials, known as Muninseok (문인석), on display in the grounds of the National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관). The National Folk Museum of Korea is located in the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁), Seoul (서울).

The aim of the National Folk Museum of Korea is to preserve the legacy of traditional Korean life and to educate on how Koreans lived in traditional times. The Museum is a popular attraction, receiving over two million visitors annually.