Ddeok-gal-bi meatball skewers

There are lots of different kinds of street vendors in Myeongdong, including “Ddeok-gal-bi meatball skewers,” the one we are going to introduce to you today.
It started from the idea that people would enjoy “Ddeok-gal-bi,” one of the most famous traditional Korean food, more casually as walking if it is made into bite-sized meatballs, and it soon became very popular in Myeongdong. Why don’t you try it out if you plan to shop in Myeongdong area? It would be not so difficult to find this place as they set up a huge food model to attract people in front of it.


                         

World’s First Vertically Movable Mini-tram Developed in Korea

An unmanned mini-tram that can move up and down by an elevator has been developed in Korea for the first time in the world. This can be usefully deployed in places where short intervals between trains are required and there are multiple destinations for passengers, such as large shopping malls, transit transfer centers and airports.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute held on November 27 the first pilot run for the mini-tram at its head office in Euiwang in the southern outskirts of Seoul. The six-seater battery-operated tram can travel up to 50 kilometers an hour along the magnet-laid rail. Once a passenger presses the call-up button at the station, the tram will come pick up the passenger to take her to the desired destination along the optimal route indicated by the GPS. The central control center makes sure the trains can be run smoothly without colliding with each other.
According to an institute’s official, the tram can come in handy in small residential towns and areas in which connecting means of transportation are needed. As the tram is small sized, it costs less to build and maintain. Currently similar trams are under deployment in London’s Heathrow Airport and Masdar City Airport in Abu Dhabi. The institute aims to commercialize the technology by 2016.

Seoul to Introduce “Pororo” Taxi to Dispel Bad Image of Seoul Taxis

Seoul taxi drivers are notorious for rejecting customers and driving aggressively. In order to dispel their bad reputation, Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced “Pororo” taxis in an attempt to paint cabbies in a more friendly light.

The Seoul city government modified 20 owner-driven taxis with images of the popular cartoon penguin Pororo, and has launched a pilot project that will continue until May next year. “Pororo, the Little Penguin” is a much beloved animated cartoon series in Korea and abroad. Pororo has even been dubbed as the “president of children.”

From outer decorations to accessories inside the vehicles themselves, Pororo and his friends have taken over the taxis, giving much delight to passengers, especially children.

Passengers don’t need to pay extra fare for the specially decorated taxis, and those who would like to take a Pororo taxi should make an online reservation at Seoul’s public transportation reservation site (http://yeyak.seoul.go.kr/main.web) at least seven days prior to the service.

However, the services are not only based on reservations, and those who are lucky enough to spot one on the street can ride a Pororo cab like any other taxi in Seoul.

The city government will decide whether to keep the service running after reviewing responses from passengers and taxi drivers, once the pilot project has concluded.

Popular Character Pucca to Let Seoulites and Tourists Know Public Information

Pucca will engage in public information campaign activities to promote Seoul to its citizens and tourists. It will introduce Seoul’s main attractions to foreign tourists as well.

The Seoul metropolitan city government signed an agreement with Vooz which created the character Pucca on November 17 to jointly produce content for public use free of charge. Pucca, designed by the animation character designing company in 2000, has gained popularity in more than 150 markets worldwide. It has won the best animation character awards for three consecutive years from 2003, and was selected as Korea’s best animation character in 2010 by the Seoul Business Agency.

The city government plans to allow Seoulites to obtain public information on the city related to women and children in an easy and fun way by utilizing Pucca. The lovable character will also be on public campaigns about etiquette on public transportation or non-smoking sections in order to establish better communication channels between the city government and Seoul citizens through the friendly animation character.

As it is popular in other countries including China and Brazil, Pucca will become a tour guide in tourist materials for tourists in hot spots such as Myungdong and Gwanghwamun as well. Considering the fact that a growing number of Chinese tourists love the Chinese girl-like character, it is expected to boost the local economy.

All the materials on which Pucca appears are available at bus stops, public vendors in Seoul and the Seoul Book Store located in the City Hall.

                               

The city government has already utilized many domestic animation characters to communicate with Seoulites well. It came up with “Tayo” buses and “Larva” subway trains, which grew huge in popularity.

                                           

All 8 of Seoul’s Dulle-gil trails are open to walk on as of Nov 15

                        

There are many walking trails in Korea, but you don’t need to travel far to enjoy one of Seoul’s 8 Dulle-gil trails, all of which are fully open to public as of November 15, 2014.

As the love and interest from Seoulites and visitors from other regions increases for Seoul’s natural attractions, so the roads built close to mountain trails gain in popularity. However, this influx of vehicles is detrimental to the natural scenery. In order to protect Seoul’s natural attractions while still allowing people to draw near, the Seoul government created the Dulle-gil trails that cover the city’s most visited natural attractions, organized into 8 courses reaching 27 different locations. Covering 157km in total, these trails are perfect for exercise but also good for viewing nearby cultural and historical sites. Moreover, all entrances and exits are within short walking distance to 23 major subway stations for easy access. 

Kimchi Museum

Taste kimchi, the worldwide wellbeing food

In Korea, Kimchi is served with every meal at home. You will see Kimchi there if you go for eat at Chinese restaurants or Japanese restaurants.

This Kimchi Museum introduces you the history of Kimchi, varieties of Kimchi and how to make. You can have an interesting time here.



Have you ever tasted kimchi?

Kimchi is associated with traditional Korean food. Freshly sliced from the jar and taken with boiled rice, it is the best dish to the Korean people, who do not require any other side dishes. Hence, kimchi is a must food for them.



In the past, foreigners were reluctant to eat kimchi due to its smell, but these days they also enjoy kimchi, since its excellence as a wellbeing food is widely known.

If you are still hesitant to try it due to its spicy taste, you can start with mild types of kimchi like white radish kimchi or white cabbage kimchi without red pepper, and also experience the various tastes of kimchi.

As a fermented dish, kimchi has been around for long time along with Korea's history, The history of kimchi goes back three thousand years ago to the earliest history of Korea. Historically, kimchi had been called "dimchae," which means to ‘pickle vegetable in salt,' and the pronunciation evolved to the present kimchi.

If you are taken up with the taste of kimchi, you are recommended to visit 'Pulmuone Kimchi Museum' to learn all about kimchi at a glance, from its history to its varieties and recipes.

‘Pulmuone Kimchi Museum’ is located on the second basement level Seoul Coex, and on the ground level, there are Coex, Seven Luck Casino Seoul Gangnam, Grand InterContinental Hotel and Coex InterContinental Hotel. After looking around the underground shopping mall, take some time to see the museum.








Important points to see at the Museum

At the entrance, there stand traditional woodcarving milestone and pole that are symbols of Korea’s agricultural society. They were erected to prevent evils or misfortune from the village and also to pray for a good harvest by putting rice seed into pole. Going inside, you can see jars, which are traditional Korean vessels to preserve kimchi, red pepper paste or soybean paste intact for a long time.

At the far inside of the museum, there are exhibits of particular types of kimchi like the court-served kimchi and at the designated time, people can taste various kimchi offered by the ‘Kimchi Museum’. If you would like to experience the variety of kimchi taste, it is a must see.

Also it will give you a good memory, if you take a picture with a manikin girl in Korean dress serving sliced white-radish kimchi to the visitors. You may wait here a bit longer than normal, as it is a popular place for taking pictures.

Various kinds of kimchi

① Baechu(Cabbage) kimchi

Representing kimchi in itself, it is made by putting mixture of seasonings to brined cabbage.

② Ggakdugi

As sliced white radish kimchi, it is made by putting mixture of seasonings to the cubed radish.

③ Dongchimi

As white radish kimchi, it is featured by cool brine and not being spicy at all, recommendable for people seeking mild kimchi taste

④ Baek kimchi

White cabbage kimchi seasoned without red pepper and not spicy. It is for people seeking the mild kimchi taste.

Guide to Pulmuone Kimchi Museum

1. Opening hours

Tuesday ~ Sunday : 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (latest admission by 5:30 p.m.)

2. Closing days

Every Monday, New Year’s day(January 1), Lunar New Year holidays(three days), Chuseok holidays(three days), Christmas

3. Time required for viewing

Total view time : 20 ~ 30 minutes

※ You can take pictures in the museum.

4. Admission fee

Adult : 3,000 won / Elementary, middle and high school pupils : 2,000 won / Kids : 1,000 won

Sinseol Jonghap Market

Sinseol Jonghap Market began to be formed in 1971 as a group of local merchants opened their shops at the current marketplace.

The market has since then continued to grow its influence upon the economic life of the local community and still plays an important role in supplying daily necessities.

The popularity of the market among the local shoppers is dependent upon its capability to offer fresh high-quality products at competitive prices via the direct day-by-day transactions with the producers.

Currently, the market contains about 150 shops trading a wide variety of merchandise including meat, fruits and vegetables, fish, kitchen appliances, food, plastic and vinyl sheets as well as tiny snack bars and diners serving sundaeguk (Korean black pudding soup), jokbal (steamed pig’s feet), noodles, gimbap (laver rice rolls) and various fries.

The most interesting spots are the people’s market and foreigners’ flea market. Even window shopping is fun here where all sorts of knick-knacks, traditional handicrafts and rare objects can be found. If you look carefully, you may be able to find your own treasure at a cheap price. Those who know the attractions of a flea market shout drop by with their families.

Souvenirs shops sell unique items that have won awards in various competitions. Hanbok apron which transforms traditional hanbok into a practical apron, Hahoe masks and hand-made natural soap featuring famous Korean paintings are but some of the items available. On the second floor Boradong, handicrafts from Jeju Island and North Gyeongsang Province, traditional alcoholic beverages and other regional specialties are on sale. If you are looking for unique gifts for foreigners or the elderly, this is the place to go to.

If you are tired from all that shopping, take a break in front of the flea market stage which is open to performances by anyone. Call 02-2232-3367 for more information on staging performances on the Seoul Folk Flea Market stage.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market, a downtown market where the traditional and the contemporary coexist, will strive to become a market that Koreans and foreigners want to visit again and again.

After shopping enjoy Makkolli, Odeng and Kkochi

Adress : 109-5 Sinseol-dong Dongdaemun-gu Seoul Korea

  Operation Time : 10:00~18:00(Restaurant until 22:00

  Closing Day : 2nd, 4th Tuesday

  Outdoor Market : Saturday, Sunday Only

Seoul’s Jewelry District

Since the establishment 40 years ago, the Jongno Jewelry District has grown into one of the region’s largest jewelry shopping centers in which you can get any jewelry item made and circulated in the Korean jewelry market. The jewelry shops in the district offer a wide range of jewelry items, from the traditional to the newest, forming it as one of the most popular attractions in the capital among the newly married couples and foreign tourists.
                             

This jewelry arcade in Jongno, Seoul. there are so many jewelry shops which have reasonable price. Many Korean, foreign residents and even tourists buy jewel gifts for their each occasion and so on. If you guys are interested in jewelry then go to Jongno Jewel Arcade.