Home to luxury high-rises, upscale boutiques and a lively nightlife, Gangnam is where you go to have fun… and spend money! The neighborhood hugs the south side of the Han River (Gangnam literally means “South of the River”) and welcomes you with dazzling lights and luxury labels everywhere you look. Get off at Samseong (World Trade Center Seoul) subway stop which will put you right in front of COEX Mall – one of the largest underground shopping malls in Asia.
Make an obligatory stop at the “Gangnam Style” statue, an homage to the song by PSY that made the neighborhood famous all over the world. You only need to stick around for a few minutes to witness a line forming of tourists wanting their picture taken while performing the song’s classic dance moves beneath the statue.
For me though the star of the mall was undoubtedly the Starfield Library.
It’s truly a visual masterpiece with towering bookshelves reaching up to 13 meters high and cleverly designed nooks for reading or simply admiring the stunning architecture. It’s open to everyone and so inviting you’ll want to pick up one of the 50,000 books or magazines and soak in the atmosphere of this book lovers’ paradise.
Elevated shopping
Head west to reach Gangnam-daero (road), Gangnam’s main boulevard and most popular shopping and dining area. Quite a few big brands have their flagship stores here. You’ll inevitably get an introduction to Korean pop culture by visiting Kakao Friends and other character-based souvenir stores. Make a point to pop into Samsung and go up the many levels of their immersive store to discover and play with their latest electronics.
There’s even a trendy cafe with special drinks and a themed photo studio for all your selfie needs…
Once you’ve done a few of the big stores, step out of the loud main street and into the trendy and quieter Garosu-gil area. Meaning “tree-lined street”, here you can peacefully stroll under gingko trees and browse boutique shops, cafes and galleries minus the buzzing traffic of downtown Gangnam.
Fine dining
The area is also home to several high-end and celebrated restaurants (there are a few Michelin-starred establishments within a few blocks radius) and I chose to break my day with a leisurely lunch at Soigné (2 Michelin stars).
What a delightful lunch it was – a tasting menu of contemporary Korean cuisine with western techniques and thoughtful wine pairing. The service was impeccable and the small dining room very relaxed despite the fine dining pedigree. I also enjoyed the fixed iPad displaying the menu and additional details about the wine pairings, very clever.
More glam in Apgujeong
Walk off the multi-course meal through the “Beverly Hills” of Seoul – Apgujeong, a glitzy pocket of Gangnam.
The center of Seoul’s fashion world, Rodeo Street with its luxury stores also crosses with the famous K-Star Road. Try to locate all 17 toy statues representing popular K-pop groups while popping in and out of high-end boutiques.
Even if you don’t intend to throw a few thousands out for a piece of clothing or jewelry, step inside Seoul’s most prestigious department store Galleria for some eye candy and just to be dazzled.
When you’ve had your fill of retail experiences, walk just a few blocks north of the Galleria towards the river for an artful surprise found in… a nondescript pedestrian tunnel!
The Apgujeong Graffiti Tunnel is one of the few places in Korea where young street artists are authorized by the local government to draw graffiti.
You can spot a myriad of vibrant art forms along the tunnel which allows pedestrians to safely pass beneath the busy highway to reach the Han River.
At the end of it, the Han River and a clear view of the Seoul you’ve been exploring for the past few days. You can follow the trail along the river for a bit and keep on admiring the views from different riverside parks, or go back to Gangnam for a night of feasting and drinking!
No Comments