Been here several times but last visit goes back to 5 years ago. Seoul is gigantic; well over 10M people, a quarter of the country’s population. It has changed again. New airport - Incheon: 3rd one since I came here first is 1993. Fascinating place on many accounts, one close to my professional interests: communications technology. Ahead of everybody else in terms of applications. True convergence of entertainment and telecoms; largest mobile operator, SK Telecom, bought biggest entertainment production outfit a few years back. It is clear for them that money is in the content, rather than in the “pipes” business! Highest broadband penetration in the world. I used to say in briefings “if you want to see the future, go to Korea!”
Splendid, sunny and crisp day on arrival from Hong-Kong. Staying at Grand Hotel Intercontinental, South of the River (I stayed there in the past or at the Shilla, when I had a choice). A free weekend ahead of me. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/seoul-grand) Dinner with Steve, old colleague at local office of Motorola; at Marco Polo, Italian restaurant at the hotel.
Discovered the subway, by far the fastest way to get around and beat the traffic, which can be daunting in Seoul. Did not take long to figure out how it works – easy. Decided to go visit one the 4 or 5 major palaces in the city, the Gyeongbokgung Palace (built in 1394, the oldest palace of the Joseon Dynasty, one of the longest Korean dynasties – 1392-1910, I learn). It’s in the North of the city – roughly 40 minutes by subway from the Intercon. It’s raining; spent some time first in the National Palace Museum of Korea, adjacent to the Palace, refurbished and re-opened in 2005; mainly focused on the Joseon Dynasty artefacts (http://www.gogung.go.kr/eng/index.jsp) Lunch at the Museum Cafe; local dish; dumpling soup; good.
Can’t visit much of the Palace; raining hard. Waited under cover for a televised re-enactment of the “Royal Marriage between King Sukjong and Queen Inhyeon” to start in the Palace; obviously a big affair, involving hundreds of figurants (see pictures above), sponsored by the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (http://www.fpcp.or.kr/foreign/eng/fpcp03.htm) After their several attempts to get the show going, always interrupted by recurring rain, I fold up and went for a warm coffee next door (lots of art galleries around, on the East side of the Palace grounds, on Samcheongdonggil street).
Better weather to go for lunch with Simon, old professional contact, a Québécois who has made Korea his home. Korean lunch in Insa-Dong; touristy but enjoyable walk along the car-free streets, bordered by shops and galleries; stopped by one, a contact of Simon – delicate paper and textile artefacts. Swung by Itaewon market on the way back to the hotel, but not much shopping, except for a pair of leather gloves – not in the mood...
Breakfast with Embassy rep; Ambassador, a good friend, in Canada on a typical country tour. Done my business with local society, KOMCA, on Monday. Flight back to Toronto via Vancouver. Celebrated (!) birthday in the air – not the first time...
Oct 28, 2008
