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Seoul's metropolitan area contains six major parks, including the recently opened Seoul Forest, and the city region is encircled by a green belt designed to contain it. These attractive green spaces are much visited by locals on weekends and during the holiday season.

Other recreation centres include the former Olympic and World Cup stadium, the Korea Finance Building, and the City Hall public lawn. Seoul is furthermore home to three amusement parks: Lotte World, Everland, and Seoul Land, Lotte World being the most popular of the three.

Bukchon (the 'North Village'), right in the heart of Seoul, is not to be misses. It recreates a traditional Korean village with its traditional Korean 'hanok' houses, also offers galleries, restaurants and boutiques. The Namsan Folk Village also provides insight into traditional Korean housing and hosts many cultural events, performances, classes and exhibitions are regularly held here. Admission is free, closed on Tuesdays. Directions: Subway lines 3 & 4, Chungmuro Station (Stop 331) exit 3.

Namsan Museum of Light gives digital light shows visible from the plaza in front of the Namsan Pavilion and N Tower. Inquiries: 02-3455-9277. Tapgol Park is located near Insadong. This is where the first Korean independence movement gathering took place in 1919 and where Korean independence was declared in 1945. Here you’ll find many monuments and locals whiling away their afternoons – often in traditional costume. Directions: Take subway line 1 to Jonggak Station. Exit 3. Walk east for about five minutes, following the subway line. Seoul Tower offers gorgeous views of the city (on a clear day). The 63 Building contains a small but interesting aquarium and Seoul’s only IMAX cinema. The COEX Aquarium is located in the basement of the COEX Mall of ASEM tower

The large square in front of the Seoul Arts Center is a great place to meet friends, have a coffee, or just relax when the weather’s fine. Seonyudo Islet is an island park on the Han River where visitors can enjoy walking and picnicking. Access to the park is via a pedestrian bridge and there is also a small children’s playground on site. It’s about a 700 metre walk from Dangsan Station, Line 2, exit 4. Parking is available at Riverside Park, just across the bridge. Jogyesa is one of the largest and most impressive Buddhist temples in Seoul.

Video games

You may be aware of the popularity video-gaming in South Korea. Indeed Korea is home to the largest number of professional video-gamers in the world. A programmer (professional gamer) is considered as a serious profession and players get contracts from large companies, much like in football or baseball.

There are even several television channels dedicated to broadcasting video games as a spectator sport. The fan base is large enough to fill stadiums when the finals of tournaments come around.