AREX

[Hyehwa Station] Ihwa-dong and Naksan Park (JTBC Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and SBS Doctors Filming Locations)

There are many things to do and see near Hyehwa Station. One of them is Daehangno (University Street), the former location of Seoul National University, which is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This is one of the popular areas that many young people like to hang out. Besides that, many people would also go to Daehangno to watch stage/art performance and musical performance in the theatre. Other than Daehangno, Ihwa-dong Mural Village and Naksan Park, located just 10 minutes away from Hyehwa Station, are also popular among the tourists.

Ihwa-dong mural village

View from Ihwa-dong mural village

For travellers who have 24 hours stopover in Seoul and want to get to this place, you can take the Airport Railroad train from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station and transfer to Seoul Subway Line 4, which will bring you to Hyehwa Station.

If you want to explore the neighbourhood near Hyehwa Station, which includes Daehangno and Ihwa-dong, here are some recommendations for you.

1) Ihwa-dong Mural Village

Ihwa-dong Mural Village is located about 10 mins from Hyehwa Station. As it says in the name, you can find many mural art in this village. To get to the village, you have to walk uphill. So, please remember to wear comfortably.

Ihwa-dong Mural Village map

Check out the sign board that shows you direction to Ihwa-dong Mural Village

Going uphill

There are many local shops selling very pretty handmade items. Do support them and buy some souvenirs to bring home. Also, there are also a few shops that offer "Old School Uniform Rental" whereby you can rent the old Korean school uniform and walk around while exploring this village.

This is a residential area where people live. Therefore, there are a few things that you should take note.

- Please keep your voice low and do not scream when you are in this neighbourhood.

- Respect the residents' property in this neighbourhood (Do not enter their house or take photos of the interior of house without permission)

- Do not litter or dirty the place

Don't forget to visit the cafes in Ihwa-dong Mural Village too

2) Ihwa-dong Village Museum

JTBC Strong Woman Do Bong Soon starring Park Hyung Sik and Park Bo Young is one of the must watch korean dramas in 2017. If you are a fan of this drama, you will definitely remember this place. This is where the male lead actor Ahn Min Hyuk confessed to the female lead actress Do Bong Soon in the drama. The place that was filmed as Do Bong Soon's house is actually the Ihwa-dong Village Museum.

Image credit: http://tv.jtbc.joins.com/dobongsoon

Next, this is the road outside the Ihwa-dong Village Museum. There were many scenes taken at this road. This is where Ahn Min Hyuk stopped his car when he sent Do Bong Soon home.

Do you know that this place also appeared in SBS drama entitled "Doctors" (2016)? This was used as Yoo Hye-Jung's house in the drama. Can't recall the scene? Check out the images below!

Image credit: http://program.sbs.co.kr/

3) Naksan Park

Image credit: Korea Tourism Organization Official Website

This place offers great view of the surrounding city of Seoul. It is also part of the Seoul Fortress Wall. Thus, it makes this place a great place for photos.

If you are a fan of the Korean drama "Strong Women Do Bong Soon" or "Doctors", Ihwa-dong is a must-visit place for you in your next trip to Korea! However, if you did not watch the two dramas, it is totally fine. This place is still worth visiting especially Naksan Park, where you can relax your mind and see amazing view of Seoul City.

See our previous post on Naksan Park at http://arexkorea.blogspot.kr/2016/02/romantic-seoul-night-view-lets-go-to.html.

Getting here:

Take Airport Railroad to Seoul Station > Transfer to Seoul Subway Line 4 > Get off at Hyehwa Station, Exit 2.

[Information about AREX Station] Unseo Station

If you take the Airport Railroad from Seoul Station to Incheon Int'l Airport
Station, you will definitely pass through Unseo Station. Let's take a look at
what is in Unseo Station!

1) Station Building

Unseo Station is located near to town and in a big and wide building. If there is no
other subway line that can transfer at the station other than Airport Railroad,
the station building is usually small. However, Unseo Station is considered
spacious and it is sufficient for you to stay for a little while.

Unseo Station (Airport Railroad Line) has prepared a special ticket gate for the
convenience of the commutation ticket holder.
You can purchase the commutation ticket at the Ticket Vending machine located
right outside the ticket gate.

When you get out from Unseo Station Exit 1, you will come to a wide and spacious
area. There are some seats at the water fountain that is near to the road.
Because of this, Unseo Station plays an important role as station district to
the residents of this area.

After you pass through the pathway on the left side of the station, you will see the
bicycle parking rack. There is also a car park nearby. For passengers who drive
or ride a bicycle to the station, it is convenient to park your car or bicycle
and take the Airport Railroad.

2) Facilities

In Unseo Station, there is With Me convenient store that is available for tax
refund. When you come down from platform to the station building, there is a big
convenient store beside the escalator. Tax refund is available when you show
your passport and when you purchase from KRW 30,000 - KRW 199,999.

There is an automated external defibrillator outside the ticket gate. Besides that,
there is also ATM where you can withdraw foreign currency.

<Currency available for withdrawal>

USD$100, $10, $1.

*USD $1 - only available for withdrawal via KB Network Exchange / foreign currency
gifticon

*KRW10,000

<Currency available for deposit>

No limitation.

For deposit and withdrawal of USD, it is available for KRW 1mil. per
transaction and KRW 6mil. per day.

(Information above as of 2017.06.26)

There is toilet and baggage locker on the left side near the entrance. On the right
side, there is Nature Republic and Cafe Deltren. You may enjoy a cup of
refreshing coffee and purchase some cosmetics.

If you take the small crossroad, you will come to the main street near the town.
In addition, Unseo Station provides bus transfer information. For those who
want to go to Yeongjong Sky City, you can get the information from the bus
transfer information or ask the staff at the information center.

Top 8 Must-Try Korean Snacks in Korea

Did your friend who had been to Korea tell you something about Korean snacks? Did they tell you to visit the supermarket, mart, or convenient store because there is something you should not missed out? There is one common thing that people who have visited Korea will recommend to people who is going to Korea -- to taste or try some of the Korean snacks!

There are just too many snacks that you should try in Korea. It is a must for you to visit the supermarket or marts to check out all these delicious snacks! Often, people buy Korean snacks as souvenirs for their friends and family. If you are wondering what are some of the Korean snacks that you must buy in Korea, check out the following list we have prepared to you.

1. Choco Pie

Choco Pie consists of two round layers of cake coated with chocolate and filled with marshmallow filling. It is one of the favourite snacks among Koreans in Korea. Sometimes, they call choco pie as national snacks. This is not only popular among Koreans, it is definitely famous among foreigners as well. Recently, they came out with new flavour - green tea and banana choco pie - which became so popular.

2017 Spring Special Edition: Strawberry choco pie

2. Honey Butter Chips

What? Honey and Butter? A mixture of sweet, salty and buttery in one packet of chips? This may look weird to you, but once you have tasted one bite, you want the second bite. This is one of the popular chips in Korea too. If you love Korea and KPOP, this is a must-try snacks for you! You can get it in any convenient store or marts. Small packet costs KRW1,500. They have it in big packet too!

3. Market O Real Brownie

Are you a chocolate lover? If yes, you will definitely fall in love with Market O Real Brownie. It has very rich chocolate taste. How about adding a scoop of ice-cream on top of the brownies? You will finish the whole box in no time. Every box comes with 4 or 8 small individual packets. This will be your perfect souvenir for friends who love chocolate. Give them one small packet, and they will definitely ask for second packet. So, remember to buy more!

You should not missed the green tea flavour brownies!

4. Famous Korean Fire Noodles

You have probably seen some of the videos on Youtube where they took the challenge to eat this Korean Fire Noodles. It seems really spicy on the videos, right? Have you ever how spicy it is? Try it yourself. Recently, there is curry flavour, and Spicy x2 fire noodles. If you love spicy food, you must try this!

Tips: Add some cheese on top of the noodles. It makes the noodles less spicy and is really delicious.

5. Waffle Biscuit

This is for all waffle lovers! Something simple and sweet for your afternoon tea time.

6. Yogurt Jelly

Looking for some snacks for children? Buy this small packet yogurt jelly for them!

7. Dakdari Chicken Leg Snack

This is a cute snack in "chicken leg" shape. Available in original and BBQ flavour.

8. Honey Citron Tea

Looking for something to bring back from Korea for your parents? You may want to consider buying this honey citron tea which is made in Korea. It is really simple to make this drink. You just have to add warm or cold water into it.

If you are planning to get all these Korean snacks, we want to recommend you to go to Lotte Mart Seoul Station branch. They have all the Korean snacks that you need to try and buy in Korea. BONUS: They are open until 12 midnight! If you are catching a night flight in Incheon International Airport, you should visit Lotte Mart Seoul Station to buy all these and take the Airport Railroad AREX Express Train from Seoul Station to Incheon Int'l Airport. To find out more about AREX Express Train, visit http://www.arex.or.kr/main.do.

<How to get to Lotte Mart Seoul Station branch>

Directions: Take Airport Railroad to Seoul Station, get off at Exit 1 or 5.

Opening hours: 10:00 - 24:00

Website: https://company.lottemart.com/eng/branch01.html

Last week, we posted an article about "Best 5 Korea Snacks to buy for your friends and family" on AREX Facebook Page. To find out more about our Facebook post, go to https://goo.gl/QNypWP.

[Seoul Station] Things to do near Seoul Station

How to start your trip in Korea when you arrive in Incheon International Airport? Airport Railroad (AREX) Train takes you from Incheon Int'l Airport to Seoul Station within an hour. What about visiting some attractions around Seoul Station before heading to your hotel for check in? Here are some recommendation of attractions near Seoul Station which you can visit.

First of all, visit the Airport Railroad (AREX) Travel Center located at B2 Floor Seoul Station to store your heavy luggages. The AREX Travel Center in Seoul Station provides baggage storage services starting from KRW 3,000.

Opening hours: 08:00 - 20:00 (Open all year round)

1) LOTTE OUTLETS & LOTTE MART

Lotte Mart is located next to the Seoul Station building. You can buy cosmetics products from many different cosmetics brand counter such as Etude House, Innisfree, Missha, It's Skin, etc in Lotte Mart.

Other than cosmetics products, you can also buy Korean snacks and food from Lotte Mart. They often have special offer for the snacks such as 2+1, 1+1 etc. Sometimes, they have free sampling as well. You can taste the food or drinks, and if you like it, you can grab as many as you want.

If you buy from KRW 30,000 ~ KRW 199,990, you may get Immediate Tax refund at the payment counter. So, get ready your passport.

2) Seoullo 7017

You shall not missed this newly opened Sky Garden which is located right outside Seoul Station. Seoullo 7017 was opened in May 2017 and this project turned a highway into a pedestrian walkway. You can take many nice photos from Seoullo 7017. So, prepare your camera before you come.

View of Seoul Station from Seoullo 7017

It is beautiful during sunset.

How to walk to Seoullo 7017? Get off at Exit 15 Seoul Station (Airport Railroad Line) and walk about 5 mins. You can also get to Seoullo 7017 by taking Exit 2 or 9-1.

Visit our previous blog post about Seoullo 7017 at http://arexkorea.blogspot.kr/2017/05/seoullo-7017-sky-garden-and-shoes-tree.html.

To find out more about Seoullo 7017, visit their website at http://seoullo7017.seoul.go.kr/.

3) Culture Station Seoul 284

Culture Station Seoul 284 is former Seoul Railway Station. It is now a place for public to enjoy arts and serves as a space for diverse artistic and cultural creation and exchange. You can enjoy the exhibition and performances available in this place.

Admission Fee: FREE

Opening Hours: 10:00 - 19:00 (Closed on Mondays & 1 January)