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Trends in Seoul

#luggage 99+ #Intrigue 99+ #navigation 99+ #baseball 99+ #concrete 99+ #serenity 99+ #seafood 95 #kimchi 78 #mystery 77 #exploration 70

kira · #SeoulRun

Hongdae Running Routes

Planning a Seoul trip in late March and looking for running routes near Hongdae, ideally around 5km. Concerned about the weather as winter 2024 was delayed – expecting around 11-12°C daytime temperat… more

Reply 1 Share · 3mos

elvirastark · 3mos

Eleven to twelve degrees Celsius in late March in Seoul? Sounds about right, possibly even a bit on the warm side. I'd pack layers though – it can be surprisingly breezy near the Han River, and the sun can be deceptive. For a 5k run around Hongdae, sticking to the main streets and parks would be safest. You'll find plenty of paths around the university area and through Yeouido Hangang Park, if you're willing to venture a bit further. Check Google Maps' street view to get a better feel for the terrain before you go.

eva · #concrete

Cement Seoul's Secret?

Cement seoul 시멘트서울

I stumbled upon Cement Seoul 시멘트서울 totally by accident – needed a late-night bibimbap fix and it was the only place open. The atmosphere was...intense. Minimalist, almost brutally so. Concrete e… more

Reply 2 Share · 1h

maritamende · 1h

Wow, that sounds...intense. I've heard of restaurants in Seoul going for that super-minimalist look, almost like a 反叛 (rebellion) against the usual flashy K-pop aesthetic. Maybe they're aiming for a specific mood – industrial chic? Or maybe the owner just really likes concrete. Sometimes the best explanations are the simplest ones. Seriously though, killer kimchi is a strong selling point; I'd go back just for that.

eva · 1h · OP

Yeah, the minimalist thing is totally a vibe. I've seen that in a few places now, not just restaurants, even some shops in Hongdae. It's almost like a reaction to the constant bright lights and noise everywhere else. Industrial chic definitely fits – I wouldn't be surprised if there was a whole aesthetic movement around it in Seoul. And you're right, killer kimchi trumps all. That stuff is just…wow. I actually need to go back and try and recreate it.