The Manhattan of Seoul - Yeouido


Yeouido is an island that was enlarged through reclamation of the Hangang River. It is a center of politics; the National Assembly building is located here. It is also a financial center with several financial institutions including the Korea Stock Exchange, the Securities Supervisory Board and the headquarters of securities firms. It is comparable to Manhattan in New York City because there are many large corporate buildings here including such famous landmarks as the Korean Life Insurance 63 Building and the LG Twin Towers as well as major TV stations such as Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Company (MBC) and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). The Yeouido Full Gospel Church, the largest Protestant church in the world, the Hangang Cruise Terminal and the newly refurbished theater of Yongsan Art Hall can also be found here.


63 Building

The 63 Building, comprising of 60 stories above ground and three underneath, rises 264 meters above sea level at the eastern end of Yeouido. It is nicknamed ''Golden Tower'' because the entire building shines gold when its glass exterior reflects the sun.

It houses comprehensive leisure facilities including a huge aquarium, an observatory, an IMAX Theater, a health club and sauna, a bowling alley, a shopping center and various restaurants.

The 63 Sea World is one of Korea's largest indoor aquariums, displaying about 20,000 diverse aquatic creatures of 400 species and staging shows with sea otters and seals.

The 63 Observatory, located on the 60th floor, provides a panoramic view of Seoul, which is particularly beautiful at night. On a clear day its visual radius is over 50 kilometers, so one can see as far as the sea from Incheon. Admission is 9,500 won for adults and 8,500 won for children.

The IMAX Theater, with 512 seats, is as high as a six-story building and shows 70 mm films on a screen 18 meters high by 25 meters wide. Running time is about 50 minutes with 13 to 14 daily runs from 10:10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission is 7,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for children.

Information Tel. +82-2-789-5663

Directions: Take bus No. 48 or 70 from Exit 1 of Yeoinaru Station, Subway Line 5, or bus No. 823 from Daebang Station, Subway Line 1.


LG Science Hall

LG Science Hall resides inside the well-known landmark LG Twin Tower, on the 3rd floor of its west tower. It contains ten large sections with a variety of interesting exhibitions.

The Energy Hall describes fusion, and features a "strike oil" game. The Biotechnology Hall features an anatomical hologram. At New Materials for a New Age you can learn about the semiconductor manufacturing process, witness the development of bio-robots, and check out super-magnets or the latest in battery technology. At the Robotics Hall, there is an automated sketch artist as well as a pianist.

Admission is free, but since the hall is so popular with Korean children, foreign visitors are requested to form groups of about 10 persons and make reservations at least a week in advance for a special one-hour tour with an English guide. The Hall is closed on Sundays and holidays.

Directions: Get off at Yeouinaru Station, Subway Line 5 and use Exit 1.


Yeouido Park

Yeouido Plaza, which has been paved for the past 27 years, was turned into Yeouido Park in February 1999 groves, grass, pond, and pavilions.

A bicycle path and walking trails circle the park and are conveniently linked with an underground sidewalk to the waterfront of the Hangang River.

Directions: Walk from Exit 3 of Yeouido Station, or Exit 1 of Yeouinaru Station, Subway Line 5.

Youngsan Art Hall

The 700-seat Youngsan Art Hall, located on the second basement floor of the Kukmin Daily newspaper facility called the CCMM Building (Center of Communications and Mass Media), is a place to enjoy diverse artistic endeavors including music, drama, movies and dance.

The Seoul City Club (Tel. +82-2-786-1177) located on the twelfth floor has Chinese, Japanese and Italian restaurants as well as a wine bar, while the first basement houses a Korean restaurant, providing visitors with a wide choice of foods before or after performances. The Cafe Photo on the first floor serves Italian foods such as pizza and pasta, as well as coffee, beer, wine, salad and fruits.

Information: Tel. +82-2-761-1587 Fax +82-2-761-4921

Directions : Walk 7 minutes from Exit No. 1 of Yeoinaru Station, Subway Line 5.


Hangang River Citizen's Park

The Hangang River, a symbol of Seoul, runs through Seoul from east to west. The depth of the water averages 2.5 meters and its width averages 175 meters. At ten different points along the 41.5 kilometer river bank are citizen's parks equipped with sports facilities including soccer fields, volleyball and basketball courts and swimming pools. Facilities for water skiing, yachting, boating and fishing are also available, as is parking.

At its Yeouido district, there are soccer fields, basketball courts, physical training fields, ssireum(Korean wrestling) rings, children's playgrounds, boat houses, swimming pools, field study courses, roller skating tracks, skating rinks (winter season only), fishing spots and more.

Information: Hangang River Management Office

Tel. +82-2-791-0701~5

Boat Rides: Fare for 10 minute intervals is 4,500 won for adults and 2,200 won for children (Tel. +82-2-785-7171)

Swimming Pool: Admission is 2,500 won for adults and 1,500 won for children (Tel. +82-2-785-1093)

Ice Rink (In season only): Admission is 2,500 won for adults and 1,500 won for children. (Tel.+82-2-785-1093)

Fishing Spots: 1,000 won per day

(Tel. +82-2-782-2442)

Soccer Field: 6,000 won for two hours

Basketball Court: 2,400 won for two hours (The use of the physical training field and ssieum ground is free.)


Yeouido Ferry Terminal

You can take a Hangang River cruise boat at the Yeoido Ferry Terminals, situated near the 63 Building between the Wonhyo and Mapo Bridges. It is one of the boarding terminals along with Jamsil, Ttukseom and Yanghwa.

There are two cruise excursion courses available starting here. A circular course goes west as far as Yanghwa, then turns east as far as Dongjak Bridge and comes back to the Yeouido Terminal. Along the course, you can observe the Jeoldusan Catholic Shrine and the Bamseom Islet, which is visited by thousands of migratory birds.

The circular line runs 10 times daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10:50 p.m. and the trip takes about 70 minutes. The fare is 5,520 won for adults and 2,760 won for children.

There is also a one-way course to Jamsil via Ttukseom. This trip takes 70 minutes and the fare is 4,390 won for adults and 2,190 won for children. Boats depart from Yeouido at 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, and 18:30 and return from Jamsil Terminal leaving at 12:10, 14:50, 17:00 and 19:40.

The Yeoido Ferry Terminal has two piers - Nodeul-naru and Jinseong-naru. On the first floor of Nodeul-naru Pier is Nodeul Restaurant offering Italian style food and staging renditions of piano, violin and double bass standing music from 7 p.m. The Jinseong-naru Pier houses the Sun Flower Pizza Restaurant on the first floor and Jinseong Hof on the second floor, where a live performer sings to the guitar at 8:30 p.m. nightly.

Information: Semo Pleasure Boat Co. Ltd. Tel. +82-2-785-4411 Fax +82-2-785-0843

Reservations: Tel. +82-2-785-0393

Directions : Get off at Yeouinaru Station, Subway Line 5. Take a short walk to the terminal.


Date 2003/2/3


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