London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

2008 Travel diary day 4: meetups in Seoul

In Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan
In Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan

Nampodong, Busan, Monday morning 18 February: a quick stroll around the Jagalchi fish market before I catch the subway to Busan Station and buy a ticket for the KTX back to Seoul. As we pass through Milyang, setting for Secret Sunshine, I feel compelled to take a photo.

Milyang station
Milyang station

On arriving in Seoul, a quick bag drop in Insadong before heading off to Hongdae for the LKL / Korea Pop Wars meetup with Mark. After a pork katsu cutlet and a tour round the coffee shops, we find ourselves in a rather fine CD shop where Mark loads me up with all sorts of recommended listening. But I still can’t find Shinparam Yi Paksa!, the seminal work of disco ppongtchak.

The view from the KTX, somewhere in Gyeongnam
The view from the KTX, somewhere in Gyeongnam

Monday afternoon 18 February: subway back to Insadong. My fellow passengers and I are amused when a tiny ajumma starts pummelling a twenty-year-old stranger for some imagined slight. A stroll round Insadong (for the first time, I managed not to spend anything there during a trip to Seoul) and it’s soon time for the LKL / FT meetup with Anna at a western-branded coffee shop near the Sejong Arts Center. Back to Insadong for dinner with Chris, the kind Korean lady who had managed to get me a good deal at the Fraser Suites. The food at the renowned vegetarian restaurant Sanchon was superb; the strange entertainment including a kisaeng dance rather spoiled the atmosphere.

3 thoughts on “2008 Travel diary day 4: meetups in Seoul

    1. Many thanks – a friend of mine has since managed to pick up a Yi Paksa compilation for me at a service station somewhere, which I’ve been happily listening to. But I’ll certainly check out the link you provided. Thanks again.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.