Midterm weekend@Seoul

Unfortunately, I had a GRE test in Seoul on Saturday during the midterm. It was my second time to take this super difficult English test in Seoul and since the October test is sort of more popular, this time, we even didn't have an individual desk for each exam taker.
The good thing was the test center was near Anguk station (line 3), which is close to Insa-Dong, Samcheong-Dong, Gyeongbukgung and so on. Samcheong-Dong is a very artistic hidden gem in Seoul. To reach there, just get out at exit 5 of Anguk station and walk across the street and keep going until you see a tourist information center on your right. In Samcheong-Dong, there is Bukcheon, a traditional Korean village, where  many museums, private galleries, cafes and restaurants hidden inside. It seems a great place for a weekend hangout or a date, very impressive, somewhere may only be found in Seoul.

People enjoy a walk in Samcheong-Dong

Private shops, galleries, cafes all around Samcheong-Dong

Another great place to spend a day is Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Take line 6, get out at exit 1 of Hangangjin and go straight and there would be clear signs "Leeum" to guide you there. It is very near Itawon, you can see many foreigners and fancy restaurants there. Leeum has two permanant museums. Museum 1 has a rich and high-quality collection of ancient Korean art works produced in different periods. The whole museum 1 adopts a white background, a great match to traditional Korean art works, simple, neat and elegant. Museum 2 is for modern and contemperary art works made by both Korean and foreign artists and adopts a black background. Leeum, is very nicely designed based on simplicity even to details such as elevators and toilets. They also offer a digital guide equipment that you can learn much while seeing around. An one-day pass that costs 12.000won is of great value. You can enjoy both permanant and special exhibitions. Or you can select part of exhibitions that you are interested in.

Gate of Leeum

Lobby

After lost myself in Seoul for two days, I was refreshed spiritually but exhausted physically. Now, it is time for me to do some yoga and study intensively.