Samsung SEA Korea Tour 2015

Seoul is South Korea’s largest city and one of East Asia’s financial and cultural epicenters, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with cutting-edge digital technology and trend-setting youth culture. Described as a 24-hour city, this metropolis filled with stark contrasts has something for everyone at any time of day. Last month, Samsung held the SEA Digital Influencer & Media Korea Tour and I was honoured to be invited to experience the best of technology, fashion and culture in the exciting metropolitan city of Seoul, South Korea. Here’s what we did! (all images taken with Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 4G+)
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Where to eat?
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1. Heukdon-Ga (Black pork BBQ restaurant)
Address: 1322-12 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Gangnam Station
Phone: +82-2-3471-9700

Koreans know their meat so it is best to get food recommendations from the locals. The Samsung Korean team has kindly arranged a BBQ dinner on the day of our arrival and this is the best meal I had in Samsung SEA Korea Tour 2015. Heukdonga is a renowned black pork barbecue restaurant originally from Jeju Island. If you don’t have the time to head over to Jeju Island for Black Pork, why not head over to their Gangnam outlet instead? The restaurant specializes in different cuts of black pork and they do it well. Experience an authentic BBQ setting surrounded with Korean business people and go for the Classic Ogyeopsal or the marbled textural wonder of Kabri-sal.

2. Bistro Seoul
Address: 159 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2-3466-8022
Website: http://www.bistroseoul.com

As an upper dining Korean restaurant located in Samseong-dong Oakwood, Bistro Seoul has a relaxing atmosphere with great Korean cuisine such as pork & kimchi stew, beef stew, stir-fried glass noodles with seafood, bibimbap served with spicy paste. Focusing on fresh ingredients, my favourite is the fluffy egg stew in earthenware bowl.

3. Wol-hyang
Address: 335-5 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Opening hours: 12pm – 2am (Mon – Wed) / 12pm – 4am (Thu – Sat) / 12pm – 1am (Sun)
Website: http://www.tasteofthemoon.com/index.jsp

Wol-hyang is a colorful Korean pub offering delicious makgeolli (traditional Korean alcohol). Developed by makgeolli researchers over 10 years, makgeolli in Wol-hyang boasts rich flavor along with fusion makgeolli to promote the popularity of makgeolli. It is a famous spot among young drinkers. Their food items weren’t as impressive but there are various fusion food and snacks matching well with makgeolli, such as steamed octopus slice, tofu & kimchi served with sauteed pork belly, and grilled soybean sauce marinated chicken. Of course, no meal is completed without the korean makoli. Our Jahihyang premium has white grape, floral taste.

4. Two Plus
Address: Basement 1, Yeyoung Building. 532-9 Sinsadong, Gangnam-gu
Opening Hours: 1130am – 10pm daily
Website: http://www.dinehill.co.kr/new/src/twoPlus_about.asp

Two Plus is a recently popular Korean beef (Hanwoo) restaurant located in the Seoul. Its name Two Plus represents the “1++” grade of hanwoo beef (Korea’s counterpart to Japan’s wagyu) it serves. The restaurant is famous for its aged sirloin or tenderloin ― quality Korean beef aged by the restaurant’s special method ― are served as thick and juicy steaks on a charcoal fire that stimulates one’s appetite at first sight. Quality sun-dried salt and ssamjang, soybean paste mixed with red pepper paste, garlic and sesame add flavor like the icing on a cake.

5. Congdu
Address: 116-1, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2pm (Mon – Fri) / 11.30am – 3.30pm (Weekend) / 5.30pm –9pm daily
Website: http://congdu.com/main/ko/index.html

Congdu used to be housed in the Seoul National History Museum, but relocated and reopened in a literal national treasure — a traditional Korean building used by the last Chosun king’s grandmother. It’s located between what are now the British and U.S. embassies. Not only does it have a beautiful setting, it also features some unique dishes such as Dokdo sweet shrimps on pine leaves and steamed with Korean wine; stir fried glass noodle & burdock; slow cooked pork belly wrapped in lotus leaf’ grilled yellow corvina & Bosung green tea.
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Where to stay?
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The Shilla Seoul
Address: 249, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-856 Korea
Tel: 02-2233-3131
Website: http://www.shilla.net/seoul/index.do

We stayed in The Shilla Seoul, a premium lifestyle hotel that offers refined rest and world-class services. The location is unbeatable: at the heart of the city and bordering the 23-acre Janchungdan Park. The main building is replete with restaurants offering outstanding international cuisine, a shopping arcade featuring global brand goods, a pool, and a luxurious spa while in a separate building within the property lies a grand duty-free shop.

It’s my second time staying at this beautiful hotel. Nothing much changes, their buffet is still one of the best I tried during my travel these few years. What sets Shilla apart is great attention to detail. This is a home away from home, giving guests a very sophisticated and urbane experience.
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Where to see?
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1. Samsung Innovation Museum
Address: 129 Samseong-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Tel: +82 31-200-3113
Opening Hours: Weekdays 10am- 6pm (Reservations Only). Saturday: 9am -5pm, closed on Sundays and holidays.
Website: https://www.samsunginnovationmuseum.com

Our lives have improved as great inventors and numerous electronics companies continued to introduce new technologies and products to the world through endless research and innovation. Samsung Innovation Museum exhibits the history and the future of innovations brought by the electronics industry, which has added new value to our lives.

2. Esprit Dior Exhibition
Address: Dongdaemun Design Plaza, 281, Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82-2-2153-0000
Opening Hours: 10am– 6pm

The Esprit Dior exhibition has moved to Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the extraordinary world of Christian Dior. We walked through Christian Dior’s journey with the sublime look that he created, his taste for 18th-century splendour and his sense of the extraordinary. The visitors can discovers his imagination, his unique and extraordinary sense of art, and how its character applied on several collections from the past until present.

3. Peace Minus One Exhibition
Address: 61, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours: Tues – Fri: 1000 – 2000 / Weekend & PH until 1900 (Closed on Monday)
Website: http://peaceminusone.modoo.at/

is an experimental exhibition that combines art of contemporary domestic and foreign artists with G-Dragon, a musician and globally famous pop icon, as the center. The exhibition will show what influence contemporary pop culture and art are giving to the topography and contemporary culture.
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Where to shop?
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1. Garosu-gil

Sinsadong Garosu-gil is one of Gangnam’s top shopping destinations for the latest in fashion, along with Apgujeong Rodeo Street and Cheongdam Luxury Goods Street. Garosu-gil’s tree-lined street, dotted with trendy boutiques, fusion restaurants and quaint coffee shops, has long been a hot spot for the fashion-forward crowd.

If you are a fan of LINE, head to the LINE FRIENDS flagship store at Garosu-gil. It is the first flagship store with character-themed bakery/café. We were greeted by the largest ‘Mega Brown’ at 3.2 meters. From the ever-loved character-themed stationery and plush dolls, to figurines from trending mobile game, ‘LINE RANGERS’, you are greeted with over 2,000 different products. In the cafe, enjoy cute desserts and coffee such as Brown & Sally macarons, Brown lattes, and Cony cookies are exclusively found at the Garosu-gil store.

2. Dongdaemun

It is home to the largest clothing suppliers in Korea, and aspiring designers also come to here to hone and test their skills. Cheap and diverse clothes attract not just fashion leaders but also the average consumer. It has become a place frequented by major Korean and international buyers.

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THANK YOU SAMSUNG for planning such a great trip and offering me Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 4G+ to take pictures. It features an f1.9 camera that initiates in less than a second. The quick launch camera is ever ready to capture crisp and clear pictures in low light environment.

Plus, this 64-bit smartphone has superior performance backed by 3GB of RAM and uses Samsung’s own 14nm Exynos 7 octa-core processor. The next generation processor makes 3D gaming or heavyweight multitasking a breeze. Ultimate power efficiency is a plus. For more information, click here.