Independent, Yeouido hotels

Yeouido is a clean and modern part of Seoul on the south bank of the Han River. It features wide roads, tall buildings and abundant areas of parkland. The South Korean national government buildings are located here and so are the headquarters of large companies like LG. Three bridges across the Han give easy access to the district of Mapo, while Subway lines five and nine connect to the city’s transport network.

Yeouido Hangang Park is a highlight for tourists and people staying at hotels in the locality. It stretches along the banks of the Han River and has lots paths for cycling and walking plus plenty of grassy zones to relax in on summer days. There are a couple of pagodas too. The park is the venue for the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival in spring and the World Fireworks Festival six months later.

The landmark 63 Building is Yeouido’s most recognisable structure. It is 264 metres high and finished in gold. The top floor of the 63 has a viewing deck which gives sweeping views of Seoul and mountains in the distance. An art gallery was installed on this floor recently and has galleries packed with assorted exhibits and paintings.

The 63 Sea World Aquarium is one of Seoul’s most popular draws and attracts up to one million visitors every year. It is located in the building’s basement and is home to 400 sea animal species including penguins, sea-lions and varied colourful tropical fish. The 63 Wax Museum houses models of famous people including Vincent Van Gogh and Korean actress Lee Young-ae, plus a chamber of horrors.

The 63 is the place to go for a night out or meal in Yeouido. It offers the choice of dining on food from countries like Japan, China and Italy as well as fine Korean specialities. Walking on the Cloud is the flagship of the options and serves up steaks, lamb and lobsters with a choice of more than 300 different wines. Diners can combine their meals with a Korean traditional show at the 63’s Fanta-Stick Theatre.

The IFC Mall in Yeouido is an international standard shopping centre. This mall, along with with the mall at the 63 boast a great selection of shops. Shoppers are able to buy premium products from a good selection of brand-name outlets including Lacoste and Body Shop.