Namsan Tower & Locks of Love

Introducing the famous Namsan Tower...

Below the tower is the Locks of Love, a long-winding fence which holds thousands--if not a billion--of locks.

While families and friends are allowed to join in on the tradition, it's particularly a hotspot for couples. Visitors write a message on their lock and fasten it onto the fence. Good luck finding space!

I recommend buying a lock in advance. There's a store under the Namsan Tower that sells locks for almost double the price compared to the average shop.

If you don't have money, I suppose you can hang up your sock instead. Whoever hung up their sock, I want to meet you.

My friends and I bought a pink lock in Myeongdong, which we proudly named Jujume. We set up a combination number, wrote a message each, then searched for the perfect place to hang it. We promised to reunite at Namsan in 2024 where we fastened the lock.

Jujume's home for the next ten years.

Afterwards we danced with President Obama.

Amusing dolls found at the photo store under the Namsan Tower. Take a photo of your face and they'll place it into the blank doll. Your face will be three-dimensionalized!

Visit Namsan in the afternoon to catch performances of Korean martial arts, folk music and fan dances.

Don't forget to take a photo on the crooked bench. The person sitting in the middle will feel very loved. Or will feel squished.

See you in 2024 at Namsan!

Namsan Tower
Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10:00am – 11:00pm
Website: http://www.nseoultower.co.kr/eng

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14 Memorable Photos from Bukchon Hanok Village

Walking in Bukchon Hanok Village is a relaxing and magical experience for both tourists and locals alike. The neighborhood contains an estimated 900 Korean traditional homes (called hanok). Come on a sunny day to enjoy a view of the Namsan Tower at the photo hotspot. Or visit on a snowy winter afternoon for an added layer of romance.

When skies are clear even on a cold winter day, you can see the famous Namsan Tower from Gahoe-dong Alley. The street is easily filled with a hundred tourists at any given time. On the snowy day I went, a maximum of ten people walked up the popular street.

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many people pass by this bike, it doesn't get stolen. Faith in humanity restored. Partially.

The electricity pole caught red-handed shaking its hip. It's not the first time to see many wires come together in the streets of Seoul.

The view of Namsan Tower from Gahoe-dong Alley at sunset.

The following photo looks like a car commercial. I cringe. But it proves that people inhabit these old traditional homes.

View standing from the edge of Bukchon-ro 5na-gil.

The building which houses the Glass Dish Museum and Silk Road Museum located on Bukchon-ro 5na-gil.

Couple rings, couple t-shirts, couple undies... and even a viewpoint just for couples. This country is made for lovebirds.

On the stroll to the famous Gahoe-dong Alley.

Hungry? Walk up from the Gahoe-dong Alley and turn to your left. You might get lucky and encounter the baked sweet potato man! He'll have his truck of other winter favorite produce ready for your taste buds.

Drool. If baked sweet potatoes were a person, I'd marry them. Unconditional love to the maximum. Well... as long as Mr. Sweet Potato remains sweet. Otherwise he'd be just a potato.

Another shot from Bukchon-ro 5na-gil. Looking towards Gyeongbokgung Palace.

On the walk back to Insadong. A tree admiring its naked self on the mirror. Dang girl, look at those curves!

Directions to Bukchon Hanok Village (the Information Box where you pick up a helpful map): Exit 2 at the Anguk Station. Walk one block and look to your right.

To walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, watch KWOW episode 134 below:

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