Do Korea Today_Korea: Seoul

2013년 3월 6일 수요일

Apgujeong-dong

Apgujeong-dong is a residential, fashion, shopping, and educational district in the Gangnam district of Seoul. The dong originates from a pavilion with the same name founded by Han Myeong-hoe ( 한명회, 韓明會 1415-1487), a high-ranking government officer during the Joseon dynasty.
It is served by Apgujeong Station and Sinsa Station on the Seoul Subway Line 3.

Characteristics
The area contains upscale department stores, shops, boutiques, private educations, cafes and restaurants. It is also the location for the headquarters of K-pop entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment. The Caffè Pascucci coffee chain in Apgujeong was used as one of the main filming locations for Seoul Broadcasting System's 2001 drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-woo, Ryu Shi-won, Shin Min-a, Lee Jung-hyun and Lee Yoo-jin.

Apgujeong is an affluent area located in northern part of Gangnam district in Seoul. Apgujeong, well acknowledged as one the most affluent (nouveau riche) part of Seoul, must be looked at in two different aspects. The first is the luxury shopping and day-time activities one can find only in Apgujeong. The second is the unique nightlife that has sprung up in this high-class neighborhood.

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Apgujeong is an important high-priced shopping district in Seoul. The Cheongdam Fashion street houses some of the most famous brands from around the world like Prada, Gucci and Giorgio Armani. Department stores, shops and boutiques which abound in this neighborhood are devoted to the goods of fashion and beauty. Rodeo Street in particular is a sort of fashion mecca that leads fashion trends with its friendly shops and high quality products. Those who love shopping will find it hard to pull themselves away.
At night Rodeo Street is transformed. Apgujeong has a booming nightlife, but unlike the types of environments one might find in Hongdae or Itaewon, Apgujeong focuses on high culture. Many bars are expensive wine bars or jazz clubs. Most nightclubs are more exclusive than other areas leading to long lines as party goers wait patiently in hoping to get in. Theaters and centers for culture and art have also recently started emerging giving the neighborhood additional flare.

World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul) , commonly known as the COEX, is a building complex centered around the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center on Teheranno in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu district of Seoul.

It contains the ASEM Tower, the Trade Tower, and the COEX InterContinental Seoul.
The 54-story building Trade Tower was built in 1988 with a height of 228 meters (748 feet), and is one of the tallest buildings in South Korea.
The 836-meter (914-yard) section of sidewalk along Yeongdong Boulevard from exit No.5 of Samseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, outside Convention & Exhibition Center and ASEM Tower is designated as a smoke-free zone by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.