Is travel to Seoul worth it?

[Anonymous]

I feel like it's easier for a foreigner to have a more immersive experience in Seoul. Koreans tend to be gregarious and opinionated and will bluntly tell you what they think. Whereas in Tokyo it's hard for a foreigner to feel like anything but an outsider looking in. There's a reason Lost in Translation was set in Tokyo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a conference I could attend in June in Seoul but not crazy about the 14 h flight and $2000 fare.
If you’ve been to Seoul, is it worth the travel time and cost?
I might be more excited if it was in Tokyo, although I haven’t been there before either.

Work is sending you to a conference, but you have to pay the airfare?

I’ll be reimbursed but there is a limit on the amount per year for conference expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote: typical DCUM responses.

Enjoy your trip, OP! I think adding Tokyo more than makes the time and effort worthwhile.

How is Tokyo really any different than Seoul? Serious question.

The same way NYC is not really any different from London.
Pretty much the same if you've never been to that side of the world.

I've been to both, but you didn't answer the question.

The answer is, it's not that different, in the same way that NYC and London are not that different.

DP. I think NYC and London are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: typical DCUM responses.

Enjoy your trip, OP! I think adding Tokyo more than makes the time and effort worthwhile.

How is Tokyo really any different than Seoul? Serious question.

The same way NYC is not really any different from London.
Pretty much the same if you've never been to that side of the world.

I've been to both, but you didn't answer the question.

The answer is, it's not that different, in the same way that NYC and London are not that different.

DP. I think NYC and London are different.

If you are someone who has never seen the western world, it is pretty similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: typical DCUM responses.

Enjoy your trip, OP! I think adding Tokyo more than makes the time and effort worthwhile.

How is Tokyo really any different than Seoul? Serious question.

The same way NYC is not really any different from London.
Pretty much the same if you've never been to that side of the world.

I've been to both, but you didn't answer the question.

The answer is, it's not that different, in the same way that NYC and London are not that different.

DP. I think NYC and London are different.

If you are someone who has never seen the western world, it is pretty similar.

I was the PP and have lived in the western world all of my life!
Have spent a lot of time in NYC, and have visited London several times.
They may be similar for culture and food, public transportation, but London is more charming, beautiful,
and historical, and also more conservative than NYC. NYC is more wacky, the weird and wonderful all just blend in. It’s an exciting and dynamic city, but most people wouldn’t call NYC beautiful. And the two cities just feel completely different.

[Anonymous]

Tokyo, overall feels a lot more modern. Seoul has some reall cool old and historic neighborhoods. This is probably due to all of the firebombings of Tokyo during WW2. Seoul can be WAY more hilly. Prep for a fantastic workout walking. Japanese people are way, wayyyy more polite than Koreans. I found myself getting shoved by little old grannies and grandpas on the train who were bulldozing you out of the way, and people will be super aggressive cut you off in line. Koreans just behave more like the Chinese a bit in some ways. It is what it is. Both cities have amazing infrastructure and top subway systems. Maybe my memory is just a bit fuzzy, but I feel like Tokyo has more parks to walk in compared to Seoul, which is a concrete jungle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like it's easier for a foreigner to have a more immersive experience in Seoul. Koreans tend to be gregarious and opinionated and will bluntly tell you what they think. Whereas in Tokyo it's hard for a foreigner to feel like anything but an outsider looking in. There's a reason Lost in Translation was set in Tokyo.

I've lived in Seoul and visited Tokyo multiple times. These comments resonate with me. I loved what Tokyo could offer, but after a few days, I was ready to go back to Seoul.

[Anonymous]

You would love Seoul.

[Anonymous]

Also went for a work conference in the summer of 2019. Be prepared - Seoul is very hot and muggy/humid in the summer. Get a hotel with a pool, totally worth it.

Personally I prefer Tokyo over Seoul. It’s a bit more ordered and easier to get around. In contrast Seoul is quite hilly so it makes for some difficulty getting between neighborhoods and there’s lots of uphill walking. I prefer Japanese food, though Seoul has such a great food and shopping scene.

[Anonymous]

It’s really a cool city. It doesn’t have the typical tourist attractions and eating is extremely difficult if you are a vegetarian or pescatarian- pork is on everything.

An old woman smacked my husband on the street one day. Never found out why. She ran up to him to do that. He definitely didn’t knock into her or do anything. She was tiny and he’s 6’2” so it wasn’t exactly easy for her.
A few days later I was holding a door for a woman in her 60’s and she smacked me in the face too. I found the people to be fine but never figured out why old people hit foreigners.

[Anonymous]

Oh and wear very comfortable shoes. Just crossing the street is tough because you often need to go underground to do so. It’s a lot of stairs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also went for a work conference in the summer of 2019. Be prepared - Seoul is very hot and muggy/humid in the summer. Get a hotel with a pool, totally worth it.

Personally I prefer Tokyo over Seoul. It’s a bit more ordered and easier to get around. In contrast Seoul is quite hilly so it makes for some difficulty getting between neighborhoods and there’s lots of uphill walking. I prefer Japanese food, though Seoul has such a great food and shopping scene.

Torrential downpours, too, esp July- early Aug