I have spent many weekends in Seoul gawking at palaces, strolling down back alleys, weaving my way through some of the busiest markets in the whole country, and occasionally getting pushed and shoved by ajummas a foot and a half shorter than me; but this whole time I have not done a proper post showing you what I consider to be ‘the real Seoul’. What better way to do so than through a photo essay (and my very first). So let’s take a stroll around town:
A young couple in matching Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts pose together as an artist draws their caricature.
Ssamziegil (쌈지길) is a shopping and arts complex located in the middle of Insadong. Inside you can find little boutiques selling hand-crafted goods, stands luring you with waffles and sweet pastries, and a few smaller but enticing restaurants on the rooftop. Ssamziegil has ramps that spiral all the way up, and staircases that are covered in graffiti. The complex is a nice place to rest your weary feet and enjoy a little snack after having explored this artsy neighbourhood.
Sculptures of dragons, warriors, and Buddhas sit on the main strip of Insadong.
A shopkeeper sits outside his store in Dongdaemun surrounded by thousands of books. This large market is located by the city’s East Gate, and boasts shopping malls, underground stores, and outdoor stalls.
These young women dressed in hanbok, traditional Korean dresses, get ready to take part in the annual Lotus Lantern Festival which takes place in May to celebrate Buddha’s birthday.
A traditional drumming performance takes place in the city. If you ask me, the woman in the far right is really feeling the music.
Children play on the Cheonggyecheon on a hot summer day while their parents stand along the banks. The Cheonggyecheon is a long stream that runs through the heart of Seoul, and draws crowds of children when the summer temperatures begin to rise. Some even jump in fully clothed!
Two bicycles lie forgotten in a back alley in the east end of the city.
A group of men sit outdoors enjoying their beer, soju, and a few light snacks on a summer afternoon.
Flags from around the world hang over Namdaemun Market. Namdaemun is a traditional market located by the city’s South Gate. It is a place where you can buy anything from pimpin’ fur coats and tacky lingerie, to traditional Korean dresses and street food. This happens to be the oldest and largest outdoor market in all of Korea, and dates back to 1414.
A man pushes a cart with fresh produce through Myeongdong’s main strip at night. Myeongdong is one of the city’s main shopping districts and is always abuzz with activity no matter what time of day. It features mid to high end retail stores, but as you can see, it is also possible to purchase items from the stands and moving carts that are also found in the area.
A couple enjoys a romantic moment at a restaurant – cellphones in hand.
Seoul can oftentimes be overlooked by travellers in Asia since tropical beaches, mountain paradises, and mega cities like Tokyo, Bangkok, and Hong Kong sound far more alluring. Truth is, I doubt I would have ever made it to Seoul had I not taken a job in Korea, but now that I have gotten to know the city, I have grown quite fond of it. It has grand palaces, Buddhist temples, markets galore, noraebang where you’ll find yourself singing the night away, the most appetizing of traditional dishes, and enough bright lights to give you that big city feel. That’s the Seoul I have come to know.
Capturing “Real Seoul” – Practical Tips, Angles & Photo‑Friendly Pit‑Stops
Timing Is Everything
Blue‑hour double take – Seoul’s skyline changes character twice in an hour. Aim to shoot Gwanghwamun Plaza or Dongdaemun Design Plaza 20 minutes before sunset for pastel skies, then stick around until the LEDs kick in for a cyber‑noir vibe.
Monday markets – Most palaces close on Mondays, but Namdaemun and Gwangjang markets thrum at full volume. Fewer tourists equals friendlier vendors and better portrait opportunities.
Season switch‑ups – Cherry blossom crowds are real, yet the day after peak bloom you’ll capture petals carpeting roads like confetti with almost no foot traffic. Autumn works similarly: maples at Samcheong‑dong glow brightest the morning after Korea’s first frost announcement.
Gear + Etiquette Cheat Sheet
| Item | Why Pack It | Local Courtesy Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 24‑70 mm walk‑around lens | Wide enough for alley murals, tight enough for candid street portraits. | Simply raise your camera, smile, and nod—most Seoulites will signal if they prefer not to be photographed. |
| Lightweight tripod | Essential for Han‑River night trails and the rooftop viewpoint at Namsan. | On crowded bridges (e.g., Banpo), keep tripod legs narrow so joggers can pass. |
| Polarising filter | Cuts window glare on high‑rise reflections in Gangnam. | Remove it before entering indoor temples; darker glass can be taken as disrespect. |
Seasonal “Limited‑Edition” Frames
| Season | Signature Shot | Location | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Blossom (early Apr) | Pedal ‘snow’ blizzard | Seokchon Lake | Arrive 07:00; weekend crowds insane |
| Buddha’s Birthday (May) | Lantern river | Cheonggyecheon | 25 s long expose to soften walkers |
| Monsoon “Sonagi” (Jul) | Neon reflections in puddle | Gangnam Station Exit 11 | Pack micro‑fibre cloth for lens |
| First Snow (Dec) | Red hanbok vs frost | Deoksugung Stone Wall | Manual‑focus; AF hunts in flakes |
After‑Dark Mythos – Golden Hour to 02:00
When the sun dips behind Namsan Tower, Seoul replaces natural light with a kaleidoscope of artificial colour.
| Hour | Shot List | Gear + Settings |
|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Banpo Bridge fountain arcs | 24 mm, tripod, bulb mode 10 s, f/13, ND 8 filter |
| 20:00 | Couple in matching outfits at Myeongdong skincare lane | 35 mm, auto‑ISO 3200, f/2, wait for lipstick advert back‑screen burst |
| 22:30 | Pojangmacha (orange tent bar) cook tossing ttokbokki | 50 mm, continuous high, 1/250, wrist strap only—space is tight |
| 01:00 | Hongdae street dancers + LED | 16 mm, shutter priority 1/15 for motion blur, rear‑curtain flash at - 1 EV |
Sample 48‑Hour Shoot Schedule
| Day | 06:30–11:00 | 12:00–18:00 | 19:00–02:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | Gyeongbokgung + Bukchon | Ikseon‑dong café crawl (indoor bokeh) | Banpo Bridge fountains → Itaewon rooftops |
| Sun | Cheonggyecheon lantern clean‑up | Hongdae brunch & skateboard park action | Jongno pojangmacha, then Naksan fortress wall moonrise |
Awesome, you have a great eye for photography! I hadn’t seen that many photos from you before 🙂
I don’t know if you noticed, but in the pictures of the guys having a drink, the beer label at the left reads “ass” 😆 I assumed the brand was cut but it made me chuckle. Some scenes are familiar to me, it reminds me of Northern China.
Thanks, I’ve been working on my photography, especially my creeper shots – I mean, candid portraits… 😉
And that beer is called Cass. Super cheap and it kind of tastes that way too, lol.
Wow, Audrey these are great! My favourite is the black and white one with the two children by the river. It is beautiful. miss you lots.
Thanks Angelina! That’s one of my favourites too. I like how the stream looks like glass. I hope you’re still toting your camera around TO. 😉
I agree with Zhu!….. I would love to see more photos!
Hehe, I’ll try to do more photo essays in the future. 🙂
Great shots, Audrey! You’re right about Seoul not having the same allure – don’t even get me started on the ludicrousness that is the slogan, “Soul of Asia” (whatever, Seoul). You’re correct in saying that it does have a lot to offer though, and I love these photos! The first one of the couple is my favourite here (the guy has cute potential), and I love the one of the women playing the drums – the one on the far right DOES look like she’s really getting into things.
Now if only there were cheap flights coming into the country, people will be able to explore it. Roll on the launch of AirAsia Japan…
Hehe, that first couple was pretty cute. 😉 Did you notice how they didn’t just have matching t-shirts, but they were also sporting the same colour shorts and shoes! That must be love…haha.
This is such a fantastic post. 🙂 Your photos are so gorgeous. I love getting a look at the ‘real’ side of the cities that people see every day rather than the city a backpacker just passes through.
That picture of the couple with the phones makes me laugh. A few days ago, a friend and I were having lunch and there were three guys at the next table, not speaking, all playing on their phones. Nice(!)
After photographing all the main attractions a few times over I figured it was time to start getting close and personal with the locals, hehe. 😉 It’s so strange seeing couples out on a date and have them both be on the phone. The other day I saw a couple in a coffee shop and the guy was watching TV on his iPad, while the girl was sipping her drink and reading a book. Strange…
I like the photo of the couple playing with phones. So much of modern time in it.
And I am a big fan of neon lights 🙂
There’s plenty of neon here in Korea! I can’t even escape it in my residential neighbourhood, haha. 😀
Gorgeous shots Audrey! I especially love the ones of people. I always get too nervous or shy to take pictures of people.
Thanks Sheryll! I always try to be as discreet as possible when doing the candid people shots – like having the boy stand off to the side so it looks like I’m taking his photo…haha. 😀
Really cool photos Audrey! I love the picture of the stream, especially…looks really beautiful!
Great photos! Can’t wait to see the city for myself.
Koreans sure do love their cell phones! That’s something I’ve noticed is how often people are on their phone, more than the US from what I’ve seen. My students have made some funny comments about my iPhone. “This is the land of Samsung!” one kid yelled at me. lol