96 hours in Seoul, South Korea – 26 May 2026

It was to be a relatively lighter day after two days of hectic activity. I left the accommodation later than usual because of that as well as to avoid the peak metro traffic. A service with one transfer took me to the  Myeongdong station. From the metro exit I walked to the Namsan cable car station, of which the last 400 meters turned out to be quite steep.

The N Seoul Tower was partially visible from the cable car station. Being a senior citizen I had to pay just the child fare of 11,500 KRW for a return trip. The cable car station was quite crowded and the wait for the transport promised to be long as there were only two cars which went back and forth on two tracks. The cable car began its operation in 1962, transferring passengers from the foot of the mountain to the base of the tower.

When my turn finally came for the cable car ride, I was dismayed by the cloudy day and the poor views it afforded.  Exiting from the docking area of the Tower I climbed a few steep steps and came to the Lock Bridge leading to the N Seoul Tower. Its railings and fences were covered with "padlocks of love," where visitors will feel the weight and importance of love.

I came across people speaking many languages there, but the one thing in common was love, which showed on their faces, gestures and the poses for photos. Love could be seen in the air, so to say. The increasing volume of tourists translates also to a greater number of padlocks hanging on the fences of the bridge and base of the tower, where there are seven tree-shaped frames.

This place has now become a popular date spot for couples. Like the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, couples head to the tower to lock their "padlock of love" onto the railing and to dream that their love will last to the very end. I noticed a signage which said that old locks will be removed and kept in safe custody for a year, after which it will be disposed off. 

Besides, boxes are provided in many places to dispose off the keys of locks placed on the fences. This is to ensure that people don't throw them away somewhere in the Namsan Park, thereby harming the environment. High visibility thanks to TV dramas, entertainment programs featuring movie stars and travel guidebooks, the N Seoul Tower has become a must-visit spot for travelers to Seoul.

People flock in the observation platform near the N Seoul Tower to enjoy cool, fresh breeze blowing across Namsan Mountain, a respite from the hot and humid weather. The Namsan Park located at the base of Namsan Mountain is the largest civic park in Seoul. This is a space where people can enjoy nature within the city and hike the various trails within the park.

I did not buy a ticket to go to the observation deck of the tower as it was cloudy. I had looked forward to the panoramic views of the city, but was denied by the weather. Instead, I sat close to an observation deck and ate a meal of fried chicken, French fries, garlic bread and coleslaw.

I didn't have to wait much for the return cable car ride. From the level at which I had bought the ticket for the cable car ride I 'discovered' the Oreumi elevator. The steep funicular ride to the level of the road is free. I wished I had known about it earlier, instead of having burnt the soles of my feet. From the bottom of the funicular I decided to walk all the way to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a good hour away.

Fortunately, while the weather denied me the views from the N Seoul Tower, it was my assist in the long walk. Besides the weather, flawless sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and orderly traffic made the walk enjoyable and not as arduous as I thought it would be. On the way, I dropped by at "The Twosome Place", a chain of cafes in Korea, for a cup of coffee. The break refreshed and gave me fresh legs for the rest of the walk.

When I reached the DDP I was blown away by the futuristic facade. The massive structure is an urban attraction. I walked in through the entrance doors expecting a hefty fee to take a round of the facility. I was told that entrance fee is only leviable if you want a roof walk to walk along the newly expanded 652-meter DDP rooftop and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Dongdaemun and the Seoul skyline. The roof tour program offers a unique way to experience the city from above.

The DDP cultural complex connects design and culture through exhibitions and events. It showcases new products and trends while sharing creative values through engaging experiences. One of the ongoing exhibitions was the Keykney illustrations. I had never heard of this at all before. At the exhibition I came to know that Keykney is the pseudonym of a Korean illustrator, who provides comfort and laughter through his impromptu works. His works are filled with humor and live, working as a stress buster for everyday life since 2018.

From the DDP I took a metro ride to the premises of the National Museum of Korea, which is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has been committed to various studies and research activities in the fields of archaeology, history, and art, continuously developing a variety of exhibitions and education programs. The National Museum of Korea houses a vast collection of artifacts from ancient times to the modern era in a wide range of topics, including art and culture.

The outdoor grounds feature pagodas and other stone artworks too large to be on display inside. In addition to galleries with a wide array of national and international pieces, the National Museum of Korea is a stage for a number of cultural activities related to collection, preservation, research and analysis, social training, academic publications, intercultural exchange programs, concerts, and more.

As per the itinerary I had to visit the Han Riverside and experience the calm and uplifting environment there. However, the skies didn't hold much promise and there was forecast for rain. I decided to skip this part of the day's program and return to the accommodation. It was indeed the right decision because it started raining as soon as I got into the metro subway train.

I had about 2500 KRW on the T-money card. I hoped to cash that out in the 7/11 convenience store on the way back to the accommodation. In Japan I had done the same with the Suica card. With that in mind, I walked into the 7/11 store and picked up a can of beer and Korean noodles. At the counter the lady flatly refused saying that the card is already cashed out, which it wasn't. At one point, with customers waiting, I let the matter go and paid for the items in cash. Thus, the balance on the card was lost.

The can of Kloud beer, which had become the norm in Seoul, preceded the dinner which consisted of Korean noodles and some sweet potato. I reconfirmed the cab reservation to leave for the airport at 5 am to take the flight to Ulaanbaatar, before sinking into the bed to rest the fatigued muscles and weary bones.