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A Curated Guide: SEOUL

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A Local Guide to the Hottest City in Asia

What’s the best way to tour around a foreign city? Unless you want to pilgrim through the obvious landmarks and take typical vacation shots at tourist restaurants, the best and the safest way would be to get help from a reliable local friend, especially if you plan to explore a newly emerging city in constant change like Seoul. But what if you don’t have a reliable friend in Seoul? A Curated Guide: SEOUL, put together by a local editor and expat authors, will gladly be your friend.

There’s more to Seoul than palaces, bibimbap, K-pop, and soju
Authors Robert Koehler, former editor-in-chief of SEOUL magazine, and Hahna Yoon, former editor of Time Out Seoul, have long been introducing Seoul’s kaleidoscopic aspects to readers around the globe. Their insights in identifying the hidden gems of the city as well as their social, cultural, historical, and artistic knowledge have already been verified by the readers of their magazines, and Robert Koehler’s last book, Seoul Selection Guides: SEOUL, even topped Amazon’s Seoul tour guides category.
Through this book, the two authors sought to present a selective curation distinguished from the humdrum travel information galore on and offline. Deviating from the beaten paths suggested by every previous Seoul guidebook, they curate lesser known enchantments: time-forsaken back alleys and exclusive local shops. While they don’t avoid famous sites altogether, they recommend spots according to their personal experiences rather than popularity, catering to various tastes. From elegantly aged hanok to the hippest clubs in town, the book covers a wide spectrum of interests and preferences.

Locals share the very best Asia’s hottest metropolis has to offer
A Curated Guide: SEOUL is comprised of 10 sections: Neighborhoods, Historic Architecture, Arts & Culture, Dining, Cafés & Teashops, Nightlife, Nature, Shopping, Experiences, and Accommodations. Want to get a rough idea of the huge metropolis and its layout? Warm up with the “Neighborhoods” section exploring the nine trendiest neighborhoods of Seoul. The authors’ favorites are Euljiro, where the atmosphere shifts dramatically from day to night, and Seongsu-dong, known as the “Brooklyn of Seoul.” If you want more in-depth stories about life and culture in Seoul, check out the essays and interviews of a local architect, indie musician, chef, coffee expert, and DJ featured in the book. With more than 400 photos of vivid moments in the city, the guide offers a fresh perspective on Seoul for travelers, expatriates, or anyone who is simply curious about the city.

252 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2019

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Robert Koehler

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Anncleire.
1,357 reviews98 followers
January 8, 2024
Una guida introduttiva su Seoul, la capitale della Corea del Sud che mi è stata utile per prepararmi al mio viaggio in questo paese straordinario. Ne ho ricavato alcuni utili spunti che mi sono appuntata poi sulla guida che mi ha accompagnata durante il viaggio come per esempio tutta la zona che riqualificata della vecchia stazione di Seoul. Leggerne non è certo come vedere con i tuoi occhi una città, ma sicuramente fa bene. Innamorarsi di nuovo dal vivo il dono più prezioso del mio 2023. Non vedo l'ora di tornarci. Seoul ha il potere di irretire e ricostruire dal vivo i pezzi della mappa che avevo solo immaginato leggendo, guardando k-drama, ascoltando kpop è stato magico.

Ringrazio Edelweiss per avermi dato l'opportunità di leggere questa guida in anteprima.
Profile Image for Jane.
1,279 reviews15 followers
August 4, 2019
A Curated Guide: Seoul is an excellent resource featuring the hottest places to visit in Seoul. The book offers an interesting mix of history, culture and practical information about the city. It is packed with a wealth of information you will not find online or in print.

The first chapter is devoted to the trendiest neighborhoods in Seoul and opens with a brief description followed with the cool spots in the area.

The writer shares his favorite spots in Gyeongnidan-gil neighborhood such as The Baker’s Table, a German bistro, and Kkaolli Pochana, a hole-in-the-wall which specializes in Thai cuisine. This neighborhood will also appeal to book lovers, thanks to Itaewon Foreign Bookstore which boasts an extensive collection of used English Language books.

In the subsequent chapters, the reader will find a great selection of architecture, arts, hotels, restaurants, cafes and so on. The book is interspersed with essays which give insight into this fascinating city and its history.

This wonderful resource is accompanied by gorgeous photos of food, architecture and more. I gleaned a lot from this beautiful gem.

Thank you to the authors, the publisher, and Edelweiss Plus for an ARC of this book.
32 reviews
March 3, 2019
I’m anticipating a future trip to Seoul, and this new guide book is going to be a tremendous help in deciding what to visit. I like the hidden gems and the section on the nine trending neighborhoods along with the usual popular sites that are a must see. The many photos throughout the guide book shows us what Seoul looks like “today”.
1 review2 followers
January 30, 2019
Really unique and well planned guide book with loads of unusual stuff for Seoul residents and visitors alike. The neighbourhood sections are particularly good.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews