Old-style donkaseu, birthday book and temple of sound
Tonkatsu Haven at Namsan
While exploring the breathtaking scenery of Namsan, one of Seoul's must-visit destinations, make a stop at the famous tonkatsu street at the foot of the mountain for a warm, delicious meal before continuing your journey.
Lining the base of Namsan are numerous restaurants specializing in tonkatsu, or fried pork cutlet. This area reportedly became a hub for tonkatsu as it was considered an upscale yet approachable dish that allowed tourists to enjoy a special experience.
Among the many options, No. 101 Namsan Tonkatsu stands out. Known for its king-sized tonkatsu, the restaurant also serves a complimentary cream soup, alongside other menu items such as hamburger steak, soba and unique variations like fish katsu and garlic tonkatsu.
This retro-themed restaurant has become one of the most sought-after tonkatsu spots in the area, drawing a multitude of celebrities. It gained even more popularity after being featured in the hit Disney+ series "Moving" as the setting for a date scene featuring Zo In-sung and Han Hyo-joo.
The restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the last order taken at 9:00 p.m.
No. 101 Namsan Tonkatsu
101 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Pleasant surprises at Bookshop Lisbon
Tucked away in a quiet alley at the far end of Yeonnam-dong, a neighborhood of small cafes and restaurants, is a tiny bookshop that is always bustling with visitors.
Bookshop Lisbon is a small bookstore run by writer Jung Hyun-joo, which first opened its doors in October 2017. Named after Swiss author Pascal Mercier's novel "Night Train to Lisbon," the book shop is known for recommending books based on a reader's personality, preferences and even birthday.
On the second floor, paper boxes filled with mystery books are lined up neatly, each labeled with a specific birthdate. Customers can pick the box that matches their birthday, choose a scent from the first floor to spray on the packaging and decorate it with a sticker of their choice before receiving their book. The "birthday book" might be written by an author born on the same day, be about a historical figure who shares the same birthday or have had its first edition published on that day.
Outside the shop, books are also wrapped in brown paper and categorized by MBTI personality types, a test that has been trending in Korea for years. If you're curious about a book that might suit your personality, it's worth a try.
Bookshop Lisbon is open 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except for Thursdays.
Bookshop Lisbon
60 Seongmisan-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
A temple of sound in Seoul
In a quiet corner of Seocho-gu, Seoul, a striking edifice wrapped in 20,000 aluminum pipes catches the afternoon light. This is Audeum, the world's first museum dedicated solely to audio equipment, where vintage speakers and amplifiers get the white-glove treatment.
The museum, which opened last June, stands as a testament to one man's half-century obsession with sound. Chung Mong-jin, chairman of KCC Group and a self-proclaimed audiophile, has transformed his vast collection of vintage audio equipment into a cultural landmark.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designed the seven-story structure as an acoustic sanctuary. The metallic exterior pipes create an ever-shifting play of light and shadow, while inside, Alaskan cypress wood lines the walls in stepped patterns that optimize acoustics. Each exhibition space has been engineered to deliver pristine sound, with the basement lounge wrapped entirely in white fabric to ensure ideal listening conditions.
The museum's inaugural exhibition, "Jung Eum" (meaning "proper sound"), charts the evolution of audio technology from Edison's phonograph to the golden age of hi-fi. Visitors can compare the distinct sounds of American Western Electric and German Klangfilm theater speakers from the 1930s and 1940s -– the latter once used for Nazi propaganda. The tour culminates with the legendary Western Electric horn speakers that ushered in the era of "talkies" with 1927's "The Jazz Singer."
Currently, the museum also offers "Enjoy Classical Music with the Mirrophonic," a bi-weekly lecture series where conductor Park Sung-jun guides listeners through masterpieces played on vintage Western Electric theater systems.
The museum's basement houses another treasure: a carefully curated collection of 100,000 vinyl records, including early Beatles pressings and albums featured in Haruki Murakami's essays on classical music.
Given the specialized maintenance needs of its collection, Audeum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. While admission is free online reservations are necessary. Be aware, securing a spot takes luck and timing -- slots pop up randomly and vanish within minutes.
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