Can Seoul match Tokyo or Hong Kong as a Travel Destination? (culture, speaking)

[euro123]

Originally Posted by OZpharmer

Of those places, which city is the most crypto-friendly? How come nobody on this forum talks about cryptocurrencies when planning his/her future? It's the Year of 2022, not 2002 or even 2012! Are people still against decentralization of the current financial system?

Korea and Japan are very pro-crypto it seems. China banned them recently...Tokyo seems to be having plenty of btms, I read somewhere but can't verify that 70% or so from the gen-z youngsters have invested in crypto in Japan.Signing up on a Japanese exchange as a non-resident is a pain in the a$$ though I've tried it and gave up (local landline, proof of ut. bill etc - it was bitflyer I think), better use international one and just cash out via btm, western union or so on. I wouldn't risk with HK or any place linked to China given the proximity they may get "liberated" by China resulting in total ban just like China.

Originally Posted by euro123

Well I can't quite translate this to english but there's this idiom in my language which sounds like "horses in an enclosure" that is "коне с капаци" - it means someone who is just following the course and lacks analytical thinking. Which is exactly the problem with South Korea and Japan, they and most of the world reacted as if covid is rabies, ebola, fatal familial insomnia or any other very dangerous infectious disease. Even as of today you need PCR test to enter both and there are no plans for this to be removed, you can't rely on maritime entry without test either. Unless you find a way to swim behind marine security or fly above the radars it seems impossible if you want to enter unvaccinated and without PCR in either Korea or Japan.

Have no idea why Asians typically overreacted among the Pandemic Virus. What ends up more lethal is to block out foreigners to enter for YEARS, also those damn airplanes that aren't operating normally for more than 24 months! That might cause chances of mid air flight crashes. Shame on China, Taiwan, even Japan for the wrong policies.

Although, South Korea is still infinitely superior to Hong Kong China, Tokyo Japan for allowing people in since the last days of May 2020. Thee years+ earlier. Although, face masks, quarantine rule, three weeks+ lockdowns on Cafes did rip the soul out just enough from Seoul. Better haven't closed a single business landmark over there since then. This late, a 7 day Quarantine rule didn't get erased from South Korea prerequisites.

When visiting, Luxury Hotels of South Korea didn't have the Swimming Pools open yet just because of the Virus. Almost got , but the Independent Cafes of Seoul, Busan, Sokcho reopening before leaving did make absolutely everything feel much better. Went into those Cafes for endless hours like a religion from January 18th to February 10th with own computer.

Generally, South Korea is more affordable than Japan. Another reason to have Seoul before Tokyo.

Originally Posted by danielsa1775

Having been to both several times, Id much rather go to Seoul than Hong Kong, having said that I am married to a Korean and her family all live in Seoul, so I see Hong Kong Far more from a tourists perspective than Seoul.

Never been to Tokyo, but the photos I see of the back streets and alleys etc do remind me a lot of Seoul, in terms of layout.

Is Hong Kong a bit more generic sterile compared to Seoul? Much more chain stores, more expensive, less Europe buildings? (South Korea just like Japan, far Northeast China got them from Russia Siberia not far away, probably)

Love how Korean ladies are probably a bit more overweight fatter than the Thai, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese. Although, still quite skinny compared to average countries in Europe, Middle East, Americas, Oceania. Asian ladies might look Hotter than White ladies before the 21st Century. Such as prior to the year of 2003.

Food of South Korea is quite obscure difficult to figure out for the best cuisine. So, Tokyo easy Japan sushi, Hong Kong China complex direct variety before Seoul South Korea on Food. Even though South Korea is one of the best ones out of 25 countries.

Can't believe there is almost no Sushi throughout South Korea in relation to extremely popular ubiquitous absolutely every second entire meals of it just across the Pond in Japan.

[danielsa1775]

Originally Posted by

Is Hong Kong a bit more generic sterile compared to Seoul? Much more chain stores, more expensive, less Europe buildings? (South Korea just like Japan, far Northeast China got them from Russia Siberia not far away, probably)

Love how Korean ladies are probably a bit more overweight fatter than the Thai, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese. Although, still quite skinny compared to average countries in Europe, Middle East, Americas, Oceania. Asian ladies might look Hotter than White ladies before the 21st Century. Such as prior to the year of 2003.

Food of South Korea is quite obscure difficult to figure out for the best cuisine. So, Tokyo easy Japan sushi, Hong Kong China complex direct variety before Seoul South Korea on Food. Even though South Korea is one of the best ones out of 25 countries.

Can't believe there is almost no Sushi throughout South Korea in relation to extremely popular ubiquitous absolutely every second entire meals of it just across the Pond in Japan.

Depends how you define Generic and sterile, Id say Seoul is quite generic, in that you have mountains, apartments, and the same sort of shops pretty much everywhere, serving the same Korean food, and selling the same sort of stuff. Obviously as like any other Asian city, their are also a huge selection of markets/wet markets etc.

Outside of the tourist areas, their is not much in the way of chain takeaways, (the American ones). Coffee Chains have a big presence throughout Seoul, however they are mostly locally based franchises (Tom Toms, Cafe Bean, Angle in Us), Dominos has a bit of a presence as does KFC (Fried Chicken is really popular, however its mostly locally branded and made stuff), Lotteria would on the face of it be by far the biggest take away burger and fries type franchise in Korea.

You will actually have little problem finding sushi in Seoul, though its more in upmarket Japanese/sushimi type settings, rather than the stuff you grab on the run. Of course the Koreas have Gimbap, which is sold all over the place, as a snack on the run type food. Weather you consider Gimbap and Sushi to be the same thing is another matter all together, having never been to Japan, its not something I can really comment on.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by euro123

Well I can't quite translate this to english but there's this idiom in my language which sounds like "horses in an enclosure" that is "коне с капаци" - it means someone who is just following the course and lacks analytical thinking. Which is exactly the problem with South Korea and Japan, they and most of the world reacted as if covid is rabies, ebola, fatal familial insomnia or any other very dangerous infectious disease. Even as of today you need PCR test to enter both and there are no plans for this to be removed, you can't rely on maritime entry without test either. Unless you find a way to swim behind marine security or fly above the radars it seems impossible if you want to enter unvaccinated and without PCR in either Korea or Japan.

Originally Posted by

Have no idea why Asians typically overreacted among the Pandemic Virus. What ends up more lethal is to block out foreigners to enter for YEARS, also those damn airplanes that aren't operating normally for more than 24 months! That might cause chances of mid air flight crashes. Shame on China, Taiwan, even Japan for the wrong policies.

Although, South Korea is still infinitely superior to Hong Kong China, Tokyo Japan for allowing people in since the last days of May 2020. Thee years+ earlier. Although, face masks, quarantine rule, three weeks+ lockdowns on Cafes did rip the soul out just enough from Seoul. Better haven't closed a single business landmark over there since then. This late, a 7 day Quarantine rule didn't get erased from South Korea prerequisites.

When visiting, Luxury Hotels of South Korea didn't have the Swimming Pools open yet just because of the Virus. Almost got , but the Independent Cafes of Seoul, Busan, Sokcho reopening before leaving did make absolutely everything feel much better. Went into those Cafes for endless hours like a religion from January 18th to February 10th with own computer.

Generally, South Korea is more affordable than Japan. Another reason to have Seoul before Tokyo.

A decent chunk of East Asia did better both economically and in terms of deaths over 2020 and probably 2021 than a good chunk of Europe and other places, so it's currently hard to say that their reaction was the incorrect or "overreaction" in comparison to other places. I do think the current lockdown in Shanghai is an extreme overreaction though.

[CharlesRamon]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Seoul/Koreans are obsessed about being 'better than Japan' and they are equally obsessed about English. They are doing everything they can to be recognized as international and such.

Japan has already arrived at that 'international' a long time ago, and people will want to go to Japan no matter what. They are just more comfortable 'as is'. Most Japanese just assume that if you are a foreigner in Japan, that you're probably so interested, that you've already learned some Japanese.

Koreans will always assume you know nothing about Korea or the Korean language, and will use that as a starting point when dealing with you.

I've noticed island Chinese, like HKers and Taiwanese, love to trash talk Korea. Cope harder.

[Joakim3]

In raw ammenties yes Seoul is on the same level as both as it's still a bonofied mega-city through and through. In terms of cultural appeal, thats an entirely different story.

It can and probably has caught HK (it's lost a lottt of luster in recent years). Tokyo on the other hand is different beast. It's cultural clout and global appeal is rivaled only by NYC, London & Paris.

Its always been those 4 and proabably always will be for the foreesable future.

Originally Posted by danielsa1775

Depends how you define Generic and sterile, Id say Seoul is quite generic, in that you have mountains, apartments, and the same sort of shops pretty much everywhere, serving the same Korean food, and selling the same sort of stuff. Obviously as like any other Asian city, their are also a huge selection of markets/wet markets etc.

Outside of the tourist areas, their is not much in the way of chain takeaways, (the American ones). Coffee Chains have a big presence throughout Seoul, however they are mostly locally based franchises (Tom Toms, Cafe Bean, Angle in Us), Dominos has a bit of a presence as does KFC (Fried Chicken is really popular, however its mostly locally branded and made stuff), Lotteria would on the face of it be by far the biggest take away burger and fries type franchise in Korea.

You will actually have little problem finding sushi in Seoul, though its more in upmarket Japanese/sushimi type settings, rather than the stuff you grab on the run. Of course the Koreas have Gimbap, which is sold all over the place, as a snack on the run type food. Weather you consider Gimbap and Sushi to be the same thing is another matter all together, having never been to Japan, its not something I can really comment on.

Why is Seoul South Korea region's own Private House ownership rate reaching such a low Percentage? Couldn't believe the native Korean society isn't building up those low density homes. There is just enough land space allowed for the Asian Urban Planning action.

What is "Generic", "Sterile" isn't always objective.

3 months in Seoul mid winter, almost always avoided the Chain stores. Except for the Emart Food supermarket stores. Tons of independent cafes, and restaurants to choose from. One of the best on this World for Cafes. With Chandeliers, lots of space, tasty Asian sweet Coffee flavors(Green Tea, Black Sesame, unique Sweet Potato, Tapioca Bubble Tea), even sometimes affordable. One of the reasons to be an extremely enthusiastic fan of Seoul. Even if without much houses.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by CharlesRamon

I've noticed island Chinese, like HKers and Taiwanese, love to trash talk Korea. Cope harder.

Whaaaaa.... Are you kidding me? South Korean shows are extremely popular in Taiwan and South Korea is a major tourist destination for Taiwanese people. One of the most popular youtube channels in Taiwan, and pretty much all the young'uns watch a lot of youtube, is a South Korean woman living and traveling around Taiwan.

[CharlesRamon]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Whaaaaa.... Are you kidding me? South Korean shows are extremely popular in Taiwan and South Korea is a major tourist destination for Taiwanese people. One of the most popular youtube channels in Taiwan, and pretty much all the young'uns watch a lot of youtube, is a South Korean woman living and traveling around Taiwan.

That doesn't disprove my point. Lot of island Chinese online are always flapping their gums about Korea because they're the ones who worship Japan and are just projecting.