Everyone has heard the rumours around the sex industry in Korea, about the massage parlors and juicy bars, but no one I know has ever actually been to one, or at least wanted to admit it. As an insatiably curious person I was dying to know what exactly went on behind the barber pole.  I started asking around among both Koreans and foreigners and most of what I heard I already knew. Finally I heard of a friend of a friend who was an honest to goodness John. I tracked him down and he agreed to sit down for an interview on the subject.  MT (we’ll call him), a lanky, nonchalant guy wearing a white linen blazer and aviator sunglasses indoors, straight out of Miami Vice, stood to greet me when I arrived.

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This year’s skating option for the masses has opened in downtown Seoul for the winter season. Gwanghwamun Plaza is not nearly as large as, say, Lotte World‘s skating rink, but 1,000 won (about $0.80 USD) for admission and skate rental is hard to beat. (more…)

As promised, this year’s SantaCon Seoul proved to be a merrymaking event. The pictures and description from theyeogiyo.com didn’t quite do the concept justice: dress up as Santa, enjoy meeting other Santas, enjoy a beverage or three, and so on. Think of Santacon like a costume party where everyone wears the same costume. If you want a history lesson, check out this version that claims some level of official-ness. The short version: 1994, San Francisco, guy pulls a prank with people wearing Santa suits; resurrected years later by a second group in a hope to play with the image of Santa Claus. (more…)

Admiral Yi Sun-Shin overlooking Gwanghwamun Plaza and an impressive light / water show.

Not to be confused with the King Sejong Memorial Hall, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong’s statue in Yeouido Park, or anything else featuring Korea’s most famous king, the Story of Sejong recently opened underneath the new statue of King Sejong. (more…)

Across the street from the King Sejong Memorial Hall rests the Hongneung Arboretum. The arboretum is cleverly disguised as the Korea Forest Research Institute, as the focus is more on research than tourism. That explains why it’s only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. (more…)

What’s Happening is The One One Four’s guide to the events in your city and others, published throughout the week, with a weekend edition on Friday.  All events are selected from our upcoming and continuing events calendar. If you have, or know of , an event  that you’d like in our guide, email all the details and any images to info@theoneonefour.com.

EXHIBITION | “Seoul, City of Movies” at the Cheonggyecheon Museum is a collection of posters, pamphlets, screen caps, and other materials from the early years of Korean cinema. You can expect insight into the national consciousness of the day, and hey – it’s a good place to get out of the cold. The event runs through Sunday and admission is free. The museum hours are 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, and 10 AM to 6 PM on weekends. To get to the Cheonggycheon Museum, go to Yongdu Station (Line 2), Exit 5. The museum is a 10 minute walk from the exit. (more…)

The recently-opened Dream Forest has been on my list since it first opened, although it wasn’t until even more recently that the construction crews finished. Once the site of a theme park named ‘Dream Park’, 북서울꿈의숲 (buk-Seo-ul-ggum-ui-sup) has an appropriate English name of ‘Dream Forest’. The more developed part sits between two relatively small mountains, which have their own sets of walking trails worth checking out if you’re in the hiking mood. The Korea Herald did a report on this newly-opened area, which gives a lot of details about what to expect. (more…)