Myeongdong is a shopping district in the center of Seoul City. However, half of the people do shopping there are Japanese visitors and the shop staffs even say "WELCOME" in Japanese. To Japanese, it's very easy to travel in Korea. The two countries are so close that the airline ticket is more reasonable than others far from Japan. A lot of Koreans can speak Japanese for that the two languages are similar to each other and the colonial administration under Japan from 1905 to 1945. Most Japanese have been to Korea once or more, and Myeongdong is a place they must visit, especially old ladies. It might be thought a small scale Seoul, even Korea perhaps, they can eat there, buy Korea-style goods, have massage, go around duty free shops easily. Of course, the prices there are higher than other places.
I stayed near Myeongdong because of the convenient traffic. I have been to Myeongdong for several times these days, however, I hardly found a food shop for a single traveler. I knew it wasn't the real Seoul, it was just a theme park.
Myeongdong Cathedral may be an exception. It's the true symbol of Myeongdong and Catholicism in Korea. The Catholicism thrives in Korea that I was invited to join the Catholic Church when having lunch at a shop in Bukchon, and a friend of mine, a Chinese girl studies in Korea, also go to church every week. I went to Myeongdong Cathedral with just that girl. It would say mass there soon, when we entered and sat at last rows. I've never heard live choir music before. Everyone in the church stood up and sang with choristers. The music was so charming and attractive, touching people's heart. It moved me, though I'm not a Catholic.
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| Myeongdong Cathedral |
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