63 Square

In the late 1970s, financial and investment companies moved to the capital’s Yeouido district to create a stock market street. Today, half of all domestic securities and asset management companies in Korea remain headquartered there. The tallest building in Korea from 1983 through 2002, the 63 Square, was once the world’s tallest structure outside of North America with a height of 249 meters. It was also Asia’s tallest building until the completion of Singapore’s OUB Center in 1987 and Hong Kong’s Bank of China Tower in 1990.

Yeouido Hangang Park is a public rest area like an oasis in a forest of buildings. The park, where the monster from the blockbuster movie “The Host” ran amok, exudes unique imagery thanks to the gold-colored glass of the 63 Square, whose atmosphere changes according to seasonal shifts and sunshine. Throngs of people began to flock to the area for the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring and the vicinity around the building is now a sacred place for the delivery of chimaek (chicken and beer) on weekends. On the way to Exit 2 at Yeouinaru Station are people giving out fliers for chicken dishes for delivery. For those with low Korean proficiency, a food delivery app is quite handy. In summer, the wading pool Mulbit Square is free of charge; the scenery of the fountain and the swimming pool there is used during weather forecasts in Korean news broadcasts showing the sweltering heat.

63 Art is the world’s most elevated art gallery.

The 63 Square also has an annual stair climbing competition in fall. Competitors must climb 1,251 stairs to the 60^th floor, and the record is 7 minutes, 15 seconds for men and 9 minutes, 14 seconds for women. A few competitors this year wore masks or dressed up as movie characters, sparking laughter and drawing plenty of attention from spectators. The transparent glass inside the building’s elevator offers a prime photo opp. On the 60^th floor is 63 Art, an art gallery with the world’s highest elevation that doubles as an observatory; high-quality artworks are next to the broad expansive window. This spot is also the best for looking down at the Hangang River including Hangang Railroad Bridge, Nodeul Island and Hangang Bridge and taking selfies next to the clear Namsan Seoul Tower.

Lotte World Tower

At 123 stories and with a height of 555 meters, Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in Korea and the fifth tallest in the world. Visitors can view unusual scenes at nearby Seokchon Lake, which is next to the theme park Lotte World and thus explain the sound of roars from people on rides. The lake’s gate leading to the “Magic Island” zone, packed with thrilling rides, is a route favored by those seeking to get ahead in lines to go on the rides. The view of the lake is more graceful at night when lighting from Lotte World and Lotte World Tower reflects on the water.

Lotte World Aquarium is Korea’s largest public facility for displaying marine life.

A morning yoga class at the glass deck of Seoul Sky offers a spectacular but relaxing experience. © Lotte World Seoul Sky

The entrance to the observatory, Seoul Sky, is on the tower’s first basement level. The underground shopping mall is both spacious and serves as a passageway to Lotte Department Store, Lotte Theater and other places. The urban aquarium is Korea’s largest of its kind with an area 1.5 times larger than a soccer field and a gigantic ecosystem inhabited by 55,000 marine organisms spanning 650 species. The main water tank “The Ocean” is the country’s biggest at 25 meters wide. It takes less than 5 minutes from the aquarium to the entrance of Seoul Sky by walk on foot. The elevator takes you to the observatory floor at supersonic speed; over a span of one minute or so, the elevator’s four walls and ceiling also display daytime scenes of the Jamsil area and vicinity like a performance.

Sky Deck is called the “world’s highest glass-floor observatory” by Guinness World Records, and Sky Terrace offers an incredible view of Seoul with a refreshing breeze on an outdoor terrace on the 120^th floor. The brilliant night view makes for a great finale.