In early May, my family and I returned to Seoul, South Korea for a week-long visit. This trip was actually a revisit for us, although the original plan to attend a concert was canceled. Undeterred, we rearranged our itinerary to focus on different activities. Jacob, my significant other, was especially excited to explore the game arcades in Seoul, meet up with a friend, and indulge in some delicious street food adventures in Myeongdong.
Despite the early summer forecast, we were surprised by the cool weather in Seoul, reminiscent of early spring, especially in the evenings. This was in contrast to the scorching hot and humid weather we had been experiencing in the Philippines for the past two months.
Accommodations
Upon arrival, we checked into the Step Inn Myeondong 1, a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) that left a lasting impression. While the rooms were on the smaller side, as is typical for a B&B, they were well maintained and the house rules were prominently displayed in the common dining area.
Although the walls were not soundproof, the noise level was minimal, with the loudest sounds being the closing of doors or the occasional sound of luggage being moved.
The only inconvenience we encountered was the bathroom layout. The sink and shower areas shared the same space, increasing the likelihood of water splashing on the bathroom door. Unfortunately, our bathroom door was not adequately sealed, resulting in some water leaking into our main room. To solve this problem, we improvised by placing a towel along the edge of the door to prevent further leakage.
Despite the minor hiccup, which is understandable since the doors can be flimsy, it is still a great place to stay, as evidenced by the fact that it is fully booked.
Video games & Arcades
VG Alley (or Video Game Alley) [Map]
After a well-deserved night’s sleep (we rushed to catch the last train the night before), our first destination was VG Alley, also known as Video Game Alley, located near Yongsan-gu Station.
Navigating our way to the location proved to be a bit of a challenge, as there were two entrances. One led to a collection of phone shops, while the other served as the main entrance to VG Alley. Once inside, we were greeted by a captivating sight: an abundance of game cartridges, limited edition boxes, and an array of game consoles, including a multitude of Pandora’s Boxes.
While Jacob was busy conquering the latest Pandora’s Box (I believe it was Pandora’s Box 9), I took the opportunity to explore the area. I stumbled upon several game vendors offering a wide variety of vintage and modern video games. Among their offerings were rare items and limited edition gems for consoles such as the Sega Master System, Super Famicom, Sega Genesis, and more.
During my stay I managed to get my hands on two long awaited PSP games: DJ Max – Black Square and Clazziquai, which I had been looking for for years. Each game was priced at ₩10000 (₱441/$8). I recently shared my excitement on Instagram, showing off the games along with their manuals and promotional flyers from Platinum Crew.
In addition to the gaming finds, I also came across a delightful selection of anime merchandise. If you’re a fan of Nendoroids, Figmas, Cu-Poche/Obitsu face splits, or clothing for these figures, you’ll be happy to know that there are two spacious kiosks/stores dedicated to such items.
콤콤오락실 (Comcom Recreation Room) [Map]
This hidden gem, known as 콤콤오락실 (Comcom Recreation Room), is perhaps the best old-school arcade we came across in Seoul. Located near Yongsan The Prime [용산더프라임] in the Namyeong-dong area, it’s easily accessible by getting off at Namyeong Station.
From the outside, the place may seem inconspicuous – in fact, at first, I thought it was just another clothing store. Once inside, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the layout. It closely resembled the beloved arcades we know and love from Japan, adding an extra dose of nostalgia to our experience.
What really impressed us was the excellent condition of the game cabinets on display. While most of the titles were from Capcom, it was obvious that the owner had hand-picked the games. Among the notable gems, Jacob excitedly pointed out the presence of the arcade game Cadillacs & Dinosaurs.
While exploring the arcade, I noticed some photos of the establishment, possibly from a K-drama, as well as some vintage-looking posters. These posters, although new, were painted with wood varnish, thinner, or enamel paint, giving them a charming retro feel.
Myeongdong Street-food [Map]
For most of our stay, our main focus was to indulge in Myeongdong’s delicious street food offerings. The atmosphere was more lively than usual due to Seoul Welcome Week 2019.
As we walked through the bustling streets of Myeongdong, we noticed that street food prices ranged from ₩2000 to ₩5000. While this may seem a bit expensive compared to restaurant prices for dishes like kimbap or bibimbap, we couldn’t resist trying some of the unique street food that couldn’t be found elsewhere.
One of the highlights was the photo of delicious sausages on a stick. While they may look ordinary, their flavors ranged from regular to cheese and jalapeño, making them a delicious treat.
And that concludes our nearly week-long adventure in Seoul. Although it was disappointing that the planned concert was cancelled this year, we made the most of our time by simply enjoying the laid-back atmosphere and the diverse street food offerings as an alternative.