The building of the City Hall has been erected on 1926, under Japanese occupation. It is a massive, austere, gray stone construction. I have not seen it, as a new city hall is erected right now. The place is surrounded by pannels with the cultural festival “Hi, Seoul” logo, and images of the city life. I only succeed to take a future “archive” photo of the impressive building site.


The big green patch in the center of the plaza is connected with the recent Korean history. Great movements, like 1919 Movement for Independence and 1987 pro-democracy movement, held their demonstrations here. Even the soccer fans gathered here on 2002, to cheer for their team, with the ocassion of the World Cup.


A ground level fountain presents a nice view of water columns and lights (in the evening). An amazing flow of cars is to be observed day and night. A lot of tall buildings, mostly hotels or media sites, surround the place.


Before I left, I read on internet that the Netherlands ambassador offered 7000 tulips to the Mayor of the city, to be planted as a symbol of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.


I will come back later to this place, to show you one of the city’s gem, which even some of the Seoulites don’t know about!

Vreti sa zaboviti putin chiar in inima pulsanda a orasului? City Hall Plaza este locul potrivit! Luati metroul de pe linia 1 si coborati la statia cu acelasi nume. Daca Seul este considerat unul dintre cele mai dinamice orase din lume, cu siguranta aceasta piata este unul dintre cele mai dinamice locuri din oras!

Primaria orasului, construita in 1926, in timpul ocupatiei japoneze pare a fi o cladire austera si masiva, din piatra de culoare gri. Spun “pare” pentru ca acum ea este inclusa intr-un amplu plan de refacere, iar santierul este bine mascat, asa ca nu am vazut nimic din cladirea respectiva. In schimb, santierul m-a impresionat prin felul ordonat si deloc plictisitor in care arata. La exterior este mascat de panouri care poarta sigla festivalului cultural “Hi, Seoul”, cu numeroase imagini din viata capitalei. Prin poarta pe care ies camioanele de pe santier am facut si eu o fotografie “de arhiva”.

Piata aceasta plina de agitatie zi si noapte mai are cateva locuri in care peisagistica isi spune cuvantul, pe care trecatorul grabit le observa sau nu…

Aici va fi locul in care am regasit o comoara a orasului, necunoscuta chiar si multora dintre locuitorii sai, despre care voi povesti in curand.