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Itaewon - fame and infamy

© Athan Rodostianos

Itaewon. There would not be a foreigner in Korea who has not heard of or visited this district, for it is the center of activity for foreigners in Seoul.

The main street runs for 1.4 kilometers between the Itaewon Junction at the west end and the Hannam 2-dong ward office at the opposite eastern end. Off this main street lie a score of alleyways and underground arcades crammed with stores, eateries, nightclubs and bars. Itaewon is synonymous with entertainment.

Unlike the rest of Seoul’s trading areas, which go along their own merry Korean way, Itaewon is specifically targeted at foreigners and their exotic sizes. Here, tailor made clothing and leather products abound, and there are a number of stores which trade off the rack larger sizes, a rare commodity in this nation.

What's more, the prices are far cheaper than you would expect to pay anywhere else. For example a custom made 3 piece formal suit, complete with dress shirt and your name embroidered inside the jacket can set you back less than $US250. As with the rest of Korea, prices are negotiable.

If clothing is not on the agenda, and you'll be hard pressed to resist some of the bargains on offer; shoes, souvenirs and antiques can often be a tempting way to part with one's money.

For those wanting to splash out on gifts and the odd luxury an impressive array of jewelers, selling both local and imported products, are there ready and willing to bargain. And a piece of friendly advice for jewelry shoppers – definitely bargain. Bargain hard, but remember, always with a smile, after all, it is Asia.

Of course there are merchants plying ‘Rolex’ watches at giveaway prices and care must be taken with all purchases. Nevertheless, fantastic bargains can be had on brand name leather ware and clothing and you would be hard pressed to fault much of the merchandise on quality.

After dark the place starts to hop, especially up on ‘Hooker Hill’, just behind Burger King. This area, which has earned its name over many years, is crammed with nightclubs and other establishments of lesser repute, and is a haven for much of the military population stationed at the nearby US military base, Yongsan.

As with all similar areas around the world ‘Hooker Hill’ has its share of traps for the careless. Booze is a factor that seems to amplify any disagreements that may arise, so it pays to be observant and cautious. This doesn’t mean not going, it just means to keep an eye out for the occasional situation that may get out of hand.

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Burger King

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