December's things to do

Salmon sashimi lovers, here’s one for you. Mibbeudong is famed for its tomato salmon noodles – a refreshing, cold tomato broth packed with vegetables and long strands of salmon sashimi cut lengthways to resemble noodles. If you’re a little less excited over this, another popular item on the menu here is the Mibbeudong itself, a rice moat topped with a tower of mixed sashimi, uni and ikura.

Wear your sneakers when coming to this little Montmartre of Seoul, for the park’s name comes from “nakta” (a camel’s hump). Children playing rock, paper, scissors on the stairs make the long climb less intimidating. Persevere to the top and trust us, it’s worth it. Head to the top of the winding fortress wall wrapped in yellow lights for a breathtaking view of Seoul in its entire nighttime splendor.  

During the early ‘70s, this place was a rice mill, and in 1990, it was storage space. This past May, CO:LUMN opened as a gallery/café without any changes being made to the building’s exterior. This old, red-brick building has its own unique vibe. As you enter through the large, heavy doors, you’ll pass by Yang Jeong-uk’s works that look like the skeletons of huge animals from the ice age, after which you’ll step into a wide open space. The ceiling beams are exposed and the hall, which is always packed with people, is surrounded by rough, grey walls. The sunlight that streams down from above combined with the trees planted inside make the whole space feel rather surreal. I recommend that you soak in the ambiance whilst enjoying a cup of coffee or a pint of beer. On weekends, there’s an entrance fee of 10,000, which includes one drink.