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span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">Couples declare their undying love for each other by fastening locks of love on the fences at the base of N Seoul Tower.One of the city’s most well-known landmarks, N Seoul Tower was built as a broadcasting tower (236.7 meters) in 1971, and had a four-story observation area built and opened to the public in 1980, which includes a restaurant, wine bar, cafe and two observation floors. Down below there are also many other attractions to see and places to eat, so the site is well worth a visit.

Located just on the outskirts of the city south of Seoul Plaza, it’s a meeting place for lovers, a picnic spot for old-timers and families, excursion destination for school children and the multitude of tourists it attracts. Getting there is easy. Go by foot, bus, train or taxi (depending entirely on your own wants) to the cable car and ride up to the mountain (or walk up from the bottom if you have the energy). From there it’s a short walk to the tower. Once here you can dress up in a Hanbok (yes we did) and have your picture taken with a traditionally dressed royal guard.

When you arrive at the tower you will see an open eight-sided pavilion –
Palgakjeong – where the Namsan Bongsoodae martial arts demonstration and folk performance is held every day from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., which is worth seeing, so time your visit to catch this.

Going up the stairs to the platform and fence surrounding the base of the tower before actually catching the elevator to the observation decks visitors are presented with an amazing sight. Thousands of locks in various sizes have been locked onto the fence. Locks of love – as they are known – are placed here by “couples” as a show of their hopefully everlasting love and devotion for each other.

Each lock is fixed to the fence and the two keys are thrown over the fence into the forest below or held one each by the couple. Names, messages and pictures might all be included on the lock, proclaiming the couple’s everlasting love. You can also sit on a couple’s bench (which slants to the middle so you are forced to sit together) surrounded by the locks.

Go up by super-express elevator to the observation deck and you are presented with the panorama of Seoul. Also on this floor as you walk around enjoying the 360-degree view, each window pane displays the different city you are “facing“ and how far away it is from where you are standing (Jakarta, 5,268.18 km). There is also a gift shop (of course) and a wall of love, where you can buy a small plaque, write a message on it, and stick it on the wall along with all the other like-minded sentimentalists.

Namsangol Hanok Village is located very close to N Seoul Tower and well worth the effort, so visit it either before or after you have been to the tower. A quick taxi ride does not cost much at all and saves precious time and sore feet.

Five Hanok houses are strategically placed around the village and display furniture and household goods according to the size of the house and social status of the people who once lived in them. All houses were moved here from other locations and were functioning private residences before being relocated here to the village.

The village is closed every Tuesday (as opposed to Mondays in other places). There are many activities that can be done here. Check the Korean Tourism site http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264116 for all the details on the many events you can observe or take part in at the village.

— Martina Zainal