Seoul
Gangnam & Apgujeong
Sava Bobov / Unsplash
Seoul's wealthy south bank — luxury hotels, K-pop agencies, and the city's most polished neighbourhoods.
Gangnam is where Korea's wealth concentrates and where K-pop was industrialised: entertainment companies, high-end shopping malls (COEX), Michelin-starred restaurants, and boutique hotels that rival Tokyo for quality. The neighbourhood is clean, polished, and expensive. Apgujeong-dong adjacent has the original Rodeo Drive luxury retail strip and the highest concentration of plastic surgery clinics in the world.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Best luxury hotel value in Seoul — equivalent quality to Tokyo at lower prices
- ↑SMTOWN and HYBE entertainment: K-pop tourism infrastructure is centred here
- ↑Garosu-gil tree-lined street: Seoul's most pleasant retail and café strip; independent brands alongside luxury
What you sacrifice
- ↓Expensive: restaurants, bars, and shopping all skew to a wealthier clientele
- ↓Less character than the older northern neighbourhoods — Gangnam is polished but not layered
- ↓Further from traditional sights; Gyeongbokgung and the historical palace circuit require 30+ minute metro
Best for
Avoid if
Other Seoul neighbourhoods
Seoul's university and arts district — the K-pop buskers, the club scene, and the most energetic neighbourhood in the city.
Seoul's commercial and tourist centre — K-beauty, street food, and the easiest base for first-timers.
Seoul's international neighbourhood — the best bar scene, global food, and the most diverse crowd in the city.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
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