Christmas Eve in Myeong-dong

December 25, 2011 by 24 Comments

So… just how many folk were in Myeong-dong on Christmas Eve?

This many:

Trying to transverse the Myeongdong Station underpass was only slightly more pleasant than the Lincoln Tunnel scene in “The Stand.”

Lots of people. Lots of free hugs.

Street food. Yummy.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Filed Under: Cityscapes, Seoul Tagged With: ,

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  • mryouknowwho

    Are you glad you went? If so, why did you like it? I'm inclined to avoid such scenes.

    • Robert Koehler

      Well, I'm sure I'd enjoy it more if my wife wasn't in Mongolia until February, but sure, the crowd has its charms, too. Lots of energy, lots of happy couples.

      • bumfromkorea

        That really sucks. No other family in Korea atm?

        • Robert Koehler

          Not at the moment, no, unfortunately.

  • Craash

    I also avoid crowds and being outside after dark in cold weather.

    but everyone to their own thing..

    pic #4

    The man smoking the cigg (top-mid-right) in amongst the crowd, didn't anybody scold him?

    • Robert Koehler

      Well, it is Christmas…

  • Paul

    Wish it was this cheerful down in Daejeon. The scene I saw was primarily one of cut-throat jostling and frustration.

    • Robert Koehler

      Well, we up in Seoul like to think of ourselves as purveyors of Christmastime joy and good cheer.

  • Charles Tilly

    Thank you so much for the photos. Brings back a lot of wonderful memories of the few Christmas's that I spent in Seoul. Especially was taken with photo #4. Love how the lady in red-serving up the yummies-is at the very center of the all the holiday bustle. Nice composition. Keep up the good work!

    • Robert Koehler

      Just glad you liked them, CT. And I'll try to keep 'em coming.

  • Sandy lee

    It must be a wonderful Christmas!!
    Happy new year teacher and see u sooon!!!^^

    • Robert Koehler

      It wasn't a bad Christmas, but would have been nicer with my wife in town.

  • Mark

    Awesome photos! It makes me miss home.

    • Robert Koehler

      Thanks. It's certainly an exciting place to be.

  • http://www.dayvmattt.com Dayv Mattt

    Great photos dude. Nice to see you taking pics of people.

    • Robert Koehler

      Thanks. I'd like to take more photos of people, but I'm always worried a subject might think I'm some sort of weirdo. And then there are the legal issues…

      • http://www.monster-island.net kushibo

        Up to a point, people have a reasonable expectation of having their picture taken in such a public place. As long as you are not a tool about it and do not treat those who ask you not to take their picture as if they are the ones "being a di¢k," you should do fine. That you are even thinking about this on your radar and you're respectful of it makes a huge amount of difference.

        I would like to see more Marmot people pictures. Over time, you'll be glad you chronicle changes in how people look, behave, dress, etc.

  • http://travelinghawk.blogspot.com/ Traveling Hawk

    A series of nice photos. I don't like crowds but the Christmas time ones have something different. It's so much joy and expectation in the air….

    After visiting Seoul on April (your guide book is wonderful!), I spent 8 days in Northern Thailand now, on December. I like Asia more and more…

    Happy New Year, Robert!

    • Robert Koehler

      Happy New Year to you, too! I'm told Thailand is a nice place to spend the winter.

  • Nilton Pereira

    OMG! i were there … had a lot of free hugs …. love korean people …. seoul Rocks ^^.

    • Robert Koehler

      Indeed it does. Indeed it does.

  • Mag

    I was there with my friend, Claudine….that night was freezing and the crowd was wild…it was fun :)

  • http://www.monster-island.net kushibo

    I enjoy the energy of a crowd, and had I been in Seoul over New Year's, I would have ventured out to the Chonggak area for the bell ringing, but it's pretty clear, though, that Christmas has become Valentine's Day II for couples and not much else. Even though Korea has a heavy Christian population (including both Protestants and Catholics) that would see religious purpose in this holiday.

    Oh, well, I guess instead of bemoaning the commercialization of Christmas in Korea, the demographer in me should be happy that some of those couples might flub on their contraception and do their bit to bring the birthrate back up.