Olympic Park
Many people associate the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics with the Soviet soccer team’s landslide victory over Brazil. For Koreans, the Olympics legacy was a record-breaking fourth place at the Olympics, as well as the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies were held. The Koreans did not tear it down: a park with swimming pools, gymnasiums, and new attractions was built near the arena.
Now it is one of the main places of rest of the citizens. Olympic Park is the largest park in Seoul and very hilly, ideal for trekking, so walks through it is not so much relaxing as invigorating.
What to See
There are 10 entrances to the park, but the most convenient way to get in is through West Gate 2 or South Gate 4, between which is the monumental, bird-like arch, “Gate of Peace on Earth.” Its “head” is crowned with the Olympic rings and under the “wings” is a traditional mosaic with dragons. Immediately behind the arch is a square, in the far part of which – the flags of countries participating in the XXIV Olympic Games. And in the center of the plaza is a composition of stones with autographs of participants of those competitions.
The infrastructure is standard for parks: a lot of small cafes, restaurants, and coffee points. To the left of the “Gate of the World” is a bicycle rental shop.
Bright sights:
- a 4-meter thumb sculpture at the eastern edge,
- a musical fountain in the pond,
- a modernist sculpture called “Dialogue” near the southwest alley.
Museum of Optical Illusions in Seoul
The Trickeye Museum is an entirely original concept of a gallery, where Augmented Reality (AR) is applied to all paintings and installations, allowing visitors to interact with the artworks. To do this, it is necessary before entering the active part of the museum to download the proprietary application Trickeye, with which you can not only see the effect of “Augmented Reality”, but also record it on video or take a photo.
The museum offers galleries on a variety of subjects where visitors can take a closer look at paintings and installations. Touching, interacting, and photographing exhibits is not only not forbidden, but encouraged, with the stipulation that all activities take place using as much creativity as possible!
If you don’t like taking pictures or have an inflated sense of self – don’t even come near this museum, and everyone else, especially the kids, get ready to have a ball time!
The Trickeye Museum is the first and currently the only museum in the world to apply the augmented reality effect to entertainment on this scale. A special camera app was developed specifically for this purpose.
Museum Complex
In addition to the Museum of Illusions, the complex includes:
- Ice Museum (Ice Museum),
- Love Museum.
In the Ice Museum, you can find sculptures, of course, ice sculptures on a variety of subjects. And the Love Museum is only for those who are 18+, which means that its contents are extremely erotic!
Jeju-do Love Park
Jeju-do’s secluded beaches and lush tropical landscapes have been attracting honeymooners for years, to whom the island owes its most striking attraction. The Love Land Park was opened here just for them: until recently in South Korea marriages were arranged by the parents of the bride and groom, and young people could get to know each other only during the honeymoon.
The mission of sexual education was undertaken by the creators of Love Park. Graduates of one of Seoul’s universities created and installed erotic sculptures and other thematic art objects around a small lake.
What to See
No taboos, prohibitions, or stereotypes: all the exhibits of the park are subordinated to one goal – to tell as much as possible about the mysteries of love and sex. It only takes an hour to see the main open-air exposition. 140 bronze and marble figures are arranged on a small area.
At the entrance, visitors are met by a modest pair of lovers kissing, but the further into the park, the more uninhibited the poses and more intimate the scenes.
Other elements also help to create a special atmosphere: exotic landscape, fantastic night illumination, and stylized images of the most piquant parts of the human body, installed on the perimeter of Love Land. In addition, there is a two-story museum, which exhibits the works of contemporary Korean artists, wooden phallic sculptures, and all kinds of toys for adults. Several movie theaters offer educational films on the same theme.
Visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed in the park. However, while parents learn about forbidden art, children can wait for them in the recreation room or on the playground.