Escape to nature at Dosan Park

Walking in downtown Seoul can be tiring with the urban traffic noise and loud music from stores, but the Dosan Park area in the wealthy southern Seoul district of Gangnam offers a moment to relax.

And, while there, shoppers can experience history and art as well as gourmet food and luxury stores.

Connected to trendy yet bustling Gangnam roads such as Garosu-gil and Apgujeong Rodeo Street, Dosan Park is a place where travelers and shoppers can rest while shopping or after a long day of walking. Lined with yellow ginkgo and red maple trees in autumn, the park is a perfect photo spot to shoot wedding photos, especially during spring,” according to a resident on the promenade of the park.

The park was built in 1973 to commemorate Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, a famous historical figure who fought for the independence of Korea from Japanese colonial rule. For 38 years, it has been a much visited place for everyone from local residents going to exercise to couples on a date.

The park has the tombs of Ahn and his wife and a memorial hall, which houses historical photographs and documents related to Ahn’s independence movement. To the east, Ahn’s statue stands surrounded by a circular footpath and maple trees.

In front of Dosan Park runs a street lined with luxury brand flagship stores and upscale restaurants that offer a variety of culinary pleasures. While Cheongdam-dong has an established luxury street, the area surrounding Dosan Park has attracted attention as another luxury street with Hermes and other famous brands opening stores starting in 2006. 

Now enticed by the Korean Wave, Asian tourists are flocking to the Dosan Park area for the famous restaurant, Gorilla in the Kitchen, run by hallyu star Bae Yong-joon and Maison Hermes, the luxury brand’s fourth flagship store that combines fashion and art.

Maison Hermes stands toward the middle of the street boasting artistic architecture and sophisticated window displays. The building consists of a caf and museum on the basement floor, stores on the second and third floors and a gallery, called “atelier Hermes,” on the third floor.

The museum showcases some traditional works from Hermes that give prominence to the image of the brand. The gallery is a place for artists to display their artwork and interact with spectators.

“We have more foreign visitors coming from China and Japan nowadays. On average 10 foreigners come to the store and shop for products and visit the museum and the gallery. Some Chinese customers buy our products here,” said an employee at Maison Hermes, who is not authorized to speak with the press.

On the adjoining street stands Ralph Lauren, Rick Owens, C.P. Company. In the alley, there are more luxury stores such as Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, Jimmy Choo, and some specialty shops like Je Ne Sais Quoi, run by the famous fashion stylist Jung Yoon-ki who styles top Korean celebrities such as Ko So-young, Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won and Jung Woo-sung.

The luxury street does not just end here. It has modern art museums, the 313 gallery and Horim Art Center. The 313 gallery features works by internationally acclaimed artists and rookie artists who haven’t been introduced to the artist community yet. Horim Art Center, which displays both rare ancient and modern artwork, emphasizes the harmony of traditional and modern art.

And many Japanese tourists frequent the area, visiting the upscale Gorilla in the Kitchen, ran by Bae.

“Japanese fans enter the restaurant, hoping that they might meet Bae who comes by once or twice a month to check the operation of the restaurant. On average we have 10 to 20 Japanese visitors per meal,” said a waiter at the restaurant.

The restaurant is famous for its healthy food, low in cholesterol and trans fat. It is known not to use butter and cream, while offering nutritional information and counseling by experts.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)