Yes, You Just Saw Me On CNN & PBS In The Same Week!

January was a good month. Not only was I asked to participate in an episode of Point Of View on CNN, but an episode I had filmed with Samantha Brown on her latest show Places To Love aired. Bing Bang Boom! Here’s what you missed.

This just in: I was on CNN’s program ‘South Korea POV’. POV stands for Point-Of-View and the premise of the show is that a local will guide viewers around a city. Having lived in Seoul for the past twelve years, I can say confidently that I am pretty adept at getting around, finding things on and off the beaten path and consistently try to share everything that I find with my readers here on The Soul of Seoul and the visitors that find me when they come. I was honored to be asked to be on such an esteemed network showing off the country I have called home for more than a decade and jumped at the opportunity.

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For this particular episode of POV, CNN wanted to focus on the DMZ area and I just so happened to have visited the DMZ quite a few times this past summer and shared information on not only popular spots like Imjingak, the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Station and Observatory but also shared information on a not so well known military base that has now been converted into an arts and culture space.

Camp Greaves called to me due to its history and recent conversion. From an American military base to a space that has been given back to the community, I had to visit. Just so happens I’m one of one person that seems to have written about the off the beaten path find. And that’s what I do… find the spots you need to hear about and share them.

FYI: If you’re interested in military installations and their conversion into public spaces, also check out this post I recently wrote about a tank bunker in the north of Seoul that has now been opened up to the community. Back to the topic at hand though, I was honored to be asked and stoked to take part in the episode to share the hot spots and off the beaten spots near, in, and around the DMZ. The CNN Vision team sent me the clip of the episode that I’m featured in so that I could share it with you. The episode itself is a bit longer, but here’s my bit if you don’t have CNN International and didn’t get a chance to see it.

Video provided by the CNN Vision team including Producer Dan Tham, Sol Han, and Charlie Miller on the camera.

The Korea Tourism Organization is looking to promote the DMZ as a tourist location due to the hopeful and peaceful atmosphere near the border between North and South Korea and I couldn’t be more on board with that. I have always been an optimist and one thing I have sought to do with The Soul of Seoul is to use my platform to write honest but optimistic pieces. You’ll never find a pessimistic piece tearing down Korean culture or Korea because that’s just not what I’m about.

There is so much to see and learn about and when you step back and begin to take it all in, that’s when your eyes really open and there’s more to be seen and learned and that’s my jam. There is a reason to visit the DMZ and a major reason is to learn more about how Koreans feel about the country with their brethren to the north.

Imjingak and the Civilian Control Zone look very different than they did in a the past with clear construction of parks and facilities for the reunification on the horizon. These places will just become more popular and visited so now is definitely the time to visit if you haven’t yet.

Remember that to visit the DMZ, you CANNOT just walk in but need to be on a certified tour to get through the check points. Here are some good options to choose from:

Klook offers half day tours that include transportation to and from Seoul as well as stops at Imjingak, the Freedom Bridge, the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Dora Station.
Join the full day Klook tour that stops at Imingak, the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Station, Unification Village and the Peace Observatory near the Northern Limit Line.
If you want to make your way out to Camp Greaves, get a shuttle bus ticket that will get you out to Imjingak where you’ll have to find the area to sign up for the FREE bus to Camp Greaves.

All eyes on Korea. Ready to see me on the tube again? Look no further than Samantha Brown’s Places To Love! The second season of the show is airing right now on PBS, I was honored to take Samantha Brown around the Hongdae area and show her how the Koreans really enjoy a night out on the town. Not only did I introduce her to the five states of a night out Korean style, but I also got to sing with her in a noraebong and took her to see my husband play in Every Single Day.

We ended the night watching buskers on the streets of Hongdae and sat front row on the pavement for some K-pop dancers that were rocking it… but you can see all of that on the episode below. Check it out! It was pretty cool to get a behind-the-scenes look at how a travel show like hers is filmed and produced and for all of those that have asked or wonder, yes, Sam is super cool, down to earth, and really just a great person to talk and work with.

Samantha Brown's Places To Love: South Korea with Hallie Bradley

If you come to visit and head to Hongdae, do know that there is more to do than just drinking. The nightlife is awesome in the area, but come earlier to partake in some other fun like:

Have you ever wanted to make your own neon light? You can in Hongdae! Check out this awesome experience.
Check out the Virtual Reality Arcade inside of L7 Lotte Hotel. It’s fun for all ages. Get your tickets with Klook for discounted rates.
Did you know you can go fishing in Hongdae? You sure can. Check out this very unique experience.
See the Nanta Show at the Hongdae theater. Get your tickets online for a great discount with Klook.
Escape rooms are awesome and there’s one in Hongdae too. Head there with some friends or your kids and have fun trying to BREAK OUT!
Join a handmade ring making workshop at Hongdae Rings Village. You can design and make your own ring.
Ever want to experience K-pop photoshoot with K-beauty makeup and hair styling? You can in Hongdae.
Head to the Trickeye 3D Museum. Get your tickets online before you go for a discount.

I grew up watching Samantha Brown travel shows so it was truly an accomplishment to get to meet her and show her around a bit. I can’t wait to see what comes next. One thing I’ve done for a few years now is just say “yes” and see where things lead and it’s been fun to see how this roller coaster that is The Soul of Seoul goes up and down.

I started this blog just to keep myself motivated to get out and see more and it truly has opened my eyes to things I didn’t know existed and as I found things and shared, more and more readers came along for the ride. Thank you for coming along and I hope you use the info I share to get out and about yourselves because that really is what it is about for me.

I want everyone that comes to Korea for even a short time to embrace what they can, learn more, and enjoy their time.

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