Eny Lee Parker's Design-Focused Guide to Seoul

The Seoul Book Repository is the city’s first public, government-run bookstore for secondhand texts. Its large-scale, sculptural oval structures are instantly recognizable, merging the world of fine art with literature — often making appearances in K-dramas as a standalone architectural attraction. An aesthetic space to browse, read, and study, guests are encouraged to explore its vast library, derived from the city’s most prominent bookstores, including an impressive collection of independent journals and zines curated by Seoul’s prominent art collectives. “A hidden cathedral of secondhand books. I come here for the odd art books! It’s also my go-to for gifting when coming back from a trip.”

Art lovers will appreciate Seoul’s famed Kukje Gallery — a must-visit that neighbors the traditional hanok village, a nearby destination that locals often visit in tandem. Kukje Gallery presents Korea’s prominent artists alongside international collections — from sculpture to stunning conceptual installations. The historic gallery is also known for its experiential layout, distinguished by mini “art towns” with visually arresting architecture that illuminates its showcases. “One of my favorite pieces of architecture in Seoul. I tell people my favorite part of visiting a gallery is seeing how the building frames light and how it holds space for the art. New York City is very vast and diverse, but we are also in a bubble. Being able to travel and seeing people — their relationship to work, family, friends, community — and watching and learning is something I notice the most when I’m abroad.”

Aside from planning her travel itenerary, Parker also incorporates Comet into her workflow when networking with creatives abroad. “[Comet] can also be really useful in organizing projects with your immediate community. I meet creative people everywhere, and I’ve been really lucky that everyone is open to work with designers like me,” Parker shares. “It helps me keep track of vendors that I work with, who have been in New York for a long time. That’s been important in my practice, always maintaining good relationships with my fabricators and vendors and people that help me produce our work.” Think of Seoul’s Seongsu-dong neighborhood as NYC’s Brooklyn. It’s a mecca of design and art, and a go-to destination to experience the city’s evolving culture through the lens of design. A former industrial area, the neighborhood’s (“Newtro” new + retro) revival features an array of luxury stores, cafes, bakeries, and local pop-ups that spotlight the city’s counterculture. Its proximity to the gorgeous Seoul Forest Park makes it the perfect weekend hotspot to explore. “You can just wander here — there are design labs, small studios, and boutique cafés. It feels like the creative soul of Seoul.”

An immersive and personalized cafe listening experience, LP Café sets itself apart by equipping its seating areas with individual turntables and headphones. The concept cafe offers a retro sit-down environment with a modern Seongsu vibe favored by the city’s youth culture. For the price of one coffee, patrons can enjoy a cozy, easygoing atmosphere to enjoy their favorite records and unwind in good company, with access to the cafe’s extensive vinyl collection. “Each table has its own turntable and headphones. It’s the perfect place to slow down, flip a record, and sip coffee.”

Korean avant-garde eyewear brand Gentle Monster is known for its statement-making frames, but its Seongsu flagship in South Korea has become somewhat of a cultural landmark for its larger-than-life installations. Surreal, futuristic sculptures that incorporate light and sound envision the brand’s hyper-kinetic world and design DNA. A high-fashion destination to shop for designer eyewear, the flagship also acts as a “free” exhibition to let your imagination roam free. “Of course, Gentle Monster is known for its stores. It’s an incredible art installation (and I’m dying to meet the design team behind that).”

Boseong Green is Korea’s most prominent tea-growing region, known for the idyllic, labyrinth-like Daehan Damyang Tea Plantation, located in the Jeolla Province. The region accounts for 40% of the nation’s green tea production — a historic relic dating as far back as the Silla Dynasty. Today, the Boseong Green Tea Fields are home to over 5.8 million tea trees and 3 million other perennial plants surrounding the plantation. An observatory with panoramic views allows travelers to appreciate the natural beauty of green tea, in spirit and in essence. “Rows of green stretch across the hills. It’s quiet, layered, and visually therapeutic.”

The ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, colloquially referred to as a “museum without walls,” Gyeongju City is a central hub to explore myriad historical sites, such as the Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and the royal tombs of Daereungwon. The stunning Hwangnidan Street blends these historical elements with quaint, trendy cafes, shops and eateries distinguished by traditional hanok architecture. “A very old city where my mom’s family is from. It’s where I first fell in love with ceramics and met artisans from my aunt’s community! She’s a traditional silk embroidery artist and has really cute artist friends. When I visit back home, I’m observing other communities — what makes them happy, what makes them thrive and what makes them enjoy life. That can be a kind of fuel, because New York is nonstop. We’re really good at working a lot, being creative and networking. But when I travel, I learn a little bit outside of [NYC], and that’s nice to bring back home.”