Seoul (Lonely Planet City Guide)

This guide-book is excellent if what you're looking for is facts, phone numbers, and names of places to help you find your way around the capital city. The book has helpfully included lots of Hangul/romanisation of names which is always useful when you're not familiar with the Korean alphabet/new in Korea/easily lost!(or all three). There are plenty of listings for accommodation, eating out and getting around but the book rather lacks in giving the reader a feeling for the culture and atmosphere of the city. The sections on each district of Seoul are rather dry. The book concentrates on the names of shops/restaurants in each area and what you can expect to buy or eat there; information about other things to do and the type of people who populate the area (be they teens, businessmen or prostitutes) is scant - expect your copy to be highly annotated after your trip! The Lonely Planet Korea book has almost identical information on Seoul plus the rest of Korea too.