Bundang is a district in the city of Seongnam with a future. It’s pretty far away of Seoul, though it’s connected to Seoul via the subway system and some of the longer-range buses. Without knowing much more than that, I set off on the subway to explore. The picture above is of the Tancheon, a wonderful area for the local residents to just hang out, walk along the tributary that leads to the Han river. Walkers and bikers apparently make good use of the area, and it’s certainly a nice-looking area from the pedestrian overpass.

Bundang was originally created by merging two villages – Bunjeom-ri and Dangwu-ri – during the Japanese occupation in 1914. In 1989, the local government announced the creation of a “futuristic and environmentally conscious city”, which would combine 16 dong (or wards) for this new district. Today, this area is definitely a organized community – complete with efficient, wide roads and enough walkways to get around on foot if need be.

Although not a full-fledged river, there’s more than enough water to enjoy at the aforementioned Tancheon.

I couldn’t help but enjoy the panoramic view of the area – I hope you do too.

This is the sign displayed on what I could only guess is a school. Let’s hope they don’t teach English here….

Just a few of the sights around the Jeongju subway station where I arrived…. OK, not much to see here… At this point, I found a PC bang (room), borrowed a computer to see what there was to see in Bundang anyway. I found out that since the area is so new it isn’t exactly hot on the tourist trail. There are few artifacts, museums, etc. – the sort of things that tourists come to see – so I got on the bus and meandered a bit more.

Ahh, this is more like it. The Samsung Plaza (smaller building in the center) is connected to the Seohyeon subway station – and is arguably the place to start your own Bundang experience.

Gucci and Celine, anyone? Just two of the high-end brand names available within. Not pictured included Coach and a few other European-sounding brands.

One of the ‘trees’ near the entrances…

…and the impressive structure in the center of the mall.

Looking back at the Samsung Plaza from outside it – plenty of street vendors to help get your shopping in without stepping foot by the more expensive displays.

In the basement, a sign of the holidays.

What does exit 1 have to offer? Absolutely nothing… I suspect the sign’s a work in progress – the lettered stickers haven’t yet arrived on the more permanent sign…

At this point, I meandered my way to the Bundang Central Park, which is about 500 meters away from the subway station / Samsung Plaza.

The stairs to reach the park – by the time you reach these stairs you’ve already walked down the road a few hundred meters and climbed the stairs to a pedestrian overpass.

The area is a little rugged looking, though for the most part is easy walking.

What’s great about this park – look one way and you see this (look above)…

…turn 180 degrees and you see this – evergreen trees with tall apartment buildings in the background. Thankfully the traffic noise was well below, and fairly insulated from the park.

Entering a large clearing / amphitheater of sorts, we see a marble carving of a song in Korean. I could make out the notes, though it didn’t sound like anything I had heard before…

Note the pattern of brown along the hillside – they’re meant to resemble eighth notes… Yes I’ll freely admit to being a music minor.

Next time I come to Bundang I’ll be sure to check out more of the area. Supposedly the tallest place to bungee jump is somewhere in the area, so I’ll be back.