Just before Christmas I spent some time in a part of Seoul called Myeong Dong.  Now as it turns out this is one of Seoul’s trendiest shopping areas and a very popular place to bring a date…if you are Korean that is.  More on dating in Korea later. 

Shopping was not the reason that I visited Myeong Dong.  My Korean friend Juok told me about the Myeong Dong Cathedral and insisted that I had to visit.  Now it’s actually called the Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Myeong Dong but no one really calls it that…although I guess I wouldn’t know that for sure seeing as I don’t speak much Korean. 

Myeong Dong Cathedral is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul.  Construction of the cathedral began in 1894 and was completed in 1998.  It was the very first brick laid Gothic building ever built in Korea.  The lack of experienced brick makers in Korea at the time meant that Chinese masons, plasterers, and carpenters had to be brought into Korea for the work.  I had to look that up…you are welcome.

The cathedral is also a very popular gathering place for protestors.  Which has been an ongoing nuisance for local shop owners.  Ah democracy.

 

I was also lucky enough to see a weekend wedding while I was visiting the cathedral.  I had to wait my turn to get this picture as there were hundreds of people with cameras gathered around me.  The cathedral is a very popular and much sought after place to get married in Korea.