A French traveler is checking his reservation at Seoul Youth Hostel.

I came from the Brest region in western France. I took a flight to Seoul from Moscow and it’s my first day in Seoul. I plan to stay in Korea for about two and a half months. I’m glad that I got to stay in Youth Hostel, because I frequent this type of lodging. The atmosphere is nice and I get to make good friends. I’m glad that my itinerary in Korea starts here.

It is a romantic notion for young people to tour the world with only a knapsack on their back. They look to enjoy not only the sights but experience culture in their destinations with the least amount of budget. Their goal is to gain the life’s most extraordinary experience with the least cost. Today, we take you to Seoul Youth Hostel, a place where young travelers can fulfill this goal.

Exit number 10 of subway number four’s Myeongdong Station is next to an alley taking you to Mt. Nam in downtown Seoul. Walk along the road toward Mt. Nam and you’ll soon see a sign saying “150 meters to Seoul Youth Hostel.” That’s only ten minutes away and the road to Youth Hostel is almost idyllic. The tree-lined road is one of the welcoming merits of Seoul Youth Hostel. Here’s Mr. Park Gyeong-seop of Seoul Youth Hostel sales team to explain more.

Seoul Youth Hostel is located at the foot of Mt. Nam, so it has a view of the entire downtown Seoul from the front and Namsan Tower in the back. To the right is the Dongdaemun neighborhood and the busy Myeongdong shopping district is just 10 minutes away. All the famous tourist spots in Seoul like Cheonggyecheon, Insa-dong, Namdaemun, and Gwanghwamun are within convenient reach, which is why Seoul Youth Hostel is so popular.

There are some 80 youth hostels nationwide and four in Seoul alone. They all have distinct features, but the most notable merit of Seoul Youth Hostel is its location. Situated at the foot of verdant Mt. Nam in the middle of the capital city, the hostel offers convenience and comfort rivaling most other hotels. Seasoned travelers are already well aware of the hostel’s quality amenities. The hostel is now famous as a place of rest and culture for young travelers, but it hides a painful past. Here’s the hostel’s sale team manager Park Gyeong-seop to explain more.

The Seoul Youth Hostel building is significant in two ways. First, it used to be the site of the Japanese residency general, where traitor Lee Wan-yong forced the signing of an annexation treaty. Secondly, the building was used for the central intelligence office during the military regime. When the intelligence agency was moved to Seocho-gu, the Seoul government decided to use the building as a youth hostel. So Seoul Youth Hostel opened in 2006.

There are 50 guestrooms in the 6,500-square-meter-plus building. The seven-floor structure can accommodate up to 306 people and features various amenities, which include a public phone booth and a mobile phone recharging station next to the front desk, a small café where guests can enjoy after-meal coffee and tea, and a convenience shop stocked with basic necessities. One distinct service of Seoul Youth Hostel is that the front desk gives a small souvenir when a traveler checks in.

A night’s stay at Seoul Youth Hostel costs 20 thousand won, less than 19 US dollars. It’s much cheaper for the members of the Youth Hostel Federation. But cheap rates do not mean cheap facilities. Guest rooms are located from fourth to sixth floor and come in various types, from double occupancy to a huge group room with a 15-person capacity. Mr. Park Gyeong-seop is taking us on a tour of the guestrooms. Our first stop is the dormitory room, the favorite of budget-minded travelers.

This is the dormitory bedroom on the sixth floor. This is for general backpack travelers. There are bunk-beds for up to 10 people in this room. Each bed is separated by a curtain for privacy. Since the room is shared with strangers with different habits, so a curtain provides a certain measure of privacy for a sound night of sleep. The view out of this room includes Namsan Tower and the windows let in lots of sunlight. There are also individual lockers to safely keep one’s belongings.

The dormitory room is the most affordable and comfortable lodging option for travelers. The French tourist Jean seems to like his room very much.

I often stay at a youth hostel, but this room is really nice. There are ten beds in the room and even dressers for keeping individual belongings. The room is really spacious and clean, and it even smells nice. There is a desk and a view outside the window is really nice, too.

Our next stop is the business room also located on the sixth floor.

The business room is on the sixth floor. Unlike the dormitory room, the business room has only two beds for smaller parties in Seoul for business purposes. The room also features a small refrigerator, an air purifier, a TV, a hairdryer, and other conveniences.

The business room rate is 60 thousand won, about 55 dollars, and the room is available for up to three people. That comes to only 20 thousand won per person, which is a great bargain for cost-conscious businessmen. The business room is also called a “room with a view,” because the window that takes up two-thirds of one wall provides the view of the entire city. There is also the spacious family room for group travelers.

This is the family room. It has a kitchen, a living room with a sofa, and two bedrooms. One bedroom is in western style with a bed and the other is in Korean style with the ondol floor. The kitchen is equipped with a microwave oven, a rice cooker, utensils and dishes to allow guests to cook their own food. There’s also a six-seat dining table as well as a large refrigerator and a water cooler. It also has the view of Mt. Nam.

The family room is so well-equipped that the two family rooms available here are always booked solid. There are other rooms available on the fourth and fifth floor.

There are six-person and ten-person youth rooms. The six-person youth room looks out to the Mt. Nam neighborhood. It features three bunk beds with additional trundle beds that can pull out to accommodate up to nine people.

Whether you are a solo traveler or a part of a big group, Seoul Youth Hostel has a room just right for you. Now let’s go down to the third floor.

Now we are on the third floor where there are five seminar rooms. The largest one has the capacity of 120 people. Each seminar room features tables, 4D facilities, and equipment needed for meetings and presentations.

The seminar rooms are equipped with all the lightings and audio devices needed to host business meetings. Guests who have used the seminar rooms all express great satisfaction.

- I really like the seminar room in this youth hostel, because it has great multimedia equipment, like a projector and LCD screens. There is even a library next to the seminar room with books from other countries. It’s a chance to learn about other cultures.
-When I first came to Seoul Youth Hostel, I thought the facility was very good and clean. I love the seminar room here, because it’s very colorful. I’m staying overnight here and I look forward to having a good time.

Now that we’ve seen the inside of Seoul Youth Hostel, let’s step outside and see what’s available outdoor. Since the building is located at the foot of Mt. Nam, its stroll path is a must-see feature.

There is a stroll path from Seoul Youth Hostel leading to Namsan Tower on top of Mt. Nam. You walk up the steps here and there is a small exercise area with a variety of workout equipment. The dirt path lined with cherry trees is linked to the cushiony urethane-covered walkway. The wooden steps here lead to the top of Mt. Nam. It takes about 40 minutes so a stroll around the building will give you a good workout.

Early morning is the best time for a stroll. Start your walk to the summit of Mt. Nam just when the sun is about to climb above the horizon and you will be able to see the sunrise by the time you reach the top. Seeing the sun rise above the urban skyline is one of the most memorable experiences of your stay in Seoul. But if you got up too late to walk up Mt. Nam, there is a less strenuous option to enjoy the view. Just head to the Sky Café on the seventh floor.

The Sky Café on the rooftop is a perfect place to welcome the morning with a fragrant cup of coffee, and enjoy the 360-degree vista of Seoul.

- I can see the Mt. Nam hanok village from here, even Myeongdong and Namdaemun. In the back we can get a view of the cable cars going up to Mt. Nam. I think it’s about 20 minutes away. This place is great.

If you missed the morning spectacle, the Sky Café offers a breathtaking nightscape of Seoul after sunset. Wrap up your day with a relaxing cup of warm tea at the Sky Café and relive your experiences in Korea.

Just as important to travelers as lodging is food. On the first floor of Seoul Youth Hostel there is a 164-seating restaurant. A meal at this self-serve restaurant is only 4,000 won, not even four dollars.

The recreation room in the first floor lobby is equipped with internet-accessible computers and a ping pong table to make your stay more enjoyable.

Seoul Youth Hostel provides a comfortable and safe lodging, delicious meals, and pleasant walkways for budget-conscious travelers. This is a perfect place to experience Korea’s capital city without breaking your wallet. How about recommending Seoul Youth Hostel to your friends and family looking for an affordable trip to Korea?