Michael Meyer sent us this excellent Seoul sound guide – tune into this Seoul city guide to hear the sounds of this amazing South Korean city, and read the other city sound guides:

“Seoul is the dynamic capital of South Korea, the kind of city that seems to shed its skin, shifting form slowly and suddenly simultaneously. What comes finally into familiar focus is swiftly gone: replaced, rebuilt, renewed.

1. Markets

Mangwon Market and Gwangjang Market are two traditional markets that have survived for decades in the changing city. In the span of a few strides a shopper might pass a vegetable stall, banchan vendor, butcher, noodle restaurant, underwear shop, ho dduk grill and fishmonger. As one moves through the covered Mangwon Market, the soundscape is pierced by the calls of vendors shouting out their wares. Across town at the Gwangjang Market a tailor’s sewing machine hums among the traditional Hanbok shops. South of the river, the Noryangjin Market is entirely devoted to seafood.

Fishmonger calling out the day’s discounts:

Sewing machine in Gwangjang Market:

Walking through the Noryangjin Fish Market:

2. Seoul metro

The greater Seoul metropolitan area is crisscrossed by an efficient metro system with 23 lines stopping at 728 stations. Clear signage is accompanied by audible indications in multiple languages. Riders know when trains are arriving, which station a train is pulling into, and even which side of the train the doors will open on.

A short ride from Gongdoek Station to Gwangheungchang Station on the #6 Line:

At Hapjeong Station, riders from two trains disembark at the same time, exiting through turnstiles on either side of the station passageway:

3. Cheek by jowl

Mullae-dong is a small neighborhood centered on a tangle of streets filled with small industry that has become a tourist draw. Signs at the entrance to the neighborhood ask tourists to refrain from taking photographs of people as they work. Like many neighborhoods in Seoul, Mullae-dong is gentrifying. Drawn by the large and open industrial spaces, hip bars, arts organizations and boutiques are moving in.

A machine shop in Mullae-dong recorded through its doors open wide to the street:

4. Electric light and sound

Hongdae is a neighborhood of shops and restaurants below Hongik University. Every night of the week it is packed with crowds of young people (and tourists) looking to have a good time. From year to year trends shift, shops come and go and the soundscape changes with them. For a hot second, game arcades became the cool thing and they popped up all over Hongdae.

5. Walking along history

The Seoul City Wall dates to the 14th century; while it surrounded the medieval city it has been enveloped by the modern city. As part of its conservation and restoration, much of it has been converted into walking trails, providing a respite from the city’s din.

This quiet spot is at the edge of Naksan Park at the end of a quiet residential street:

6. Constant motion

The Han River is a geographical, historical and cultural touchstone. While the river is no longer a trade route, cars and trucks trace its outline along the Gangbyeon Expressway on the river’s north shore and the Olympic Expressway the south shore. Twenty-seven bridges cross the river within Seoul. Traffic is constant.

This recording of the Gangbyeon Expressway was made underneath its eastbound lanes where it nips under the Seogang-daegyo (bridge):

7. Quiet moments

The great fabric of any city is largely composed of the small gestures and quiet moments of life’s typical days.

On a rainy December morning, a man was swept leaves from the walkways between apartment blocks: