[Seoul IFC Mall] Surprising Pet Culture and Cultural Difference: Understanding Korea Today Through Everyday Scenes

We headed to IFC Mall, directly connected to the Conrad Seoul.

What met us there was a sight rarely seen in Japanese commercial facilities: numerous dogs walking freely with their owners through the mall, as though it were entirely unremarkable. What surprised me further: one dog was visibly marking a pillar. In Japan, this would immediately trigger a conversation about manners. Here, it appeared simply to be one unremarkable scene among many.

Watching where the line of “what is acceptable” falls in a different culture — that is one of the great pleasures of traveling somewhere foreign.

The Irresistible Pull of OLIVE YOUNG

While I observed all of this, my wife and daughter were already being absorbed into the nearest OLIVE YOUNG. They had already spent considerable time in the Myeongdong and Hongdae branches. But in each different store, something new reveals itself.

The power of Korean cosmetics to attract people regardless of generation. Standing in front of that overwhelming range and energy, I found myself once again feeling this country’s remarkable “consumption energy.”

The refined atmosphere of the mall, alongside its surprisingly relaxed attitude toward pets. IFC Mall — where these unlikely elements coexist — turned out to be a valuable glimpse into the many faces of Seoul.