Text by: Jason Rolan

Photos by: Mick Shippen

Seasoned food and travel writer and photographer, Mick Shippen had numerous preconceived notions about mega-cities; sprawling concrete jungles where ancient culture gets steamrolled by skyscrapers, where street food means fast food, and where the only temples you’ll find are shopping malls dedicated to consumerism. Seoul, with its 10 million inhabitants, should have been the poster child for all his urban anxieties. 

Mick’s recent stay in Seoul was like opening a steamed lotus leaf wrap. The layers peeled back to reveal delectable morsels that first needed to be admired…and then devoured with relish. Walking through the narrow alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village, Shippen found himself dodging both tourists with selfie sticks and locals in hanbok carrying the latest iPhone—sometimes the same person. 

The real revelation came in the eating, naturally. From the smoke-wreathed grills of Myeongdong’s street stalls to the temple-quiet precision of a traditional tea ceremony, Seoul serves up its contradictions on a platter. These photographs capture that beautiful collision—where 600-year-old palaces cast shadows over neon-lit karaoke bars. This is Seoul in all its gloriously chaotic harmony, a city that’s figured out how to honor its ancestors while texting the future.