Is Seoul like Tokyo but less extreme and more conservative?

Seoul is an entirely different city to Tokyo, like comparing Paris with London. People who tell me 'Seoul is like Tokyo' or vice versa lose my respect instantly.

For the 15 points you posted, I'd say Seoul has those things in some form or another. The sexual kinkiness is not prevalent in public, in this regard Koreans are more conservative. As for salarymen, Korea beats Japan every time. Not only are Korea's salarymen dressed in a slightly funnier corporate way, but they work longer and drink a hell of a lot more. The drinking on the weekends is insane in Seoul.

Less of the innovative street businesses, although love motels do charge by the hour. As for teenagers and kids, Tokyo has the edge for funkiness, craziness and assertiveness, but hang out in Seoul's Hongdae and you'll see some crazy stuff. Also, middle-aged people dress in ways that Westerners find funny, much more than in classy Tokyo.

All over Japan quirky messages and cartoon advertising is fantastic, and something I think Seoul lacks. Convenience stores are everywhere in Seoul too, but Japan's are much better.

My overall summary of the differences would be in the crowded nature of both cities, and the people. Both are crowded mega-metropolises, but people in Tokyo have an amazing sense of personal space and politeness; Seoul on the other hand, can seem filled with unfriendly, pushy people who have no crowd sense. Below the surface though, I find Japanese politeness and eagerness to help doesn't quickly extend to genuine interest or friendship (just as it wouldn't in a Western country) whereas Korean people's initial reserve or disinterest quickly vanishes once a connection (however slight) is established, and it is possible to make a lifelong friend out of a Korean person (even in big city Seoul) in a very short time.

Others may disagree with the above, but I do love both cities (but I live in Seoul). In terms of sights and travel also, Seoul lacks Tokyo's punchy electronic glamour, and feels like a dirtier city, but the food is incredible and the pockets of old history - palaces, temples, parks, traditional houses - are hard to find in Tokyo. Also the shopping is high quality but much cheaper than Tokyo (hence the high number of Japanese tourists who come here purely for shopping).

In short- don't make the Western tourist mistake of dismissing Seoul as 'kind of like Tokyo.' Both are wonderful, and while Tokyo has captured the imagination of so many outsiders, Seoul is a thoroughly unique place worthy of deep exploration. You have to look a little harder in Seoul, but the rewards are well worth it.

I get that you're after certain cultural traits, but more than half of your 'criteria' are completely subjective, of which no one other than yourself can be the judge. Therefore asking such questions to random people on an internet forum would never really get you any answer, since there is no measurement of the qualities you're trying to compare.
How do you objectively measure 'kinkiness' or 'silliness'? If someone does say Japan is kinkier than Korea or vice versa, would you simply agree to and accept that opinion without seeing both sides yourself, just because?
You can ask whether Tokyo has warmer climate than Seoul in a given month or season, whether overall consumer price level is higher or lower, etc., but what you are asking can only be answered by your own self.

Jake_Kim: It is possible getting good answers on this here. I got a very very good answer four minutes before your post, from earlytorise - thanks! I suddenly think I know a lot more about Seoul. I got nothing of this from Wikitravel or LP. And the South Korea-"Culture Shock" book wasn't available at my library.

To all: Are there some crazy contemporary Seoul phenomenons that doesn't exist at all in Tokyo/Japan/the rest of the world?

Phenomena? Well, I guess celebrity suicide fits that criteria. Strangely common here is celebrities killing themselves after some scandal, and criticism by people on the internet. You can't really 'see' that though as a traveler. Reading an English language newspaper like the Korea Times or Korea Herald might give you an insight into that.

Can't think of much else. Check out my blog (in my sig) if you want more info on the quirky side of Korean life, or places to travel to.

Yeah, knowing that kind of stuff makes everything more interesting, it doesn't matter you don't see it in the street.

If I could find a Seoul blog similar to this, I would be in heaven (I put a number of hours finding Tokyo places mentioned in this):
http://www.hellodamage.com/top/tokyo-tour-guide/

I use this guy's blog for inspiration - lots of places in Seoul and some outside, plenty of pictures, and directions to places. Sadly the blog doesn't update anymore, but it's still quite recent.

http://henrikchoi.blogspot.com/2010/07/coffee-and-hot-chocolate-in-bukchon.html

Just click on the archives links on the side - for some reason the main page takes you to a Swedish language version (which is no help for me at least).

Seoul is great but tokyo has Akihabara ...
http://www.withmarco.com/?p=303

Yeah, that's a place you can't really compare to anywhere in the world! That place still confuses me almost a year after visiting. My Akihabara impressions are here if anyone's interested. I'd stick with Marco for good photos though -

http://ourmaninkorea.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/welcome-home-master-the-weird-world-of-akihabara/</a>

Thanks. Since I am swedish I can tell you that it seems like made with Google Translate. He hasn't updated since the North Korean attacks in November.

Who knows any good books of contemporary korean culture? (I will read the "Culture Shock!" book for South Korea.)