Count fixed anchors before choosing the river side
Official Seoul tourism material groups Gangnam, Samseong, Banpo and Yangjae as a distinct south-side visitor area, with Jamsil further east. Mark the places that cannot move—an event at COEX, business meetings, a concert or repeated appointments. If most anchors are north of the river, choosing Gangnam for one famous evening usually adds more travel than it saves.
Gangnam is several hotel markets
Gangnam Station, Samseong and COEX, Apgujeong, Jamsil and the express-bus-terminal area solve different trips. A generic Gangnam search can hide the distance between them. Map the exact hotel to the station and the daily anchors, then check whether the useful subway route needs a change. The stay finder treats south-side focus as a strong signal but still shows the runner-up and trade-off.
Airport convenience depends on the exact stop
Gangnam is not the endpoint of the AREX Express or all-stop airport railway. A current airport bus can be practical when its stop fits the hotel; otherwise rail requires a transfer and a taxi is the door-to-door comparison. Check the live stop and operating window before treating airport access as a reason to book. Compare room and cancellation terms after the transport geometry works.