Chungdong First Methodist Church (서울 정동교회) - Area information - Korea travel information

Chungdong First Methodist Church (서울 정동교회)

6.1Km    2020-06-25

46, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-0001

Chungdong Church, having being completed in 1897, was the first Christian church that was built after the spread of Protestantism in Korea. The church was founded in 1887 as a small worship house under the name Bethel by Henry Gerhard Appenzeller, an American missionary. As the number of followers increased, the building underwent construction and officially became a church in 1895. Chungdong Church is the only remaining church building from the 19th century. The church was expanded once more in 1926, changing its from a cross-shaped building to a square one. The expansion was made by adding walls using bricks as not to damage the original building structure. The architecture was built in a simplified version of an American gothic house with arched window frames.

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

6.1Km    2024-06-19

2-1 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong-gil Road is one of Seoul's most famous walking paths, stretching from the intersection in front of Jeongdong Church to Saemunan-gil Road. The street holds importance in Korea's modern history, with the surroundings serving as a living museum of this. During the Joseon dynasty, the area developed into a residental space for distant members of the royal family, with a palace and royal tombs in the area. In 1999, the pedestrian walking area was expanded by turning the two-way road into a one-way road. Since then, the road has earned many awards and honors.

Seodaemun Independence Park (서대문독립공원)

6.2Km    2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3140-8305

Seodaemun Independence Park was built on the former Seoul Detention Camp. It was used to imprison thousands of Korean independence activists until the liberation from the Japanese occupation on August 15, 1945, as well as the political prisoners during the political turmoil in the 1960s. When the prison was moved to Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do in November 1987, the area was restored and turned into a memorial park in August 15, 1992 to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs. The park preserves seven prison buildings, an execution ground, underground women’s prison, and the March 1st Movement Monument that has been moved from Tapgol Park in Jongno.

One of the most significant monuments of the Seodaemun Independence Park is Dongnimmun Gate (Independence Gate), which has been designated a Historic Site. Nearby is Dongnipgwan (Independence Hall), originally called Mohwagwan, which was used to greet Chinese envoys during the Joseon dynasty. Today, the hall enshrines 2,327 tablets inscribed with the names of Koreans who died for the cause of national independence. Standing right next to Dongnimmun Gate are the remnants of Yeongeunmun Gate, another Historic Site. Other sights inside the park include the Patriotic Martyr Monument, Declaration of Independence Monument, and Statue of Dr. Seo Jae-pil, who was an independence activist and publisher of Korea’s first independent newspaper. The main highlight of the park is the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, a former prison building that was renovated into a history museum.

Namdaemun Ginseng Market (남대문인삼시장)

6.2Km    2021-06-09

25-8, Namdaemunsijang-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-752-1012

Namdaemun Ginseng Market is found along the central path of Namdaemun Market located on Namdaemun-ro.There are approximately 20 shops standing close together in the market, with seven other ginseng shops in a ginseng distributor center located on the second floor of Namdaemun Theatre building. Here, visitors can purchase quality ginseng at a 20~30% lower price than the regular consumer price.

Visitors can also purchase fresh ginseng and other processed products such as ginseng tea and powder, as well as a variety of oriental health foods including: red ginseng, honey, Yeongji mushrooms, traditional teas, brown rice and adlay.

Donuimun Museum Village (돈의문박물관마을)

6.2Km    2024-07-22

14-3 Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Donuimun Museum Village is a historical and cultural space situated in the city center reborn through Seoul-style urban generation while still maintaining its historical value as the first village within the western gate of Hanyangdoseong as well as the lives and memories from the city's modern and contemporary era.

Together with the neighboring area surrounding Gyonam-dong, Jongno-gu, Donuimun Museum Village was selected for inclusion in the "Donuimun New Town" in 2003 for which all of the existing buildings were to be torn down to construct a neighborhood park. But the city of Seoul had another plan in mind; it wanted to maintain this small village, where the old lives and memories are still well-preserved, as a village museum to not only spread the historical significance of Saemunan Village, the first neighborhood within the western gate of Hanyangdoseong (the Seoul City Wall) but also establish the village as a historical and cultural asset for all Seoul citizens. The village was remodeled while keeping the buildings as untouched as possible and, in a few sites where houses had been torn down, broad yards were created. As a result, the warm and affectionate appearance of the village including modern structures, urban-style hanok, and streets with 100 years of history still remain today in their original places to be reborn as a place of new culture enjoyed and experienced by citizens.

Today, Donuimun Museum Village welcomes visitors with a new concept, "100 Years of Seoul, Time Travel Playground in the City." The village has undergone a significant overhaul to fill itself with "participation-style" spaces and contents where exhibits, experience sessions, performances, and marketplaces are held year-round while keeping 40 or so existing buildings intact in order to solidify its identity as a "living museum village," which is the original intention behind the village's creation.

Olivine Spa (올리바인 스파)

6.2Km    2024-12-10

4-1 Tongil-ro 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Chosen as one of the 25 recommended wellness tourist destinations by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, Olivine Spa operates a luxury spa and a beauty & slimming center in downtown. The spa also provides professional pre-natal and post-natal massage, body shape care, and various beauty programs in partnership with Seran General Hospital and Olivium (a postpartum care center). Olivine Spa provides massages by top-tier therapists in the industry who will relieve fatigue and eliminate toxins accumulated through daily life. They will help your body become healthier and more balanced, ensuring customer satisfaction. Furthermore, Olivine Spa uses Swiss premium brands Les Nouvels Aroma and Darphin in their programs. Its beauty & slimming center provides customized consulting and various beauty-related medical programs in partnership with medical staff at Seran General Hospital.

OTSAL (옷살)

6.2Km    2021-03-29

164, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-882-6527

This is where a local Mexican chef does the cooking. The best menu at this restaurant is curry. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

The Painters Season 2(페인터즈 시즌2)

6.2Km    2025-07-21

3 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong Guksi (정동국시)

6.2Km    2024-06-19

5 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
02-732-0114

Jeongdong Guksi features a rich soup with a clean taste, created by carefully removing the oil dozens of times while boiling Korean beef bones for 15 hours. The restaurant uses this same beef bone broth in their mandutguk (dumpling soup), something not many restaurants do. The rich flavor of the broth combined with the soft dumplings, made in-house daily, is a must-try. The restaurant is also surrounded by many cultural and artistic spaces, making it a great addition to tours in the area.

Converse [Tax Refund Shop] (컨버스)

6.2Km    2024-04-19

142, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

-