Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

1.2Km    2025-06-19

4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA), the first public museum of craft art in Korea, opened its doors in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, in July 2021 after renovating five buildings of the former Pungmoon Girls’ High School. SeMoCA studies and shares not only works, but also information, records, people, and environment related to craft art with the goal of becoming a dynamic platform for experiencing the technical, practical, artistic, and cultural values of craft.
 SeMoCA holds a collection that comprises various crafts and craft materials covering multiple fields and eras from the traditional to the present. SeMoCA also holds exhibitions that feature the history of craft from traditional to contemporary art as well as local and children’s crafts, along with programs that utilize the museum’s craft installations, craft archives, craft library, and craft resource management system.
The site of the museum has deep historical roots as it is also the Andong Secondary Palace Site, where a detached palace was constructed as a royal residence for King Sejong’s son Prince Yeongeung, and served as a venue for royal celebrations, such as the wedding of King Sunjong. The site is also at the center of Jongno-gu, where Joseon-era master artisans (“gyeonggongjang”) of the royal palace produced and delivered craft works.

The Sool Gallery (전통주갤러리)

The Sool Gallery (전통주갤러리)

1.2Km    2025-06-19

18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Sool Gallery is an exhibition and experience space for traditional Korean liquor, established to promote the taste, style, and cultural values of the time-honored traditional Korean liquor. It provides various information about traditional Korean liquor for consumers or international tourists who can rarely obtain such information elsewhere. In addition, it provides traditional liquor education and business counseling to food service businesses and sales experts to continuously create demand for traditional liquor and expand the market. It is run by experts specializing in traditional liquor, including traditional liquor sommeliers, and it holds events to introduce various traditional liquors with different themes every month, as well as tasting events. Moreover, according to the monthly changing “Recommended Traditional Liquor by Month,” it displays a drinking glass and a bottle of the month recommended by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation.

HANSIK Space E:eum (한식문화공간 이음)

1.2Km    2025-06-16

18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

HANSIK Space E:eum, located in Jongno, is a cultural space operated by the Korean Food Promotion Institute. It offers visitors an opportunity to delve into Korean cuisine through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and a library.

Sejong-ro Park (세종로공원)

Sejong-ro Park (세종로공원)

1.2Km    2022-08-31

jiha 189, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-9598

Sejong-ro Park is located next to Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. Inside the park, there are wooden benches and shaded areas where people can sit and relax. Also available are water fountains, a round outdoor stage, and various sculptures. The lunch crowd from the nearby office buildings often come to the park during weekdays. On the weekends, the park is also used as a venue for outdoor weddings.

Seoul's anthem and the poem "Bulnori" by Ju Yo-han are written on a memorial stone that can be found inside the park.

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

1.2Km    2025-06-19

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon dynasty. The name Bukchon, which literally translates to "northern village," came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. As Bukchon Hanok Village is an actual neighborhood with people's homes, visitors are advised to be respectful at all times while looking around.

Hwanghakjeong Pavilion (황학정)

Hwanghakjeong Pavilion (황학정)

1.2Km    2020-04-02

15-32, Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-738-5785

Hwanghakjeong Pavilion was built in 1898 by decree of King Gojong’s. It was originally set up close to the northern wall of Hoesangjeon in Gyeonghuigung Palace for archery practice. In 1922 when the Japanese colonial government sold buildings of Gyeonghuigung Palace to the public to build Gyeongseong Middle School in the location, the Hwanghakjeong Pavilion was bought and restored at the current location, which is an old site of Deunggwajeong Pavilion located to the North of Sajik Park.

It is relatively large for a pavilion, but the structure is plain and simple. There is a well behind the pavilion to the southwest. A rock behind the well has an engraved poem about eight beautiful scenes of Hwanghakjeong. Located to the right of the pavilion building (northeast of the building) is Hancheongak Pavilion, which has unique roof. To the west of the pavilion is Sauhoegwan Hall that was built with reinforced concrete.

Irilju (일일주(日日酒))

Irilju (일일주(日日酒))

1.2Km    2021-03-30

4, Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-738-1717

It is a delicious restaurant in Gwanghwamun with a good atmosphere. This Japanese (cuisine) restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is salmon sashimi.

Seoul Public Hanok Week (공공한옥주간)

Seoul Public Hanok Week (공공한옥주간)

1.2Km    2024-05-24

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-1033

The Seoul Public Hanok Week offers a full week of traditional culture at public hanok, traditional Korean buildings, throughout Seoul and Bukchon Hanok Village. Experience the beauty, charm, and history of these buildings while learning about the eco-friendly impact of their construction and methods to apply this to our modern lives.

Public Hanok Night Out (공공한옥 밤마실)

Public Hanok Night Out (공공한옥 밤마실)

1.2Km    2025-06-10

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-1033

Public Hanok Night Out is a special evening event that allows limited access to the nine public hanok buildings, including the Bukchon Culture Center, after sundown. The event is carefully prepared to make the hanok buildings accessible as much as possible. In addition, the event also offers a variety of programs to entertain the visitors. The event aims to raise awareness about embracing differences and diverse values during this time of ever-changing global society, as well as expand the the cultural values of hanok as something more unique.

Changuimun Gate - Jahamun Gate (창의문(자하문))

Changuimun Gate - Jahamun Gate (창의문(자하문))

1.2Km    2020-04-02

118, Changuimun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-1822

Changuimun Gate was often called Jahamun Gate. It was one of four mini-gates in the north surrounding the walled city of Hanyang (Seoul) during the Joseon dynasty. After the closure of Sukjeongmun Gate, one of the four main gates, Changuimun Gate became a favorite north gate. Hence, people also called Changuimun the North Gate. It is the only gate among four mini gates that is still in its original state. Although it is small, almost 50m² in terms of size, it looks very firm and sturdy. While Dongsomun Gate, another of the four mini gates, is decorated with a phoenix, Changuimun Gate is adorned with a wooden chicken along its rafters. The reason behind the wooden chicken was that the chicken was believed to be the nemesis of the centipede. People believed that installing the wooden chicken was important to overcome the harmful spirit of the centipede.