Alpha Stationery - Namdaemun Main Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (알파문구 남대문본점) - Area information

Alpha Stationery - Namdaemun Main Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (알파문구 남대문본점)

289.33320310750037m 0 2024-04-23

6-2, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

295.66582104065435m 112558 2023-02-22

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Hwangudan Altar (환구단)

297.69154613546215m 16286 2020-05-07

112, Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3396-5842

Hwangudan Altar, also called Hwandan Altar, refers to an altar complex for the rite of heaven. The rites were first performed in the Goryeo dynasty by King Seongjong in the first month of 983 (2nd year of his reign), but was repeatedly adopted and abolished, and eventually stopped at the start of the Joseon dynasty.

Then in 1456 (2nd year of King Sejo), the practice was temporarily standardized and the rites were performed at Hwangudan Altar again in 1457. However, rites were again abolished in 1464 (10th year of King Sejo). It wasn’t until 1897 (34th year of King Gojong) when the Joseon dynasty was renamed as the Korean Empire and King Gojong ascended to emperor, that the rite was revived.

Now, Hwangungu Shrine and three stone drums stand at the location of the former altar complex. The three stone drums symbolize the instruments used for the rites. The shrine was completed in 1899, two years after the altar was started in 1897. Today, the Hwangungu Shrine still stands within the hotel grounds of the Westin Chosun Hotel.

Namdaemun Market Mungu (Stationery) Street (남대문 문구상가)

299.4163843049046m 14077 2020-04-21

6-2, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-2805

Also called Mungu (Stationery) Street, Mungu Shopping Center is home to colorful stationery, toys, and wrapping materials. Because of its colorful items, the center has attracted many tourists and producers interested in stationery and toys. A slew of camera shops on the outskirts of the center offer camera lenses and camera items not readily available elsewhere, attracting both amateur and professional photographers from Korean and abroad.

Crystal Optic [Tax Refund Shop] (크리스탈안경)

299.73752316290194m 0 2024-04-23

1F, 6, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Jinju Hoegwan (진주회관)

302.2291492223319m 17525 2024-03-15

26 Sejong-daero 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-5388

Jinju Hoegwan is a renowned kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean soup) eatery near City Hall Station. Kongguksu is a traditional Korean summer dish made by boiling and grinding soybeans into a creamy broth, served with noodles, offering a refreshing and nutty flavor. Kongguksu is available from March to November. Their staff-recommended menu includes kimchi bokkeumbap (kimchi fried rice), freshly roasted by the staff, along with kimchi jjigae and samgyeopsal (pork belly).

Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink (서울광장 스케이트장)

307.50839261548873m 100104 2020-04-02

110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2133-2691

Seoul Plaza was established in 2004, and is located by Seoul City Hall. The plaza is shaped like the full moon. Seoul Plaza hosts a wide array of cultural events including concerts and exhibitions for residents and visitors. The plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter, a popular attraction in the city.

The facility houses one rink for beginners and one for advanced skaters, and also hosts various events during its operating hours. There are also convenient facilities like skate rental, outdoor rest area, and outdoor standing area for ice skaters and spectators.

Ice skaters at the rink must wear gloves, and the plaza also offers a training program to teach interested individuals how to have fun while skating safely. To learn how to skate, visit the website to register for a training session in advance.

Samick Fashion Town (삼익패션타운)

309.39120081454166m 17177 2021-06-04

7, Namdaemunsijang 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-1566-4578

Located in the heart of the Namdaemun Market, the largest wholesale market in Korea and a popular tourist attraction, Samick Fashion Town is home to over 1,500 shops, spread among 15 floors. Opened in 1985, this giant, one-stop shopping destination offers shoppers virtually everything: from clothing (women’s, men’s, and children’s) and shoes to accessories for wholesale merchants and individual shoppers. The Samick Fashion Town is particularly known for its large children's section on the first floor and its giant shoe mall on the sixth that is unlike any other shoe store in Namdaemun Market. On the ninth floor is the food court and on the first basement level at MBIC Mall, visitors can find character products related to some of their favorite Hallyu stars. Character items include cushions, notebooks, mugs, t-shirts, postcards, stickers, mobile phone screen cleaners, and mechanical pencils featuring the comedians from Muhan Dojeon (Infinity Challenge) and other popular stars.

Seoul Street Art Festival (서울거리예술축제)

310.1607186742722m 53534 2023-09-11

12, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3437-6455

Seoul Street Art Festival is held throughout Seoul and introduces high quality street performances.

Namdaemun MESA (남대문 메사)

311.0302956548572m 38085 2021-06-30

2, Namdaemunsijang 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2128-7800

MESA's name originates from the Spanish word meaning a flat plateau-like mountain summit at the end of a gentle slope. It was named so as a vision for this family-friendly mall to succeed with no obstacle on its way. MESA is a full-line store situated between Myeong-dong's department store zone and Namdaemun Market. The store opened with the concept of a "global family shopping mall," selling diverse items that suit family households.

Alpha Stationery - Namdaemun Main Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (알파문구 남대문본점) - Area information - Korea travel information