Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

3.5Km 2024-11-27

196 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Itaewon was the first special tourist zone in Seoul, designated in 1997. It is a multicultural place where over 20,000 foreigners live and is widely recognized by international visitors.

The name Itaewon started to spread worldwide in the 1980s when Korea hosted the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as many international conferences. Since then, Itaewon has become a popular travel destination. Clothes and accessories with unique designs, and leather products in particular are famous. This is a go-to place for both shopping and entertainment. The street is crowded with shops selling clothes and bags, as well as hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities and travel agencies. With about 2,000 shops and stores lining every street, visitors can experience a multicultural atmosphere. Also famous in the district is Antique Furniture Street where more than 100 shops selling furniture and antiques stretch from Hamilton Hotel toward Bogwang-ro.

Travelers can taste authentic cuisine and experience culture from around the globe on World Food Street where there are 40 restaurants operated by foreigners. Since the late 1990s, an increase in the number of tourists from Southeast Asia and the Middle East has transformed the streets from being US Army-oriented into culturally diverse. Various performances and events are held in the area. In particular, Itaewon Global Village Festival, held every October, is a famous festival. Tourists can pay in US dollars, Japanese yen, or another currency freely. In addition, visitors can use various languages like English, Japanese, and Chinese with the sellers.

Alleys of Changsin-dong (창신동골목길)

3.5Km 2025-11-05

38, Jibong-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

K-movie <PARASITE> - A town full of nostalgia
On the day Kitaek's family returned home, the torrential rain flowed ferociously in streams. The alleys of Changsin-dong, with its narrow and steep stairs, were a good backdrop for visually representing the condition of the Kitaek’s family, who were about to fall. Changsin-dong is a warm and charming neighborhood where traces of the 70s and 80s can be felt.

Bugaksan Mountain (북악산)

3.5Km 2024-03-04

Cheongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-765-0297

Bugaksan Mountain is the mountain that one can see behind the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Cheong Wa Dae to the north. Hanyangdoseong, the city wall that surrounded the historic capital of Hanyang, was built by connecting the ridges of this mountain. These walls can still be found today, having been preserved quite well. Different trails weave through the area along the Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, and one can visit these trails at night as well. Bugak Skyway is a road that connects Changuimun Gate to Jeongneung Royal Tomb, and one can get a great view of Seoul’s city center from the Palgakjeong Pavilion on Bugak Skyway.

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon (더휴식 누베르 서울 이태원점)

3.5Km 2025-04-08

11 Usadan-ro 14-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon aims to rediscover Seoul through creativity and inspiration. The overall design of the hotel is inspired by French avant-garde, using a variety of objects and props to create an artistic and stylish atmosphere. The hotel has Collection T room type, a twin bedroom; Collection D room type, a double bedroom; and Collection S room type, a single bedroom. On the first floor of the hotel is a guest lobby and a pasta restaurant. The hotel's parking lot is limited in space, and therefore guests are advised to use a nearby public parking lot.

The Hyoosik Aank Hotel Sinchon (더휴식 아늑호텔 신촌점)

3.5Km 2025-04-09

49 Yonsei-ro 2-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

The Hyoosik Aank Hotel Sinchon welcomes guests with a neat and modern atmosphere. Each room is tailored to suit every guest's need with comfort as the main priority. The hotel's room types include a standard room, music room, multi-room equipped with Playstation 4, PC room, creative illust room equipped with a drawing tablet, creative piano room, and a business room. The hotel also has a parking lot, guest lounge, coin laundry, and a ping pong table.

Bukjeong Village (북정마을)

3.5Km 2024-02-15

132-3 Seongbuk-ro 23-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Bukjeong Village, situated along the slopes of Seongbuk-dong, offers a glimpse into Korea's old alleyways. The village expanded as refugees from the Korean War (1950–1953) and people from various regions settled, building houses under the collapsed walls of Hanyang doseong (Seoul City Wall). Presently, the village is home to young artists, and the broad street in front of the village bus stop hosts various community events.

Sogang University (서강대학교)

3.5Km 2023-07-07

35, Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
+82-2-705-8114

Sogang University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit university located in central Seoul. Campus life at Sogang University is enhanced by student clubs as well as technological advancement. Furthermore, the proximity to other leading universities (Yonsei University and Ewha Woman's University) contributes to the intellectual and social vitality of student life at Sogang University.

Buam-dong (부암동)

3.5Km 2024-03-15

Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-1807

Buam-dong is a village located north of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is designated as a development-restricted zone due to its proximity to the Cheong Wa Dae, preserving the old neighborhood's appearance. There are numerous bakeries, cafés, restaurants, and small galleries housed in renovated traditional houses, making it a delightful place for a leisurely stroll. The nearby hiking trails connected to Bugaksan Mountain offer a tranquil journey through the forest, ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat.

Severance Hospital (연세대학교 의과대학 세브란스병원)

3.6Km 2025-10-23

50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

THE FIRST & THE BEST

As the first Western-style hospital in Korea, and with over 140 years of history, Severance Hospital (Gwanghyewon) has been leading the medical industry in Korea since its foundation in 1885.
Dedicated to improving the quality of medical services through specialization, Severance Hospital has the distinction of being the first hospital in Korea to operate six specialized hospitals: the Dental Hospital, Cancer Center, Rehabilitation Hospital, Cardiovascular Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Eye Hospital.

In 2023, Severance Hospital achieved a world first by performing 40,000 robotic surgeries and introduced a new paradigm in cancer treatment by bringing Carbon Ion Therapy to Korea for the first time.

As a global leader in advanced medical technology and patient-centered services, Severance Hospital was the first medical institution in Korea to receive JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation and has ranked first in the medical service sector of the NCSI (National Customer Satisfaction Index) for 14 consecutive years.

Yonsei University Dental Hospital (연세대학교 치과대학병원)

3.6Km 2025-11-21

50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Since November 1915, when Dr. William J. Scheifley established the Department of Dentistry at Severance Union Medical School, officially introducing Western dental medicine to Korea, Yonsei University Dental Hospital has maintained its status as the nation's first and foremost dental institution for over 100 years. Notably, Yonsei University Dental Hospital, equipped with the finest medical professionals, state-of-the-art facilities, and a well-coordinated collaborative system among departments, excels in the treatment and prevention of oral and maxillofacial diseases while prioritizing the happiness and well-being of its patients. It stands as the premier dental hospital in Korea.

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구) - Area information - Korea travel information