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

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

1.5Km    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.

Busan Agujjim Gulbossam (부산아구찜굴보쌈)

1.5Km    2024-10-15

서울특별시 종로구 돈화문로 35
+82-2-764-2373

This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno, Seoul. The best menu at this restaurant is spicy braised monkfish. Stewed monkfish is a spicy seafood dish made of fish and vegetables.

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

1.5Km    2019-08-01

30, Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-4696

Jirisan is one of the representative Korean restaurants in Insa-dong, an area known for its traditional culture. One of the trademarks of this restaurant, besides its amazingly delectable bean and tofu dishes, is a wooden sign that welcome guests into a neat and cozy interior.

Each day, fresh beans are ground at the restaurant to prepare dishes such as soybean paste, soft tofu, and bean-curd tofu stew. Bean-curds are prepared by using seawater, which gives the tofu a unique flavor. The fresh and clean taste of the tofu is one of the many reasons that choosey tofu aficionados flock to the restaurant.

Not just limited to tofu, Jirisan presents customers with a full-range of side dishes such as kimchi, japchae (glass noodles with sautéed vegetables), cucumber kimchi, seasoned seaweed, braised lotus roots, roasted yellow corbinas (a type of fish), leafy greens, bean-curd stew, and more. The restaurant gives visitors a chance to experience a hearty traditional Korean-style meal, but has thoughtfully toned down its seasonings to appeal to a wider audience (particularly those not used to spicy foods).

One of the recommended menu items is the Jirisan set meal, which offers diners the chance to sample foods that are popular in the Jirisan region. Adventurous diners may want to try the sea urchin soup or dried Pollack soup.

The restaurant, originally a traditional Korean house, has been modified over the years to better suit the needs of its customers. The walls surrounding the structure were removed and a glass ceiling was installed to allow guests to enjoy the natural light of the sun as they sample some of the area’s best traditional Korean cuisine.

Chanyangjip (찬양집)

1.5Km    2021-03-29

5, Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-743-1384

A popular attraction since the early 1970’s, this rather shabby and hard-to-spot restaurant has attracted many customers with its representative menu item, haemul kalguksu (seafood noodle soup). The soup is delicious and plenty enough for a hearty meal compared to its relatively low price. The noodles are chewy as they are freshly prepared every day and the clam-broth soup is full of flavor. The appearnce of this restaurant may seem old, but it's a recommended spot for a simple and delicious meal.

Meongseokjip (멍석집)

1.5Km    2021-03-29

7, Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-766-4620

This restaurant is frequently used as a place for group dinners by office workers. This restaurant's signature menu is grilled pork belly. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Hotel PJ (호텔PJ)

1.6Km    2021-03-16

71, Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2280-7000

Hotel PJ is located near Euljiro 4-ga, a transportation hub connecting subway lines 2, 3, 4, and 5, allowing guests to reach Seoul's tourist destinations such as Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, Namsan, Insa-dong, Hongdae, and Daehangno with ease. The hotel has 272 guestrooms as well as a restaurant, cafe, banquet halls, and a business center.

Nakji Wangguk (낙지왕국)

1.6Km    2021-03-22

31, Donhwamun-ro, 5ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-765-3119

A famous restaurant frequented by workers in Jongno. This seafood restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is stir-fried octopus.

Happy Jewerly [Tax Refund Shop] (해피쥬얼리)

1.6Km    2024-06-27

1F, #21, 26, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Teterot Salon (때때롯살롱)

1.6Km    2022-12-26

21-12 , Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Teterot Salon is a representative hanbok brand in Seoul operated by Chima Jeogori Seoul. They boast high levels of completion by closely monitoring the process from design conception, production, and sale of products. In particular, they have their own factory that allows for high quality products and more frequent updates on new products. 

Tteulan Teahouse (뜰안)

1.6Km    2024-12-10

Tteulan Teahouse is a cafe that really allows one to feel the tradition and flair of Korea. Tteulan has two entrances: one facing the wide alley and the other facing the smaller one. The smaller entrance is decorated like a garden, so it feels as if one is stepping into a land of fairy-tales. The café has a floor seating tables with traditional items like gadari soban (a table with legs that curve like a dog's legs), and jogakbo (a textile woven from several pieces of scrap cloth), all of which add to the traditional Korean aesthetic. The menu features ssanghwacha (medicinal herb tea known to help the immune system), a favorite among middle-aged and elderly Koreans; omija tea (omija is a tart berry that grows in East Asia known to be good for lung and bronchial health and boosts immunity); citrus tea (usually made with yuzu which is rich in vitamin C and said to help mitigate fatigue); and pour-over coffee. Traditional desserts include mugwort rice cake (rice cake with mugwort added for herbal flavor, best enjoyed with malt syrup), pumpkin rice cake, and roasted grain powder (a nutritious beverage made with a variety of powdered grain). It can be hard to find seating in the afternoon, so visitors are advised to avoid these hours if they seek to enjoy their drink in peace.