Itaewon Shopping Street (이태원 쇼핑거리) - Area information - Korea travel information

Itaewon Shopping Street (이태원 쇼핑거리)

3.3Km    2025-03-29

Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Itaewon Shopping Street is a 1.4-kilometer-long road located near Itaewon Station. There is an enormous variety of shops, entertainment venues, and restaurants lined along both sides of the street. As the neighborhood has a reputation as a mini melting pot in Seoul where languages other than Korean are widely spoken, it is one of the most visited places by international visitors. It has become a gateway for many international visitors to receive services and information on basic tourist needs such as accommodations, shopping, tourist attractions, and more.

Mok In Museum Mok Seok Won (목인박물관 목석원)

3.4Km    2021-09-01

46-1, Changuimun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Mok In Museum Mok Seok Won relocated in 2019 from Insa-dong to Buam-dong. Six exhibition halls offer visitors a look at wooden figures from around the world. Mokin refers to traditional wooden sculptures carved in shapes of human figures or various animals. The museum holds around 12,000 wooden folk sculptures including those used to decorate funeral carriages and temples mostly from the Joseon dynasty up to modern times. The museum also has an outdoor exhibition hall that harmonizes the sculptures with nature.

Kervan Turkish Restaurant (케르반레스토랑)

3.4Km    2025-03-15

192 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Kervan is a Turkish restaurant located in Itaewon, offering authentic kebab, pidé, and Turkish desserts. It faithfully recreates the Turkish culture and food through its interior, decorated with traditional tiles, and dishes prepared by a chef from Türkiye. Main menus include Chicken steak, Rich pidé, and Chicken shish kebab.

Cheongun Literature Library (청운문학도서관)

3.4Km    2023-08-16

40 , Jahamun-ro 36-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Cheongun Literature Library is located at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain and can be reached by following the mountain's walking trail starting from Changuimun Gate along the fortress wall. This public hanok library is designed in consideration of the sloped topography and the natural scenery of Inwangsan Mountain. The library consists of two floors: an underground floor and a ground floor. While the ground floor is designed as a traditional hanok, the underground floor is made of concrete to support the hanok building and the spacious outdoor yard. By implementing the natural slope in the library's design, the underground southern entrance is exposed, allowing sunlight to enter. The underground floor features a wide collection of books while the ground floor serves as a place for reading. The natural environment surrounding the library adds to the hanok building's traditional and peaceful charms.

At That Time, Byeonhongrye(그때, 변홍례)

3.4Km    2025-12-04

서울특별시 성북구 성북로 5-7 (성북동1가)
1600-2238

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

3.4Km    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.

Starbucks Edae R (스타벅스 이대R)

3.4Km    2024-12-27

34 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Starbucks Edae R store is the first Starbucks store opened in 1999 and Korea's first Reserve only store

Starbucks Edae R store is the first Starbucks store opened in Korea. It is located 150 meters from the front gate of Ewha Womans University. The store has been loved by customers for over two decades since 1999. In celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, the store re-opened as Korea's first Reserve-only store. It specializes in offering specialty coffee and memorable experiences to many customers visiting Korea's first Starbucks store. As the leading store presenting the history and future of Starbucks, it offers high-quality coffee in a beautifully decorated setting, along with unique beverages and exclusive merchandise available only at this particular store.

Stay Passport Sindang Ryokan (스테이 패스포트 신당 료칸)

3.4Km    2025-04-24

33 Nangye-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Stay Passport Sindang Ryokan offers a four major room types: "Goyo" and "Sohyang," designed for two who seek privacy and relaxation away from the busy city life; "Pungryu," accommodating up to four people, perfect for family guests or a group of friends; and "Pungyo,"  designed to offer utmost relaxation.  

Ewha Womans University (이화여자대학교)

3.4Km    2023-07-04

52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Ewha Womans University is Korea's first women's university founded in 1886 by American Methodist missionary Mary Scranton. Ewha Womans University is also the most famous women's university in Korea and its name originates from Ehwa Hakdang, a name given by Empress Myeongseong in 1887. Ewha Womans University created a four-year university course in 1910, and in 1943, the name of Ewha was taken away during the Japanese colonial period and downgraded to a one-year school. In October 1945, the year of Korea's independence from Japan, it regained the name of Ewha and was promoted to a university with eight departments. Currently, it consists of 15 graduate schools, 11 colleges, and 67 departments, and there are 8 affiliated research institutes.

The street in front of Ewha Womans University is famous for shopping. This place is full of clothing stores and neat food that boast a popping sensation to suit the tastes of female college students. The shopping street in front of Ewha Womans University is a straight road that lies ahead of Exits 2 and 3 of Seoul Subway Line 2. Alleyways stretch out like branches around this street and are filled with various accessory shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, restaurants, cafes, and beauty salons.

Bongwonsa Temple (봉원사)

3.4Km    2023-03-13

120, Bongwonsa-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Located on the outskirts of Ansan Mountain in Bongwon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Bongwonsa Temple, as the center of Korean Buddhism Taego, is a thousand-year-old temple with a long history and tradition. In 889 (3rd year of Shilla Queen Jinseong’s reign), Monk Doseon founded it at the ground of Yeonhui Palace (now Yonsei Univ.) and named it Banyasa temple. It was destroyed during the Imjin War in 1592, and later in 1748 (the 24th year of Joseon King Yeongjo’s reign), it was rebuilt and renamed “Bongwonsa” by two Buddhist monks, Chanjeup and Jeungam.

“Yeongsanjae,” one of the Buddhist rituals and also a National Intangible Cultural Property, takes place at Bongwonsa on June 6 every year wishing for world peace and the reunification of North and South Korea. It was designated as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009. During Yeongsanjae, visitors can enjoy the Buddhist arts such as Beompae (Buddhist temple music for rituals) and dancing. Also, during summertime, Seoul Lotus Flower Culture Festival takes place, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful lotus flowers which are a symbol of Buddhism.