ARKO Art Center (아르코미술관) - Area information - Korea travel information

ARKO Art Center (아르코미술관)

ARKO Art Center (아르코미술관)

1.8Km    2025-06-05

3, Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-760-4850

ARKO Art Center was founded in 1974 as Misulhoegwan in a building of former Deoksu Hospital in Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu to offer much-needed exhibition space for artists and arts groups. In 1979, Misulhoegwan moved to its present building, designed by preeminent Korean architect Kim Swoo-geun (1931-1986) and located in Marronnier Park, the former site of Seoul National University. The two neighboring brick buildings accommodating ARKO Art Center and ARKO Arts Theater are the major landmarks of the district of Daehakro.
As more public and private museums and commercial galleries came into the art scene in the 1990s, Misulhoegwan shifted to curating and presenting its own exhibitions. Renamed as Marronnier Art Center in 2002, ARKO Art Center assumed a full-fledged art museum system and played an increasingly prominent role as a public arts organization leading the contemporary art paradigm. When The Korea Culture and Arts Foundation was reborn as Arts Council Korea, Marronnier Art Center became ARKO Art Center named after the abbreviation for Arts Council Korea in 2005.
ARKO Art Center is committed to working as a platform where research, production, exhibitions and the exchange of creative activities grow and develop in connection with one another in addition to having a diversity of programs including thematic exhibitions addressing social agenda and public programs widely promoting various discourses in art.


Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산)

Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산)

1.8Km    2024-03-04

San 2-1, Muak-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-2834

Inwangsan Mountain is a rocky mountain located to the northwestern side of Seoul. It stands 338m tall.  The Seoul City Wall is built along its ridge, connecting to the Baegak Mountain Trail. From the summit, one can see the three mountains of Naksan Mountain, Namsan Mountain, and the Bugaksan Mountain surrounding the historical center of Hanyang, the historical name for Seoul in Joseon period, with the Gyeongbokgung Palace at the center. There are five hiking trails, all taking about two hours to complete. It takes about three hours if you want to visit all the peaks of the mountain.

World Pansori Festival (월드판소리페스티벌)

World Pansori Festival (월드판소리페스티벌)

1.8Km    2025-07-30

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-904-2835

World Pansori Festival is an international music festival that aims to promote pansori, the traditional Korean epic chant, and its values. The festival consists of a variety of performances and concert programs based on its yearly theme. In addition, the festival also has interactive activities for the attendees, such as a free pansori lesson and arts-and-crafts, to make pansori and traditional Korean music more accessible to the public.

Korea House (한국의집)

Korea House (한국의집)

1.8Km    2025-10-23

10, Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building.

It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese.

In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.

Beautiful Life(뷰티풀 라이프)

1.8Km    2025-09-12

서울특별시 종로구 이화장길 26 (이화동)

A Really Bad Girl(진짜 나쁜소녀)

1.8Km    2025-05-21

서울특별시 종로구 이화장길 26 (이화동)

Inside Me(인사이드 미)

1.8Km    2025-09-12

서울특별시 종로구 이화장길 26 (이화동)

Sunny Ten (써니텐)

1.8Km    2025-12-04

서울특별시 종로구 이화장길 26 (이화동)

Marronnier Park (마로니에공원)

Marronnier Park (마로니에공원)

1.8Km    2021-07-14

104, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-4158

Marronnier Park was given its name due to the marronnier trees, or horse chestnut trees, growing within the area. The location where Seoul National University's College of Liberal Arts & Science and School of Law once stood, it is now a park dedicated to culture and arts open to the public. In addition to a variety of outdoor performances that take place throughout the area, exhibitions and cultural centers create a romantic atmosphere unique to the park.

D. Festa: Daehakro Street Performance Festival (대학로 거리공연축제)

D. Festa: Daehakro Street Performance Festival (대학로 거리공연축제)

1.8Km    2025-06-16

1, Daehak-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-741-4188

Started in 2015, Daehakro Street Performance Festival provides various performances including plays, dances, mimes and more. The festival aims to provide hope and changes in daily life through diverse performances.