Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁) - Area information - Korea travel information

Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁)

1.6Km    2024-07-09

45 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-724-0274

Gyeonghuigung Palace, a designated Historic Site, was originally called the large palace by Saemun Gate, or the Western Palace, for its location within the city. It was not until the eighth year of Gwanghaegun (1616) that the palace was used as a royal residence for the king, changing the name to Gyeongdeokgung Palace. The name later changed again to the current Gyeonghuigung Palace in 1760. The palace grounds included many halls but they were mostly all burned down in a fire in 1829. After the Japanese occupation began, all remaining buildings on the site were torn down and the palace grounds were turned into Gyeongseong Middle School (now Seoul High School). The school moved to Gangnam area in 1987, afterwhich the previous location was turned into a park. The palace grounds currently hold Seoul Museum of Art and walking paths, as well as a restoration of Heunghwamun Gate, the main gate of the palace, and Sungjeongjeon Hall, the main hall, completed in November 1994.

Cheongwadae Sarangchae (청와대사랑채)

Cheongwadae Sarangchae (청와대사랑채)

1.6Km    2025-07-18

45 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-0300

Cheongwadae Sarangchae is an “open cultural space” for everyone. Throughout the facility, travel library-themed spaces and tourism-related exhibitions are set up providing distinctive experiences for visitors interested in learning more about Korea. By exploring Cheongwadae Sarangchae and its surroundings, visitors can expand their discovery and get a deeper insight as they travel Korea. Cheongwadae Sarangchae consists of exhbition halls on the first and second floors, with convenient amenities such as a nursing room, storage lockers, accessible restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe.

Jinju Hoegwan (진주회관)

1.6Km    2024-06-19

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).

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

1.6Km    2024-06-19

2-1 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong-gil Road is one of Seoul's most famous walking paths, stretching from the intersection in front of Jeongdong Church to Saemunan-gil Road. The street holds importance in Korea's modern history, with the surroundings serving as a living museum of this. During the Joseon dynasty, the area developed into a residental space for distant members of the royal family, with a palace and royal tombs in the area. In 1999, the pedestrian walking area was expanded by turning the two-way road into a one-way road. Since then, the road has earned many awards and honors.

Samick Fashion Town (삼익패션타운)

Samick Fashion Town (삼익패션타운)

1.6Km    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.

Owl Museum (부엉이박물관)

Owl Museum (부엉이박물관)

1.6Km    2022-09-19

143, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3210-2902

The Owl Museum is filled with over 2,000 pieces of owl-themed arts and crafts collected from all over the world by the owner. Renovated from a house, the museum has a feel of an antique café as the owner offers a cup of coffee or tea to visitors. Located near the city, those interested in owls should stop for a view and a drink. Various stories of how the collection was gathered as well as information on owls are also interesting.

The Street in front of Cheongwadae (The Blue House) (청와대 앞길)

The Street in front of Cheongwadae (The Blue House) (청와대 앞길)

1.6Km    2020-03-21

Gungjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

The street in front of Cheongwadae (the Blue House) is open to the public and includes both Hyoja Samgeori (Hyoja three-way intersection) in Hyoja-dong and Palpan Samgeori (Palpan three-way inetersection) in Palpan-dong. When walking along Hyoja-ro Road from Gyeongbokgung Station, sights include a fountain, Mugunghwa Garden, Yeonmugwan Hall, and Daegogak & Yeongbingwan Hall.

Cheongwadae Sarangchae consists of one basement level and two above-ground levels, including Korean Culture Exhibition Hall, Planned Exhibition Hall, a gift shop, and rest area (Korean Food Promotion Hall, Café) on the first floor and Cheongwadae Hall and Haengboknuri Hall on the second floor. Daegogak Hall houses a book donated to former president, Kim Young-sam for expressing the past spirit of Sinmungo (Petitioner's drum from Korean History). Yeonmugwan Hall is a martial art and fitness center for guards. Mugunghwa Dongsan, formed after the ansa (Safe House) was demolished in 1993, includes a well, mock fortress, and rest area. Located behind Mugunghwa Dongsan is Apostolic Nunciature in Korea and Chilgung (Seven Palaces).

At the beginning of the street in front of Cheongwadae, dense trees and beautiful flower gardens decorating both sides of the road make it a nice place for taking a walk. The area from the north gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Chunchumun, to the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Geonchunmun, is Samcheongdong-gil Road. This road is home to many art galleries, including Kukje Gallery, Growrich Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, and Jin Art gallery, in the area of Hyoja-ro.

Daenamu Wine Samgyeopsal (대나무와인삼겹살)

Daenamu Wine Samgyeopsal (대나무와인삼겹살)

1.6Km    2021-03-18

29, Toegye-ro, 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-7271

It sells pork belly aged with wine. The most famous menu is wine marinated grilled pork belly. A barbecue specialty restaurant located in Myeong-dong, Seoul.