Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) (연등회)

506.1M 2025-04-09

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2011-1744~7

Started approximately 1,200 years ago during the Silla dynasty and continued through the Goryeo Yeon Deung Hoe and Joseon lantern festival, the Yeon Deung Hoe Festival is a traditional festival registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The lanterns at Yeon Deung Hoe Festival brighten the heart and the world!

Insa-dong (인사동)

507.8M 2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Onion Anguk Branch (어니언 안국)

508.0M 2024-02-20

5 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Onion is a café situated in a hanok dating back to the 1920s. Renovated with careful preservation of the daecheongmaru and madang, the café offers a glimpse into traditional Korean architecture. The signature menu item is the vanilla bean latte, and popular desserts include pandoro and salty butter bread. Its proximity to nearby attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace makes it a convenient stop for those exploring Seoul's major palaces.

CheongKwanJang - Jonggak Station Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (정관장 종각역)

527.8M 2024-04-22

#102, 95, Sambong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Donggwol Maru - Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (한국문화재재단 동궐마루)

527.7M 2024-10-15

99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Jjamppong Zizon Jongno (짬뽕지존 종로)

530.4M 2024-03-15

25 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-725-5161

Jjamppong Zizon is a Chinese restaurant located near Cheonggyecheon Stream. Their signature dish, zizon jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), combines fresh seafood with a spicy broth enhanced with smoky flavors. They also offer zizon jjajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles). For those craving extra heat, there are options like jiok jjamppong (extra spicy seafood noodle soup) and jiok jjajang (spicy black bean sauce noodles). Additionally, they serve chapssal tangsuyuk (deep-fried pork in sweet rice batter with sweet and sour sauce), coating pork in chewy sweet rice batter.

Matthew Chang Anguk (메튜장 안국)

534.7M 2025-07-14

33 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Matthew Chang Anguk flagship store uses the whole space to bring the brand's philosophy to life through fragrance. Located in Anguk, the heart of Korea's tradition and aesthetics, the store's tranquil atmosphere sets the mood for visitors to try on and experiment with the brand's carefully selected perfume collection. The staff provides assistance in recommending the perfect scent according to visitor's preference, mood, and nostalgia. The store also has a section dedicated to body care products, such as hand wash and body lotion.

Uyungmyeongwan Cheonggyecheon Main Store (우육면관청계천점)

546.7M 2024-04-19

75-2 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Uyungmyeongwan is a noodle restaurant specializing in uyungmyeon (beef noodle soup) located near Cheonggyecheon Stream. Its flagship dish is the uyungmyeon, which harmonizes tender meat with rich broth. In addition, they also sell freshly made sugyo (Chinese-style boiled mandu) filled with shrimp, pork, and young cabbage daily. Loved by locals and tourists alike for its clean yet flavorful broth and chewy noodles.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

556.0M 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.

Bosingak Belfry (보신각 터)

567.1M 2024-03-04

54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2133-2641

Bosingak Belfry is also known as Jonggak. It was the site in which a large bell, used to keep the time in Seoul, was found during the Joseon period (1392-1897). Bosingak Belfry was burned down during the Korean War (1950-1953) and was reconstructed in 1979. The original bell was moved to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, and a new bell was forged in 1985. At midnight, January 1, the bell at the Bosingak Belfry is rung to welcome the new year. Many people gather around the belfry to make a wish for their new year.

Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) (연등회) - Area information - Korea travel information