Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley (서울 동대문 닭한마리 골목) - Area information - Korea travel information

Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley (서울 동대문 닭한마리 골목)

Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley (서울 동대문 닭한마리 골목)

17.8Km    2024-03-04

37-7, Jongno 5(o)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Located near the Dongdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley gets its name from the restaurants serving dak hanmari (whole chicken soup) that line the alley. Dak hanmari (whole chicken soup), literally “one whole chicken” in Korean, is a dish where a whole chicken is boiled in a soup and served with the alley’s special sauce. After the diners eat the meat, the broth is used to make kalguksu (noodle soup). Because the area is home to large-scale apparel and fashion material markets of the Dongdaemun Market, the district is always lively and bustling.

Dongdaemun Stationery Store Street (동대문 문구완구거리)

Dongdaemun Stationery Store Street (동대문 문구완구거리)

17.8Km    2024-03-15

21-1, Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Dongdaemun Stationery Store Street houses nearly 120 stores selling stationery products like notebooks, crayons, pencils, backpacks, as well as other products like children’s gifts, decorations, and party products. Products can be found at prices nearly 30 to 40% lower than the consumer products, which can be lowered even further when buying in bulk. Products past the season may see the prices drop by more than half.

Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문)

Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문)

17.8Km    2025-01-13

99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Located near City Hall station, Daehanmun Gate is the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, one of the princiapl five palaces of Joseon dynasty. The name "Daehan" means wish for eternal prosperity of the Korean Empire. In front of the gate, the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is held twice daily, along with the reproduction of costumes and style throughout the year.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

17.8Km    2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
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Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Seungjin Toy (승진완구)

Seungjin Toy (승진완구)

17.8Km    2025-01-06

30, Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seungjin Toy is a toy store that carries almost every kind of toy imaginable from stuffed animals to character dolls and much more. What makes this store even more attractive to many customers is that their merchandise is, on average, 30% cheaper than that of their competitors.

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex·Dongdaemun Shopping Town (동대문 종합시장·동대문 쇼핑타운)

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex·Dongdaemun Shopping Town (동대문 종합시장·동대문 쇼핑타운)

17.8Km    2025-06-30

266 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex is one of Korea’s most well-known markets. It was founded in December 1970 as the largest of its kind in Asia and has maintained that status for the last 40 years. Browsing the plethora of shops, you can find fabric and clothing following all the latest global fashion trends. Dongdaemun Shopping Complex continues to build up its reputation as a hub of international design.

Gocheok Sky Dome (고척 스카이돔)

Gocheok Sky Dome (고척 스카이돔)

17.8Km    2023-09-05

430 , Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul

Gocheok Sky Some is the first dome-type baseball stadium to be built in Korea. Since its establishment in 2015, the stadium has been used as a venue for diverse events, including baseball games, athletic sports, performances, concerts, and more. The stadium consists of two basement floors and four above-ground floors with 16,783 seats. Gocheok Sky Dome serves as a cultural facility for the public that can host events regardless of season and weather. A baseball-themed street is connected to the dome for baseball fans. Several other sports-related facilities and retailers are also available. 

Seoul Plaza (서울광장)

17.8Km    2024-06-19

110 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans gathered together to watch the 2002 World Cup Games. Being located within the center of the city and surrounded by many historic attractions, including Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza has become a representative attraction of Seoul.

Sewoon Plaza (세운상가)

17.8Km    2025-12-16

159 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Makercity Sewoon is Korea's first comprehensive electronics market, established in 1968 and has a 40-year history. As a mecca in the urban electronics industry area located in Jongno, the center of Seoul, you can purchase various electronic products here.
Since 2014, Seoul's urban regeneration project has been underway, and a pedestrian overpass, rooftop observatory, plaza, and Makers Cube, where you can experience the 4th industrial revolution, have been created to provide unique attractions.

◎ Travel Information to Discover Hallyu’s Charm - K-Drama "Vincenzo (2021)"
"Vincenzo" depicts the story of Vincenzo (Song Joong-ki), an Italian mafia lawyer who teams up with the tenants of “Geumga Plaza” to protect a hidden stash of gold in the building from a powerful force. The building appearing as “Geumga Plaza” in the drama is none other than Seoul's Sewoon Plaza. Its retro-style aesthetic adds a unique ambience to the show and makes its scenes even more memorable.

Heunginjimun Gate - Dongdaemun Gate (흥인지문)

Heunginjimun Gate - Dongdaemun Gate (흥인지문)

17.8Km    2025-10-23

288, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed essential government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year in 1396, remodeled during the reign of King Danjong in 1453, and was newly built in 1869 during the sixth year of King Gojong’s reign in 1869.

The gate features a hipped roof with five front and two side compartments on a two-storied building. The thin and weak bracket system supports the eaves and is excessively decorated, reflecting the construction features of the late Joseon period. Also, outside of the fortress is the half-circle-shaped Ongseong, a small wall, to protect the gate.

One of the unique factors of Heunginjimun Gate is that it is the only gate among Seoul’s eight to have Ongseong, further exhibiting the style of construction used during the late Joseon period.