Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

8.7Km 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.

Kervan Turkish Restaurant (케르반레스토랑)

8.7Km 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.

MEDIPACT (메디팩트)

8.8Km 2025-10-23

2nd Floor, 9 Bongcheon-ro 31-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Medipact is a company that provides an integrated medical platform encompassing foreign patient attraction, global influencer marketing, and interpretation support services. For international patients, Medifact offers personalized one-on-one services to ensure an optimized medical experience, while leveraging its global influencer network to enhance the brand value of partner hospitals and strengthen their international competitiveness.
Furthermore, Medifact goes beyond patient-centered services by operating educational programs for foreign physicians and medical professionals, transferring Korea’s advanced medical technologies and specialized skills. Through these initiatives, Medifact contributes to spreading the excellence of Korean healthcare worldwide and serves as a vital bridge for global medical cooperation.

Seoul Bangidong Ancient Tombs (서울 방이동 고분군)

8.8Km 2022-12-29

219, Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

The ancient tombs in Bangi-dong were discovered during the land readjustment project of Jamsil-jigu District in 1975. A total of eight ancient tombs were excavated until 1976, and the site was restored into a park in 1983. The Bangi-dong area was originally a low line of hills with an altitude of 30-50 meters above sea level, but it has been made into flatland for urban development purposes. Tomb numbers 1 to 6 lie on the same hill, while tomb no. 7 and 8 are located on another hill a short distance away.

All eight tombs have circular burial mounds. The insides of the a tomb feature a square or rectangular-shaped burial chamber with earthen ground and stone walls, and a passage leading from the tomb entrance to the chamber. However, details of the burial chambers vary by tomb. Most of the tombs had been robbed before the investigation, but a few relics such as plates and pots have been excavated. At the time of excavation, the relics were presumed to have come from the Baekje dynasty (18 BC-660 AD), but it is now estimated that they date back to the Unified Silla Period (676-935 AD).

Itaewon Shopping Street (이태원 쇼핑거리)

8.8Km 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.

Exprive (주식회사 엑스프리베)

8.9Km 2025-10-23

#705, 38 Ttukseom-ro 13-gil (Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Sangsang Planet), Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Exprive Medical is a certified international patient attraction agency that safely connects overseas patients with Korea’s high-quality medical services. Our main services include discovering and consulting with international patients, coordinating customized hospital connections, and providing interpretation and convenience support. Through personalized services tailored to each patient, we contribute to enhancing the value of Korea’s medical tourism.

Daelim Changgo Gallery (성수동 대림창고 갤러리)

8.9Km 2025-03-18

78 Seongsui-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Daelim Changgo Gallery, which is a landmark in Seongsu-dong, is a red-brick building that was once used as a rice mill in the 1970s. It is now a cafe and art gellery that preserves as much of the original rice mill atmosphere as possible so it exudes fascinatingly vintage vibes, widely loved by young couples.

Musinsa Standard Seongsu (무신사 스탠다드 성수)

9.0Km 2025-11-06

83 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Located near Seongsu-dong Café Street, this is the physical store of the online editorial shop MUSINSA. The store offers affordable, high-quality clothing aimed at young adults in their 20s, with neutral colors and minimalist designs popular among Koreans. It’s also a favorite indoor date spot for couples, providing a quick overview of the latest fashion trends.

Lindapick [Korea Quality] / 린다픽 [한국관광 품질인증]

9.0Km 2024-10-30

26-5, Itaewon-ro 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Lindapick is a guesthouse located a five-minute walk from Itaewon Station (line 6). The host of this new guesthouse, open in May 2021, prioritizes cleanliness by washing bedding and disinfect the whole place every time a guest leaves. The CCTVs that are installed outside and at the shared inner space are operated around the clock, strengthening the security. The light-lemon-color exterior walls of the accommodation and the muted-colored rooms are in harmony, forming a fresh and calm atmosphere. The room that can accommodate two persons shows how the host is considerate. A 100% natural aroma diffuser emits peppermint scent that makes guest unwind, and the lavender scent lets guests sleep tight. The kitchen with a refrigerator and a microwave oven is where you can cook a simple dishes, and the air purifier and the washing machine let you enjoy a fresher rest. From the entrance to the room, there is a garden that is decorated as an outdoor terrace, where you can have a leisurely time sunning yourself.

Ongeundal (옹근달)

9.0Km 2025-10-29

41-1, Seongsui-ro 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

This bakery in Seongsu-dong boasts a colorful and unique visual, and is gaining popularity for its “cruffin,” a hybrid of a croissant and muffin. The menu includes a variety of breads and desserts, such as canelé, pound cake, crumble, and mille-feuille, making it a paradise for bread-lovers. The courtyard of the building, which was remodeled from an old factory, has thick bushes and a small square pond, offering a unique view. The floor-to-ceiling windows in this two-story building create the feeling of a wide, open space, making it full of photo opportunities.

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구) - Area information - Korea travel information