Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (삼성미술관 리움) - Area information - Korea travel information

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (삼성미술관 리움)

5.8Km    2022-12-15

60-16, Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, exhibits traditional and modern art works by Korean and international artists. The museum itself is just as fascinating as the art works on display, since the museum's three buildings were designed by internationally renowned architects Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas.

MUSEUM 1 houses traditional Korean art, such as calligraphy, paintings, ceramic arts, and metal craftwork, while MUSEUM 2 displays modern and contemporary art by both Korean and international artists.

Olympic Park (올림픽공원)

Olympic Park (올림픽공원)

5.8Km    2023-10-19

424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Olympic Park is an impressive leisure facility in which historic remains from the Baekje era share space with modern, state-of-the-art sports stadiums, an eco-friendly forest, and spacious grass fields. The legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the park not only houses the country’s largest sports arena, but has also become a place where Seoul residents come to relax and unwind.

Spread across approximately 1.45 million square meters, Olympic Park encompasses the land that was once Mongchontoseong Fortress and Mongchonhaeja (manmade lake) from the early Baekje period. The park is divided into several zones, including a leisure sports park, a cultural art park, an eco-park, and the History Experience Park dedicated to the area’s rich historic heritage.

Because Olympic Park is so large and takes over three hours to explore, visitors are advised to familiarize themselves with entrances and exits and travel routes before they start. To further save time, visitors can ride the Road Train (“Hodori Train”) located next to Peace Square.

Banpo Hangang Park (반포한강공원)

Banpo Hangang Park (반포한강공원)

5.8Km    2025-10-23

40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

Banpo Hangang Park is located on the southern side of the river centering on Banpo Bridge (Jamsu Bridge) between Hamnam Bridge (upstream) and Dongjak Bridge (downstream). The Rainbow Fountain built on both sides of Banpo Bridge was registered in The Guinness Book of Records in 2008 as the longest bridge fountain in the world with a total length of 1,140 meters. At night, over 200 lights create a fantastic view of a beautiful rainbow.

In addition, the park is equipped with sports facilities including bubble playground, in-line skating track, soccer field, and basketball court. You may also enjoy the gorgeous view of Hangang River and skyscrapers on the riverside from Gureum and Noeul cafes, lookout places located on the southernmost part of Dongjak Bridge.

Seoraeseom Island which connects from Banpo Hangang River Park is an artificially created island to provide a leisure space for Seoul urbanites. Every spring, the place is flooded with waves of canola flowers and people to enjoy picnic and spring events like ‘Searaeseom Butterfly, Canola Flower Festival’.

Your joyful experience in the park doesn’t end here - there are more things to see and enjoy including a nature experience field, boat quay, bike lane, and picnic spots.

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon (더휴식 누베르 서울 이태원점)

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon (더휴식 누베르 서울 이태원점)

5.8Km    2025-04-08

11 Usadan-ro 14-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon aims to rediscover Seoul through creativity and inspiration. The overall design of the hotel is inspired by French avant-garde, using a variety of objects and props to create an artistic and stylish atmosphere. The hotel has Collection T room type, a twin bedroom; Collection D room type, a double bedroom; and Collection S room type, a single bedroom. On the first floor of the hotel is a guest lobby and a pasta restaurant. The hotel's parking lot is limited in space, and therefore guests are advised to use a nearby public parking lot.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (반포대교 달빛무지개분수)

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (반포대교 달빛무지개분수)

5.8Km    2025-10-23

647 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul

The Rainbow Fountain plunges 20 meters into the water on both side of Banpo Bridge over the Hangang River. When the sun goes down, 200 lights illuminate the fountain as it sends out dancing, rainbow-colored jets of water in the air in synchronization with music. The fountain boasts spectacular views from the hills, the Hangang River observation deck, and the moon-shaped Moonlight Square. Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain operates every day from April to October, four to six times a day for 20 minutes.

Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당)

5.8Km    2025-01-17

2406 Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Arts Center is the representative art complex of Korea. It is comprised of the Opera House, Concert Hall, Art Gallery, Calligraphy Museum, Art Material Hall, and an outdoor stage. You can enjoy various performances and exhibitions all in one site.

The Opera House and Concert Hall consist of a total of five performance halls offering an average of 800 performances ever year, whereas the Art Gallery and Calligraphy Museum has seven exhibition halls providing various exhibitions throughout the year. The outdoor stage also provides various genres of performances all year round.

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

5.9Km    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.

Soma Museum of Art (소마미술관)

Soma Museum of Art (소마미술관)

5.9Km    2023-04-13

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Soma Museum of Art was opened in September 2004 as a cultural space amid the nature of Seoul Olympic Park. The museum displays over 222 sculptures, and offers a variety of cultural and educational programs, including the nation's first drawing center and archive.

Olympic Park Stadium (올림픽공원 경기장)

Olympic Park Stadium (올림픽공원 경기장)

5.9Km    2021-06-11

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Olympic Park is an expansive outdoor area for Seoul residents to enjoy, offering facilities and venues for a range of events including athletic competitions, concerts and other performances. The park houses athletic facilities including the gymnasium of the ’88 Seoul Olympic Games, a fencing stadium, weightlifting stadium, swimming pool and tennis courts. Moreover, those venues are multi-purpose facilities that can host a wide range of events and performances.

Seoul Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification (서울 몽촌토성)

Seoul Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification (서울 몽촌토성)

5.9Km    2024-03-12

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification is an ancient earthen fortress built during the Hanseong period of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje (BC 18-AD 660). It is believed to have been constructed in the 3rd to 4th centuries. Utilizing the natural advantages of the Hangang River, it served defensive purposes with its trench  and log barrier. Excavated relics from the Baekje era are on display at the Seoul Baekje Museum. The site is situated within the Olympic Park in Songpa, Seoul.