Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) - Area information - Korea travel information

Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁)

Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁)

6.3Km    2025-06-25

99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Registered as a Historic Site, Deoksugung Palace was initially not a royal palace, but the residential home of Grand Prince Wolsan (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon dynasty. It wasn't until 1593 that the palace was used as a temporary palace of the royal family after their home was burned down during the Imjin War. King Seonjo also stayed at Deoksugung Palace after returning to the city. It became a proper palace when Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a temporary residence. The name did not change officially to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace once encompassed a vast area with many buildings, the current palace grounds are just a small shadow of the prior splendor, with very few structures remaining.

Sungnyemun Imported Goods Shopping Center (숭례문(남대문) 수입상가)

Sungnyemun Imported Goods Shopping Center (숭례문(남대문) 수입상가)

6.3Km    2023-06-13

21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-779-2951

Sungnyemun Imported Goods Shopping Center consists of two underground floors within the Daehan Hwaje Building (B3F-22F). The building is easy to locate among the low buildings of Namdaemun Market. In addtion to many items, the shopping center is particularly known for its cameras and audio equipment. Main items also include trekking items, household items, electronics, and fishing gear.

Chebudong Janchijip Dwaejigalbi (체부동잔치집돼지갈비)

6.3Km    2024-03-18

24 Jahamun-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-3555

Chebudong Janchijip Dwaejigalbi is a restaurant where marinated pork galbi are grilled over charcoal fire. It offers various side dishes along with rich soybean paste jjigae. Enjoying cold buckwheat noodles with the tender marinated pork galbi, which are well-aged, is also recommended. Additionally, there are individual menu items such as dubu jeongol (bean curd hot pot), hoe naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles with raw fish), bibimbap, and gamjajeon (potato pancake).

Seoul Hanok Stay (JNP Stay) (서울한옥스테이(jnpstay))

Seoul Hanok Stay (JNP Stay) (서울한옥스테이(jnpstay))

6.3Km    2024-10-30

7-28 , Jahamun-ro 1na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-5720-6800

Seoul Hanok Stay (JNP Stay) is a private hanok stay located 3 minutes' walking distance from Gyeongbokgung Station. You can play traditional Korean games such as jejichagi (hacky sack), yut nori (board game), and tuho (arrow-throwing) in the yard, and cooking barbecue adds to the charm of the hanok. From the yard, you can enjoy the sky view, feel the gentle breeze, and observe raindrops falling from the eaves.

Bvlgari [Tax Refund Shop] (불가리안경)

6.3Km    2024-06-27

Store #3, 3, Sowol-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Daeo Bookstore (대오서점)

Daeo Bookstore (대오서점)

6.3Km    2024-10-14

55 Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Daeo Bookstore is the oldest bookstore in Seoul that has been maintained in one place since it opened in 1951. Recently, it has been refurbished as a cultural space with a cafe, where one can enjoy coffee, exhibitions, and performances while looking at the yard. Visitors who just want to browse can purchase a souvenir postcard set for admission. Taking a closer look at books that feel the years and objects that have traces of use, they appear to come rather new.

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

6.3Km    2022-08-11

15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.

Regal Optical [Tax Refund Shop] (리갈안경)

6.3Km    2024-04-19

Store #123, Section Ra-3 of Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center, 2, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Amorepacific Museum of Art (아모레퍼시픽미술관)

Amorepacific Museum of Art (아모레퍼시픽미술관)

6.3Km    2024-12-31

100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Amorepacific Museum of Art, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was originally a museum exhibiting artworks collected by the late Seo Seong-hwan, the founder of Amorepacific, but later changed its name to Amorepacific Museum of Art, or APMA, in 2009 and has since been operating as an art exhibition hall. The mission upon its foundation was seeking to be "a space where beauty in the midst of daily lives is discovered" and communicating with the public. In accordance with this objective, the museum collects, researches, and exhibits Korean ancient art and both Korean and international contemporary art while, also, aiding researchers, scholars, and young artists. The underground exhibition hall hosts diverse exhibits encompassing ancient art, contemporary art, and Korean art. The 1st floor of the "Atrium," an enormous space that continues from the 1st to 3rd floors, features the museum lobby, a museum shop, an exhibition space called "APMA Cabinet" and apLAP, which is a library of art exhibition brochures from around the world. The art museum is located on the 1st floor of the new Amorepacific headquarters building, a famous work of architectural beauty of Yongsan designed after white porcelain.

Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)

Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)

6.4Km    2025-06-18

161 Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Botanical Garden was created in Magok, the last remaining development site in Seoul, to introduce native plants and horticulture of 12 different cities from around the world and raise ecological awareness in the city. Seoul Botanic Park integrates a botanical garden and a public park, and the area is the size of 70 soccer fields. It serves as a bridgehead and lifelong education institution with the aim of spreading urban garden culture while staying true to its original role as a plant research conservation institution through expanding endangered wild plant habitats, researching the proliferation of species, and developing varieties. The botanical garden is divided into four spaces: Open Forest, Themed Garden, Lake Garden, and Wetland Garden. The main highlight is the Themed Garden that comprises the Botanic Center, Mogok Cultural Hall, and an outdoor themed garden.