Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

3.5Km 2024-12-04

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate consists of three arched gates; the center gate was used by the king, while the other two were used by the crown prince and royal officials. The tall granite walls of the gate serve as a platform for the wooden gate tower that watches over the city. The gate has a sign with its name written at the top center of the gate tower.

Gwanghwamun Gate went through several damages and restorations over the course of history. It was first severely damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and was not restored until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864. Under the Japanese administration, the gate was demolished and relocated to the north of the palace's eastern gate, followed by series of damages during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1968, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated back to the south of the palace and was rebuilt using concrete; however, the gate’s position was shifted a few meters away from its original location. In 2006, a major reconstruction project took place to restore Gwanghwamun Gate to its original state and location, disassembling the structure completely and replacing concrete with granite and wood. After three years and eight months of construction, Gwanghwamun Gate was fully restored to its original form and was open to the public on August 15, 2010.

Sangchonjae House (상촌재)

3.5Km 2024-10-21

12-11 , Jahamun-ro 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Sangchonjae House, run by the Jongno Cultural Foundation, is a traditional hanok cultural space located in Sejong Village, Ogin-dong, Jongno-gu, and operates various cultural Korean programs such as exhibitions, educational experiences, and events to fully experience Korea's four seasons. The name Sangchonjae was conceived from the old name of Sejong Village, the western part of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the birthplace of King Sejong. The house reflects the lifestyle of an ordinary peasant during the Joseon dynasty. It consists of three buildings: the main building, the guesthouse known as sarangchae, and the annex. There is an experience center indoors offering tea ceremonies and traditional game experiences.

Jeongtong Junghwayori Joaru - Myeong-dong Branch(정통중화요리조아루 명동)

3.5Km 2021-04-16

1-8, Hoehyeon-dong, 3(sam)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-779-7897

A Chinese restaurant frequented by workers in Myeong-dong. This restaurant's signature menu is noodles in black bean sauce. This Chinese (cuisine) restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

JUNG SUNG BON SHABU SUKI (정성본샤브수끼칼국수)

3.5Km 2021-03-20

23-3, Myeongdong, 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-752-4800

A good place to visit when you want to eat hot soup. This restaurant's signature menu is shabu-shabu. This shabu-shabu restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Heukdonga Myeongdong (흑돈가 명동)

3.5Km 2024-03-07

21, Myeongdong, 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3789-0080

Situated in Myeongdong, Heukdonga focuses on Jeju-style grilled black pork. Once black pork cut into thick chunks are grilled over charcoal, it is ready to be served with salted anchovies or pickled perilla leaves. The meat is grilled on a wire mesh over charcoal, which renders the fat and gives it a nice charcoal flavor. After finishing the meat, patrons have the option to soybean paste jjigae with rice or cold buckwheat noodles, which are also a must-try in Korean barbecue restaurants.

Boan1942 (보안1942)

3.5Km 2023-08-17

33 , Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Prior to becoming an art space in 2007, Tongui-dong Boan served as a place for rest for travelers from 1942 to 2005. After a short suspension, the place was renovated into a cultural space in 2017 to carry on the historical legacy and provide creative inspiration under the concept of "Boanstay."

Boan1942 is divided into a cultural space consisting of a cafe, project workshop, book shop, and exhibition area, and Boanstay on the 3rd and 4th floors that offer temporary lodging services to the cultural nomads. Located in Seochon, the center of culture, history, and convenient traffic in Seoul, Boanstay offers a splendid view of Seoul's historical and cultural assets such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheong Wa Dae, and Seochon Hanok Village.

<Credit: Boanstay>

CAFE COIN (카페코인)

3.5Km 2021-03-19

10, Myeongdong, 6-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-1667

A café featured in a popular Korean drama. This is a cafe located in Jung-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is tiramisu.

Baekje Samgyetang (백제삼계탕)

3.5Km 2024-03-11

8-10, Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-776-3267

Located in Myeongdong Street, Baekje Samgyetang is renowned for samgye tang (ginseng chicken soup). This long-standing establishment has been in business for two generations since 1971 so it has been featured on TV in Korea and other countries. In addition to samgye tang, they also serve chicken dishes such as dakdori tang (spicy braised chicken), roasted chicken, and jeonbok juk (abalone porridge), attracting numerous patrons.

Migliore - Myeongdong Branch (밀리오레 (명동점))

3.5Km 2025-02-06

115 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Migliore Shopping Mall, located in Myeong-dong, reopened in August 2024 after undergoing remodeling. It provides customers with easy access to its stores, as it is directly connected to the Myeongdong Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line 4). Myeong-dong is regarded as the shopping district for youth in their 20s. Throughout the area, signs are written in English, Chinese, and Japanese for foreign visitors. The first and the second floors function as a shopping mall, and from the 3^rd to the 17^th floor as a hotel, providing visitors with an opportunity to shop and stay under the same roof. The first floor of the mall features beauty and lifestyle stores and the second floor has clothing stores. This is a one-stop shopping destination for fashion items that will dress you from head to toe. Additionally, visitors can also shop for albums, magazines, and other goods featuring their favorite idols.

Jinsadaek (진사댁)

3.5Km 2024-03-15

30-1 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-774-9605

Jinsadaek is a traditional Korean restaurant located near Myeongdong Cathedral. It specializes in serving high-end Korean table d'hote prepared with ingredients such as beef, abalone, fish, soybean paste, blue crabs, and japchae. Additionally, they offer specialties like bori gulbi jeongsik (barley-aged dried yellow croaker set menu), ganjang gejang jeongsik (soy sauce marinated crab set menu).

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문) - Area information - Korea travel information