Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong, Da-dong and Mugyo-dong Special Tourist Zone (명동 남대문 북창동 다동무교동 관광특구)
792.4M 2021-12-30
40, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3396-4622
Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong and Da-dong are widely known among international visitors as hot spots for shopping and food.
Myeong-dong is a popular destination for shopping, culture, arts and fashion. Major shopping malls such as Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Myeong-dong Migliore and Samik Fashion Town are located here. Shoppers can find a variety of products here from high-end items to relatively inexpensive clothes. There’s also no shortage of street food, traditional restaurants, coffee shops and fancy cafes.
Namdaemun Market is the biggest traditional market in Korea. Visitors can purchase souvenirs and local produce at an affordable price in the shopping complex crowded with stores and street stalls. The market sells a variety of clothes, kitchenware, toys, accessories, food, flowers and imported goods.
Bukchang-dong and Sogong-dong have high-end accommodations including Lotte Hotel Seoul and Westin Chosun Seoul, duty-free shops, and restaurants serving traditional dishes.
[Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong Special Tourist Zone]
Areas included: Myeong-dong, Bukchang-dong, Mugyo-dong and Da-dong, Seoul
Area size: 872,809 ㎡
Tourist attractions: Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong, Department Stores (Lotte Department and Shinsegae Department Store, etc.), Traditional Market, Duty-free Shop, Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower, etc.
Baekbeom Kim Koo Statue (Baekbeom Plaza) (백범김구선생상(백범 광장))
796.1M 2024-10-22
Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Baekbeom Kim Koo Statue is located in Baekbeom Plaza in Namsan Park, Seoul. Erected in August 1969, the statue stands at a x_height of 10 meters. It commemorates the patriotic spirit of Kim Koo, who was both an independence activist and a politician in South Korea. During the Japanese colonial period, he actively participated in anti-Japanese movements, and after liberation, he played a leading role in the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea.
Jingogae (진고개)
806.5M 2024-03-12
19-1 Chungmu-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2267-0955
Jingogae is a standing store that opened its doors in 1963. Its signature dish is the eobok jaengban (boiled meat slices hot pot), where thick slices of meat are stacked along with vegetables, mandu, rice cakes, and eggs, all boiled together. In addition to this, they also serve dishes such as gejang jeongsik (marinated crab set menu), gopchang jeongol (small intestine hot pot), galbitang (galbi soup), and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup). The spicy and richly seasoned yangnyeom gejang (spicy marinated crab) is also a popular menu item, which when paired with rice, enhances its flavors even further.
Bugeogukjip (북어국집)
814.9M 2024-12-27
38, Eulji-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-777-3891
Bugeogukjip (formerly “Teojutgol”) is a restaurant behind City Hall in Seoul that has been serving up authentic dried Pollack soup since 1968. Despite a name change, the restaurant has proudly stood in this same location for decades, earning a strong reputation for its dried Pollack soup made using traditional cooking methods.
Since the restaurant only serves one thing—dried Pollack soup—there are few preparations to be made and the meal arrives on your table in minutes. Customers are free to serve themselves basic side dishes such as kimchi and can have as many servings of rice as they’d like, allowing diners to enjoy a hearty meal at a low price. While the restaurant’s design and menu may be simple, Bugeogukjip takes pride in its long history and the careful efforts that have earned it a reputation as one of the most notable restaurants in Seoul.
Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)
823.0M 2025-07-11
99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444
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.
Libuk Sonmandu (리북손만두)
827.5M 2019-08-28
17-13, Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-776-7361
Libuk Sonmandu restaurant is located deep in the alleys behind Seoul City Hall in the Mugyo-dong area. It is famous for kimchimari bap and sonmandu (handmade dumplings). Kimchimaribap is rice in a soup of kimchi and ice cubes with various added flavorings that originated in North Korea. This is a refreshing dish for summer. Other items on the menu are bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and mandu jeongol (dumpling hot pot).
Uyungmyeongwan Cheonggyecheon Main Store (우육면관청계천점)
835.0M 2024-04-19
75-2 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Uyungmyeongwan is a noodle restaurant specializing in uyungmyeon (beef noodle soup) located near Cheonggyecheon Stream. Its flagship dish is the uyungmyeon, which harmonizes tender meat with rich broth. In addition, they also sell freshly made sugyo (Chinese-style boiled mandu) filled with shrimp, pork, and young cabbage daily. Loved by locals and tourists alike for its clean yet flavorful broth and chewy noodles.
Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)
835.7M 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.
Namsangol Hangawi Festival Samsamorak (남산골 한가위축제 삼삼오락)
835.8M 2024-10-02
28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6358-5533
Namsangol Hangawi Festival Samsamorak is a traditional culture event that takes place every year during the Chuseok holiday period. Through the festival, visitors of all ages and nationalities can enjoy various culture programs for free at Namsangol Hanok Village in the heart of Seoul.
World Pansori Festival (월드판소리페스티벌)
835.8M 2025-07-30
28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-904-2835
World Pansori Festival is an international music festival that aims to promote pansori, the traditional Korean epic chant, and its values. The festival consists of a variety of performances and concert programs based on its yearly theme. In addition, the festival also has interactive activities for the attendees, such as a free pansori lesson and arts-and-crafts, to make pansori and traditional Korean music more accessible to the public.
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