The Street in front of Cheongwadae (The Blue House) (청와대 앞길)

1.6Km 2020-03-21

Gungjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

The street in front of Cheongwadae (the Blue House) is open to the public and includes both Hyoja Samgeori (Hyoja three-way intersection) in Hyoja-dong and Palpan Samgeori (Palpan three-way inetersection) in Palpan-dong. When walking along Hyoja-ro Road from Gyeongbokgung Station, sights include a fountain, Mugunghwa Garden, Yeonmugwan Hall, and Daegogak & Yeongbingwan Hall.

Cheongwadae Sarangchae consists of one basement level and two above-ground levels, including Korean Culture Exhibition Hall, Planned Exhibition Hall, a gift shop, and rest area (Korean Food Promotion Hall, Café) on the first floor and Cheongwadae Hall and Haengboknuri Hall on the second floor. Daegogak Hall houses a book donated to former president, Kim Young-sam for expressing the past spirit of Sinmungo (Petitioner's drum from Korean History). Yeonmugwan Hall is a martial art and fitness center for guards. Mugunghwa Dongsan, formed after the ansa (Safe House) was demolished in 1993, includes a well, mock fortress, and rest area. Located behind Mugunghwa Dongsan is Apostolic Nunciature in Korea and Chilgung (Seven Palaces).

At the beginning of the street in front of Cheongwadae, dense trees and beautiful flower gardens decorating both sides of the road make it a nice place for taking a walk. The area from the north gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Chunchumun, to the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Geonchunmun, is Samcheongdong-gil Road. This road is home to many art galleries, including Kukje Gallery, Growrich Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, and Jin Art gallery, in the area of Hyoja-ro.

Seoul Jungbu Market (서울중부시장)

1.6Km 2022-09-13

35, Eulji-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2267-5617

At Jungbu Market, a wide assortment of dried food such as laver, seaweed, anchovies, yellow corbinas, squid, pollack, and dried filefish fillets are available at low prices. Known for both wholesale and retail sales, Jungbu Market offers goods at prices 20-30% lower than those found at other markets.

Each store only sells one or two types of seafood products, allowing for easy price comparison and top quality goods. Popular products include dried filefish fillets, laver, and Pollack. As of late, processed food has also started to make its way into the market.

Owl Museum (부엉이박물관)

1.6Km 2022-09-19

143, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3210-2902

The Owl Museum is filled with over 2,000 pieces of owl-themed arts and crafts collected from all over the world by the owner. Renovated from a house, the museum has a feel of an antique café as the owner offers a cup of coffee or tea to visitors. Located near the city, those interested in owls should stop for a view and a drink. Various stories of how the collection was gathered as well as information on owls are also interesting.

Namdaemun Market (남대문시장)

1.6Km 2024-05-17

21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-2805

Opened in 1964, Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea with shops selling various goods. All products are sold at affordable prices and the stores in this area also function as wholesale markets.

Most of the goods are made directly by the storeowners. Namdaemun Market is even open overnight, from 23:00 to 04:00, and is crowded with retailers from all over the country. When day breaks, the site of busy shoppers bustling around the market creates a unique scene that attracts tourists worldwide. Namdaemun Market sells a variety of clothes, glasses, kitchenware, toys, mountain gear, fishing equipment, stationery, fine arts, accessories, hats, carpets, flowers, ginseng, and imported goods.

Geunal Urineun (그날우리는)

1.6Km 2021-03-18

29, Daehak-ro, 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-764-4697

This is a Korean cuisine located in Daehak-ro, Seoul. The best menu at this restaurant is grilled sea eel. It sells grilled hagfish, which Koreans eat a lot for health in summer.

Queen Plaza (퀸프라자)

1.6Km 2021-06-19

29, Namdaemunsijang 6-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-775-8400

Queen Plaza offers diverse items for people of varying ages from children to seniors. Consisting of many shops, it is particularly popular among families. On the third floor, designer clothing and accessories can be found.

Namdaemun Shopping Center (남대문 종합상가)

1.6Km 2021-06-04

21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-2805

Thanks to its rich history, Namdaemun Shopping Center boasts not only an impressive array of items, but items not available elsewhere. For instance, visitors can find all kinds of hard-to-get camera parts and accessories. Local products from across the country are also readily available in Namdaemun Shopping Center.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

1.6Km 2025-07-14

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Seonggyungwan Gamjatang (성균관감자탕)

1.6Km 2021-03-19

37, Changgyeonggung-ro 29-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-762-2170

Experience gamjatang (pork back-bone stew), one of Korea’s representative stews. The best menu at this restaurant is pork back-bone hot pot. This is a Korean cuisine located in Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul.

Namdaemun Jungang Shopping Center (남대문 중앙상가)

1.6Km 2020-04-17

21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-2805

Jungang Shopping Center boasts diverse items for women. Its first floor is devoted to shops selling women's clothing and accessories with colorful designs, appealing to female customers. The second floor houses shops selling folk crafts and tradtional crafts, popular among international tourists. It also deals with bedding items, handicrafts, linen and cotton items, and tradtional wedding items.

The Street in front of Cheongwadae (The Blue House) (청와대 앞길) - Area information - Korea travel information