Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

4.0Km 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.

Dubai (두바이레스토랑)

4.0Km 2017-07-18

192, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
82-2-798-9277

Dubai Restaurant in Itaewon offers authentic Arabian cuisine as well as shisha (water pipe smoking). Located in the middle of Itaewon, it’s popular among both Koreans and foreigners.

Joy Jewelry (조이 쥬얼리)

4.0Km 2020-04-24

152-1, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-796-3548

Used as ornaments throughout Korean history, amethyst, morion, and jade symbolize patience, elegance, and gentleness. Joy Jewelry offers its own products with distinctive Korean styles. Its highly functional and artistic items with colorful designs will no doubt satisfy customers looking for unique jewelry.

Converse [Tax Refund Shop] (컨버스)

4.0Km 2024-04-19

142, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

-

Ewha Womans University Museum (이화여자대학교박물관)

4.0Km 2022-09-14

52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3277-3152

The Ewha Womans University Museum was established in 1935 with the goal of preserving the cultural heritage of Korea. Originally, items related to folk art, traditional woodwork, and pottery were put on display in the hall of the main university to keep them from being confiscated during the Japanese occupation. This later led to the opening of the museum to display and store the growing collection.

Regular exhibitions of the museum’s collection have been taking place annually from 1972. Since 1996, the museum also held special exhibitions that focus on other themes related to cultural heritage. Additional small-scale exhibitions are also held frequently to promote Korea's traditional culture and art.

A ceramics research facility as well as a more traditional museum, a large portion of the museum’s efforts is focused on the research and excavation of kilns. To this aim, excavation teams from the museum have traveled to various parts of the country to conduct studies on historic sites and assess the value of artifacts. Through the publication of books and reports on its discoveries, the museum has contributed to raising knowledge and awareness of Korean cultural heritage in academia and among the public.

Ewha Welcome Center (이화웰컴센터)

4.0Km 2022-09-13

52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3277-3277

Ewha Welcome Center opened in 2013 as the first promotional center and visitor center of its kind on a university campus in Korea, comprised of an information desk, exhibition lounge, and gift shop. The information desk offers useful information to help visitors get the most out of their Ewha campus experience. The exhibition lounge introduces the history, traditions, and vision of the present-day and future of the university year-round. Visitors can purchase university gear at the gift shop. Furthermore, foreign visitors can take part in a range of campus tour programs in English and Chinese for an enriching experience.

Eyedentity - Anam Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (아이덴티티 안암)

4.0Km 2024-04-18

1F, 92-1, Goryeodae-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

-

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon (더휴식 누베르 서울 이태원점)

4.0Km 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.

Mosim (모심)

4.0Km 2025-05-20

8 Gaeunsa-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Mosim is a Korean table d’hote restaurant that offers a variety of menus to choose from depending on the kind of dishes and the number of side dishes. The set menu, which includes main dishes, such as hwangtae gui (grilled dried pollack) and galbitang (galbi soup), and side dishes, such as salad, japchae, and seasoned vegetables, is plentiful in amount and variety enough to fill the table. There are menu items that can be enjoyed individually, such as samgyetang, bibimbap, and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup). The restaurant’s menu comprises nutritious dishes that soothe one's tired mind and body. The restaurant has private rooms that can accommodate 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 30 people, so it is a good option for guests seeking a quiet meal with the family or group gatherings.

Itaewon Shopping Street (이태원 쇼핑거리)

4.0Km 2025-03-29

Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-797-7319

Itaewon Shopping Street is a 1.4-kilometer-long road located near Itaewon Station. There is an enormous variety of shops, entertainment venues, and restaurants lined along both sides of the street. As the neighborhood has a reputation as a mini melting pot in Seoul where languages other than Korean are widely spoken, it is one of the most visited places by international visitors. It has become a gateway for many international visitors to receive services and information on basic tourist needs such as accommodations, shopping, tourist attractions, and more.

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구) - Area information - Korea travel information