Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

6.6Km    2025-06-19

4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA), the first public museum of craft art in Korea, opened its doors in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, in July 2021 after renovating five buildings of the former Pungmoon Girls’ High School. SeMoCA studies and shares not only works, but also information, records, people, and environment related to craft art with the goal of becoming a dynamic platform for experiencing the technical, practical, artistic, and cultural values of craft.
 SeMoCA holds a collection that comprises various crafts and craft materials covering multiple fields and eras from the traditional to the present. SeMoCA also holds exhibitions that feature the history of craft from traditional to contemporary art as well as local and children’s crafts, along with programs that utilize the museum’s craft installations, craft archives, craft library, and craft resource management system.
The site of the museum has deep historical roots as it is also the Andong Secondary Palace Site, where a detached palace was constructed as a royal residence for King Sejong’s son Prince Yeongeung, and served as a venue for royal celebrations, such as the wedding of King Sunjong. The site is also at the center of Jongno-gu, where Joseon-era master artisans (“gyeonggongjang”) of the royal palace produced and delivered craft works.

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

6.6Km    2019-08-01

30, Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-4696

Jirisan is one of the representative Korean restaurants in Insa-dong, an area known for its traditional culture. One of the trademarks of this restaurant, besides its amazingly delectable bean and tofu dishes, is a wooden sign that welcome guests into a neat and cozy interior.

Each day, fresh beans are ground at the restaurant to prepare dishes such as soybean paste, soft tofu, and bean-curd tofu stew. Bean-curds are prepared by using seawater, which gives the tofu a unique flavor. The fresh and clean taste of the tofu is one of the many reasons that choosey tofu aficionados flock to the restaurant.

Not just limited to tofu, Jirisan presents customers with a full-range of side dishes such as kimchi, japchae (glass noodles with sautéed vegetables), cucumber kimchi, seasoned seaweed, braised lotus roots, roasted yellow corbinas (a type of fish), leafy greens, bean-curd stew, and more. The restaurant gives visitors a chance to experience a hearty traditional Korean-style meal, but has thoughtfully toned down its seasonings to appeal to a wider audience (particularly those not used to spicy foods).

One of the recommended menu items is the Jirisan set meal, which offers diners the chance to sample foods that are popular in the Jirisan region. Adventurous diners may want to try the sea urchin soup or dried Pollack soup.

The restaurant, originally a traditional Korean house, has been modified over the years to better suit the needs of its customers. The walls surrounding the structure were removed and a glass ceiling was installed to allow guests to enjoy the natural light of the sun as they sample some of the area’s best traditional Korean cuisine.

Boan1942 (보안1942)

6.6Km    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>

CU - Sungin Dongyang Paraville Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (cu숭인파라빌점)

6.6Km    2024-06-26

1F, #104, 251, Nangye-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Jalppajin Memil Ikseon Branch (잘빠진메밀 익선)

6.6Km    2024-03-18

73 Yulgok-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-4531-1214

Jalppajin Memil is a specialty restaurant that directly kneads 100% buckwheat dough to make buckwheat noodles. They offer both bibim makguksu (spicy buckwheat noodles) and mul makguksu (buckwheat noodles). Additionally, they serve memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe), memil mandu (buckwheat mandu), and tender suyuk (boiled pork slices). They have a selection of 10 different kinds of makgeolli (unrefined rice wine) including chestnut, citrus, corn, and mulberry, allowing customers to choose according to their preference. Their famous makgeolli sampler set, which allows customers to taste five different types of makgeolli in small quantities, is popular.

Tongin Market (통인시장)

Tongin Market (통인시장)

6.6Km    2025-06-19

18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Tongin Market dates back to June 1941, as a public market set up for Japanese residents near the Hyoja-dong neighborhood when Korea was still under Japanese rule. After the Korean War, the nation experienced a swift rise in population, which led to a natural increase in consumption and demand. As a result the area’s street vendors and stores used the former Tongin Market area as their marketplace. Now, Tongin Market consists of 75 stores, most of which are restaurants and grocery stores. There are also some shops selling manufactured goods like underwear and shoes.

OH!WABA (오!바바)

OH!WABA (오!바바)

6.6Km    2021-03-19

81, Seosulla-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6083-9167

A waffle shop. The best menu at this restaurant is waffle. This is a cafe located in Jongno, Seoul.

High - Anguk Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (하이엔드코리아 안국)

6.7Km    2024-04-17

1F, 62-5, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Teafference Seoul (티퍼런스서울)

Teafference Seoul (티퍼런스서울)

6.7Km    2024-02-01

61 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Teafference Seoul is where visitors can taste purple tea made from purple tea leaves that grow naturally on the 1,800-meter plateau in Kenya. As a café and a cultural complex, it comprises a gallery tea café on the first floor where one can enjoy purple tea and art exhibitions, a beauty shop on the second floor, and a rooftop on the third floor. Exhibitions of paintings and photographs are always held using the walls and staircase landings of the spacious interior, making it a great place to relax while enjoying a cup of tea. In addition, this place has an appealing vibe, making it especially popular on social media. Not only is purple tea pretty in color, but it also has less caffeine than green tea or black tea, thus serves as a suitable option for the health-conscious. A variety of menu items are available, including Teafference Signature Purple Tea, Teafference Purple Milk Tea, and Teafference Purple Tea Einspanner. Another recommended menu item is Purple Tea-Makase, a course menu which serves several types of purple tea and desserts.

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

6.7Km    2020-04-23

34-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9969