Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

8.6Km 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.

GRANDHAND. Gahoe (그랑핸드 가회점)

8.6Km 2025-12-04

61 Bukchon-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Launched in 2014 at a small hanok in Bukchon Hanok Village, this Korean perfume brand now has nine stores around Seoul. With no advertisements or online sales, GRANDHAND has preserved its roots for years. GRANDHAND. Gahoe located amidst the beautiful surroundings of Bukchon Hanok Village and various art museums has customers of all ages and nationalities.

Tutorial (튜토리얼)

8.6Km 2025-10-30

39-15, Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Singer Zion.T
The tutorial run by singer Zion.T and his father gives a comfortable first impression with white interior and spacious seats. The signature menu, 'Crumpled Paper Cake', is topped with non-smooth white icing and, as the name suggests, looks like crumpled paper. Chocolate sauce is provided here, so customers can write their own pictures or letters. Even if you're not good at it, you can make your own cake, so it's really fun. His dog ‘Haemeogi’ resting in the store as if indifferent is another specialty.

Korea Furniture Museum (한국가구박물관)

8.6Km 2025-10-24

121 Daesagwan-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

The Korea Furniture Museum, located on a hill in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, is a special museum that displays items related to Korea's traditional living culture. The museum exhibits wooden furniture made in the late Joseon dynasty by material (persimmon tree, maple tree, paulownia tree, zelkova tree, pine tree, papers, etc.), by the type of space (men’s quarters, women’s quarters, kitchen, etc.), and by regional characteristics. It also exhibits interior decorations, flower walls, chimneys, and yards, as well as ten traditional Korean houses.
This museum operates through a guided tour (maximum of 20 people per group) only, suitable for showing Korea's housing culture that harmonizes furniture and nature. The old household items, “furniture,” are displayed in rooms outside glass storage boxes, allowing visitors to experience a beautiful traditional culture.
Since it was selected as the official luncheon venue for the spouses of leaders of 20 countries at the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit, there has been a steady stream of state guests and worldwide celebrities, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, the German President, the Prime Minister of Hungary, the Prime Minister of Singapore, the King and Queen of Belgium, the King of Sweden, the head of the IMF, and movie stars Brad Pitt, and Victoria Beckham.

In addition, it was selected as the "most beautiful museum in Seoul” by CNN in 2011. The museum also served as an interview location for BTS members, who are receiving global attention. As such, it is attracting attention as a representative tourist destination in Seoul and a cultural space preferred by government ministries and companies. Tours require reservations, which can be made through the website.

Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (강북삼성병원)

8.6Km 2025-10-23

29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Established in 1968, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital has over 50 years of history and is taking a new leap forward with a vision for its centennial year.
Through partnerships with renowned institutions, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States and the BBDC in Canada, the hospital delivers advanced medical services while leading the public health arena. It is also committed to systematic research and the development of ICT-integrated digital healthcare, which will be the foundation for future medicine. With an excellent infrastructure that includes clinics and specialized centers (e.g., the Diabetes Center, Breast and Thyroid Cancer Center, Digestive Cancer Center, Musculoskeletal Disease Center, and Prostate Center), Kangbuk Samsung Hospital provides top-quality medical services focused on providing patients with satisfactory treatments.

Korean National Police Heritage Museum (경찰박물관)

8.6Km 2021-12-21

41, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3150-3681

The police museum opened on October 14, 2005 to give a better understanding of the job of the police and to offer a formal education to children who wish to become police officers in the future. The history hall of the museum is designed for visitors to learn about the history of Korean police at a glance, exhibiting information on the police force from the Joseon dynasty up until current times.

Visitors to the museum can pretend to be police officers by touching actual equipment and learning about an officer's daily tasks. Visitors can also get in patrol cars, wear a police uniform, experience shooting a gun through a simulation, and learn self-defense martial arts and arrest techniques. Visitors can also go to the museum jail.

Gwanghwamun Hanokjip (광화문한옥집)

8.6Km 2024-10-15

7, Saemunanro5ga-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul
+82-2-731-2500

A store with rooms reproducing a traditional kitchen. The best menu at this restaurant is napa wraps with pork. This is a Korean cuisine located in Gwanghwamun Gate, Seoul.

Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

8.6Km 2025-01-17

55 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seoul Museum of History covers everything about Seoul's history and culture from the prehistoric era to modern times, focusing especially on the Joseon era. The museum aims to raise cultural awareness and build a strong bond within the community by collecting, preserving, researching, and displaying artifacts and materials related to Seoul as well as promoting the city's history and culture to an international audience.

World Jewellery Museum (세계장신구박물관)

8.6Km 2023-09-21

2, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-1610

Situated in the gallery district in the back alley of Samcheong-dong (east of Gyeongbokgung Palace), the World Jewellery Museum houses 3,000 jewelry pieces from 60 countries, which have been collected over 30 years. Of which, 1,000 have been selected for display. The first floor contains an Amber Wall that goes back as far as 50 million years, the Golden Hall (El Dorado), the Necklace Hall, and the solemn Alter of the Cross. The second floor holds a mask wall, rings, beads and ivory as well as modern jewelry.

Bumin Hospital Seoul (서울부민병원)

8.6Km 2025-10-23

1st Floor, International Healthcare Center, 389 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul

Seoul Bumin Hospital, a 300-bed general hospital that opened in April 2011, is a leader in medical culture with its exceptional medical staff, diagnostic equipment, and eco-friendly hospital practices. In particular, the Spine and Joint Center's medical staff, with their huge experience and expertise, provide Korea's highest level of medical services, including 3D navigation-assisted knee and hip surgery, stem cell therapy, robotic joint replacement surgery, hip endoscopic surgery, spinal deformity surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and non-surgical treatments.

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