Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)

16.0Km 2025-06-18

161 Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Botanical Garden was created in Magok, the last remaining development site in Seoul, to introduce native plants and horticulture of 12 different cities from around the world and raise ecological awareness in the city. Seoul Botanic Park integrates a botanical garden and a public park, and the area is the size of 70 soccer fields. It serves as a bridgehead and lifelong education institution with the aim of spreading urban garden culture while staying true to its original role as a plant research conservation institution through expanding endangered wild plant habitats, researching the proliferation of species, and developing varieties. The botanical garden is divided into four spaces: Open Forest, Themed Garden, Lake Garden, and Wetland Garden. The main highlight is the Themed Garden that comprises the Botanic Center, Mogok Cultural Hall, and an outdoor themed garden.

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

16.0Km 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.

Golfzon Market - Magok Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (골프존마켓 마곡 [사후면세점])

16.0Km 2024-04-22

1-2F, 376, Yangcheon-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul

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Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

16.0Km 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.

The Story of King Sejong (세종이야기)

16.0Km 2022-09-13

jiha 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-399-1000

The Story of King Sejong comprises six different sections with a total area of 3,200 square meters. The museum consists of exhibition zones, an event space, video room, shop and more to display King Sejong’s scientific, artistic, military, and political contributions, including the theory of Minbon, which recognized the people as the base of politics. King Sejong, the 4th king of the Joseon dynasty (1397-1450, reigning from 1418-1450) was responsible for some of the most brilliant achievements in the history of Korea, including the creation of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) and great advancements in the areas of science, culture, art and politics.

Jogyesa Temple (조계사(서울))

16.0Km 2024-10-25

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

As the main temple as well as the district head temple of the Jogye order in Seoul, Jogyesa Temple is the center of Korean Buddhism. The temple was built in the late 14th century during the Goryeo period but was completely destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt under the name of Gakwangsa Temple in 1910 with the effort of many respectful monks, namely Han Yong-un and Lee Hee-gwang. The temple was given a role as the head temple of Korea’s Buddhism and renamed to Tegosa Temple in 1936. In 1954, a purification drive took place to eliminate Japanese influence and revive traditional Buddhism, which established the present day Jogyesa Temple as a result.

Jogyesa Temple plays an important role in Korean Buddhism as the head temple of the Jogye order. Jogyesa Temple’s Dharma Hall serves as the main venue for several Buddhist events, holding rituals, lectures, ceremonies, and other events all year long. The annual lantern festival in celebration of Buddha's birthday also takes place at this temple.

Insa-dong Traditional Culture Festival (인사전통문화축제)

16.0Km 2022-10-27

49 , Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-7890

Celebrated annually since 1987, Insa-dong Traditional Culture Festival is a feast of Korean culture and art, hosted by the Traditional Culture Preservation Society and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The festival features an international folk festival, parade, and singing contest. Street events include ceramic art demonstrations, portrait drawings by street artists, and making traditional rice cakes.