Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

4.4Km 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.

Korea Etiquette Institute (한국예절문화원)

4.4Km 2022-07-08

43 , Gajaeul-ro 4-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-391-1988

Korea Etiquette Institue is dedicated to observing, researching, developing and passing down Korea's etiquette. Education programs are also available.

Real Escape Challenge (리얼 이스케이프 챌린지)

4.4Km 2025-11-05

21, Wausan-ro 27-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Thrilling Escape Café
Depending on the theme, you can enjoy a thrill-based game where you have to escape from a room within a time limit. Celebrities such as Lovelyz Mijoo also enjoy visiting. The theme changes periodically and each room is marked in English, and a guide service for foreigners is also provided. It is 100% reservation-based.

The Hyoosik Nouvelle Seoul Itaewon (더휴식 누베르 서울 이태원점)

4.4Km 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.

Jeong’s Family (정스패밀리)

4.4Km 2025-03-15

16 , Hyochangwon-ro 8-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-10-6332-2043

Jeong's Family is a foreigner-only guesthouse in Hanseong Han River Apartments in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The apartment building is in a quiet residential area and has a fine view over the Han River and the riverside Hangang Park - which is a great place for walking or cycling. The two rooms are furnished with laptop PCs. Guests will recieve a welcome drink when they check-in, and a simple breakfast and dinner are provided upon prior reservation. The guesthouse is close to the airport bus stop, and convenient for public transport to tourist hotspots such as Gangnam, Hongdae, and Myeong-dong. There’s a key deposit system in operation.

Yeonnam-dong (연남동)

4.5Km 2024-03-19

Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Yeonnam-dong, located near Hongik University Station, has become a hot spot in Seoul as young artists and hipsters gather. It is densely packed with art spaces, and every alley is filled with unique concept cafés and many restaurants. There are also many guesthouses, editorial shops, and fashion stores, along with Yeontral Park, which was transformed from the old Gyeongui Line railroad into a park.

LEESEL Hanbok (리슬한복)

4.5Km 2025-11-05

136-11, Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hanbok, the beauty of Korea
It is a Hanbok brand that produced BTS Jimin's stage costumes and CHUNG HA's Hanbok worn in the 2022 season's greeting pictorial. The ‘Sochangui Maxi Coat’ worn by SHINee's TAEMIN received an explosive response and became more known. LEESEL x SPAO's collaboration pajamas gained great popularity not only among celebrities but also among the general public. In 2022, Hanbok debuted at Milan Fashion Week for the first time. The head office is located in Jeonju.

Itaewon Antiques Street (이태원 앤틱 가구 거리)

4.5Km 2025-04-11

109-1 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Itaewon Antiques Street was formed around the late 1960s, when a group of antique dealerships from Asia, Europe, and North America settled in the district. This 1km-long street is home to antique dealers offering antique sofa, chairs, and tables. Some shops also offer antique decorations, accessories, and clothing. It is a famous shopping district with its own unique ambience from that of Seoul. During spring and autumn, Itaewon Antique Festival takes place, allowing visitors to shop and enjoy cultural performances.

Amorepacific Museum of Art (아모레퍼시픽미술관)

4.6Km 2024-12-31

100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Amorepacific Museum of Art, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was originally a museum exhibiting artworks collected by the late Seo Seong-hwan, the founder of Amorepacific, but later changed its name to Amorepacific Museum of Art, or APMA, in 2009 and has since been operating as an art exhibition hall. The mission upon its foundation was seeking to be "a space where beauty in the midst of daily lives is discovered" and communicating with the public. In accordance with this objective, the museum collects, researches, and exhibits Korean ancient art and both Korean and international contemporary art while, also, aiding researchers, scholars, and young artists. The underground exhibition hall hosts diverse exhibits encompassing ancient art, contemporary art, and Korean art. The 1st floor of the "Atrium," an enormous space that continues from the 1st to 3rd floors, features the museum lobby, a museum shop, an exhibition space called "APMA Cabinet" and apLAP, which is a library of art exhibition brochures from around the world. The art museum is located on the 1st floor of the new Amorepacific headquarters building, a famous work of architectural beauty of Yongsan designed after white porcelain.

Seoul Folk Flea Market (서울 풍물시장)

4.7Km 2025-04-11

21 Cheonho-daero 4-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2232-3367

The Seoul Folk Flea Market is located around Cheonggyecheon Stream's Hwanghakgyo Bridge and Sinseol-dong Station and is on its way to becoming a famous tourist attraction along with the already famous Cheonggyeocheon Stream. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is one of the major folk flea markets preserving the culture of the traditional Korean marketplace and drawing in visitors with a range of folk items that embody the unique charm of Korea. Folk items include everyday items, souvenirs, traditional goods and even traditional foods, allowing visitors to enjoy shopping and eating all under the same roof.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market originated from the flea market in Hwanghak-dong where many street shops and vendors gathered around Cheonggyecheon Stream before it was restored and modernized into its current state. The market was relocated to the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Formerly Dongdaemun Stadium) while the Cheonggyecheon Stream was undergoing restorations, and was moved back to Cheonggyecheon Stream sometime later. Seoul City aims to market Seoul Folk Flea Market as a new shopping spot at its current location, the former site of Sungin Girls' Middle School on Cheonggyeo 8-ga Street, near Cheonggyeocheon Stream to develop the Korean representative folk flea market-related tourism industry.

The main items of the Seoul Folk Flea Market include a diverse range of folk items, traditional crafts, local specialties and fashion items. You may also enjoy a range of foods and snacks including traditional Korean food and fusion cuisine from all over the world. What is special about the market is that you can find rare goods and authentic traditional items that cannot be found at other markets. The market atmosphere is a mix of old, revered traditions and modern aspects, providing visitors with a great shopping experience. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is truly a traditional flea market well worth visiting.

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