Seodaemun Prison History Museum (서대문형무소역사관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seodaemun Prison History Museum (서대문형무소역사관)

2.6Km    2024-12-02

251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Seodaemun Prison was built under the Japanese administration to imprison independence movement activists. It first opened on October 21, 1908 under the name Gyeongseong Prison. Eventually, so many activists were imprisoned that the building had to be expanded. At that time, the name changed to Seodaemun Prison on September 3, 1912. Eighty years later, the prison was turned into Seodaemun Independence Park on August 15, 1992 to commemorate the Korean patriots who were tortured in prison, giving their lives for freedom. Of the many buildings, only seven were preserved for their historical significance, among which three prison buildings and the execution site were designated as a Historic Site. In 1998, the park underwent another transformation into today's Seodaemun Prison History Hall to educate the public on the importance of Korea's independence and the sacrifices of those who fought to achieve it.

Podam (포담)

Podam (포담)

2.7Km    2021-03-22

11, Jahamun-ro, 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-0831

A store featured in Korean gourmet programs. This Chinese (cuisine) restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The most famous menu is dim sum.

Hojil (호질)

Hojil (호질)

2.7Km    2021-03-20

15, Jahamun-ro, 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-764-6822

A good restaurant to visit before and after the tour, being located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the tourist attractions. This restaurant's signature menu is spicy sea snail salad. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Grand Hyatt Seoul Ice Skating Rink (그랜드하얏트 서울 아이스링크)

Grand Hyatt Seoul Ice Skating Rink (그랜드하얏트 서울 아이스링크)

2.7Km    2019-06-14

322, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-799-8113

The Grand Hyatt Hotel's beautiful ice skating rink has been featured in a number of Korean TV commercials and dramas. Skating with an open-view of Hangang River and the Gangnam area makes for a romantic dating spot for couples and a perfect place to enjoy winter sports for visitors with friends and families. Also, a night view of the center of the city is available from Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Moonguesthouse(문게스트하우스)

Moonguesthouse(문게스트하우스)

2.7Km    2024-06-20

31-18, Samil-daero 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-745-8008, +82-10-8704-9981

The Moon Guesthouse is situated near a number of interesting tourist destinations including Unhyeongung Palace (3min on foot), Bukchon Hanok Village (5min on foot), Changdeokgung Palace (5min on foot), and Changgyeonggung Palace (10min on foot). The guesthouse was named ‘moon’ (‘door’ in English) because it has many 176 doors and windows. Upon entering by the gate, visitors will see a ‘ㄷ’-shaped hanok building in the courtyard, in which a wooden bedstead and a table are placed. On the opposite of the hanok building there is a wall roofed with tiles engraved with Korean patterns such as deer, pine, turtle, etc. Flowers in the flowerbed lined up along the wall are in bloom and the bonsai are also well-kept in the house. Renovated and opened as a guesthouse in September 2011, Moon Guesthouse consists of a bonchae (main building) and a byeolchae (detached house). The rooms are decorated with red clay and hanji (traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees), and have under-the-floor heating (ondol). Each room is equipped with an air-conditioner, and has a 40cm-thick layer of red clay over the ceiling for insulation, making the rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. The house has seven individual guestrooms and five modern bathrooms, but the entire building (bonchae or byeolchae) can be rented, too. In particular, the unhyeondang of the bonchae is very popular as it can be converted into one large space for special events, group workshops, etc. simply by opening all the sliding doors (Bunhapmun – Goryeo construction style). This room, which is decorated with a flower-patterned windscreen, a landscape painting, and calligraphy, has been used as a shooting location for various TV programs including KBS2’s TV reality program Man’s Qualification and its variety show The Human Condition. The guestrooms are also equipped with traditional furniture including a cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The guesthouse also provides a variety of experience programs from 11am to 3pm, including tea ceremony, wearing Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), making kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste), playing a traditional musical instrument, making a rubbing of a stone inscription, calligraphy, drawing orchids on a fan, and so on. The house has about seventy hanbok and other clothing accessories, as well as a royal costume. Its calligraphy and drawing orchid programs are run directly by the owner, who used to work as a classical Chinese teacher at a high school.

Dongnimmun Gate (독립문)

2.7Km    2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Dongnimmun stands at the location originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet. In 1898, to announce the independence from Japan, Dongnimun was constructed with the fund collected by the citizens. The traces of the past still remain on Dongnimmun with two pillars in front of Dongnimmun being the remains of Yeongeunmun.

The Arc de Triomphe in France can be recalled in comparison to Dongnimmun. Dongnimmun was built using granite with a passageway x_height of 14.28 meters. On the top it is written ‘Dongnimmun’ in Korean with the national flag drawn on each side. On the inner-left side there are stone stairs leading to the attic. The national flower Mugunghwa are planted around Dongnimmun. Now it is surrounded by roads and it is eye-catching to view when passing by.

Eulmildae Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (을밀대평양냉면)

Eulmildae Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (을밀대평양냉면)

2.7Km    2024-03-19

24, Sungmun-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
+82-2-717-1922

Eulmildae Pyeongyang Naengmyeon has been specializing in pyeongyang naengmyeon (pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles) for 50 years. The restaurant is named after the Ulmildae Pavilion in Pyongyang Castle. The buckwheat noodles are made by pressing the dough and pulling it out, giving them a savory flavor and aroma. The restaurant focuses on mullaengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy buckwheat noodles). Patrons have the option to delectable dishes such as nokdu jeon (mung bean pancake), mandu, boiled pork slices, beef brisket soup and rice. 

Olivine Spa (올리바인 스파)

2.7Km    2024-12-10

4-1 Tongil-ro 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Chosen as one of the 25 recommended wellness tourist destinations by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, Olivine Spa operates a luxury spa and a beauty & slimming center in downtown. The spa also provides professional pre-natal and post-natal massage, body shape care, and various beauty programs in partnership with Seran General Hospital and Olivium (a postpartum care center). Olivine Spa provides massages by top-tier therapists in the industry who will relieve fatigue and eliminate toxins accumulated through daily life. They will help your body become healthier and more balanced, ensuring customer satisfaction. Furthermore, Olivine Spa uses Swiss premium brands Les Nouvels Aroma and Darphin in their programs. Its beauty & slimming center provides customized consulting and various beauty-related medical programs in partnership with medical staff at Seran General Hospital.

Italyjae (이태리재)

Italyjae (이태리재)

2.7Km    2017-02-01

74-9, Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Itaejae, located in a refined side street in Sogyeok-dong, offers authentic traditional Venetian-style Italian cuisine at a reasonable price.

Obok Dakhanmari - Euljiro Branch(오복닭한마리 을지로)

Obok Dakhanmari - Euljiro Branch(오복닭한마리 을지로)

2.7Km    2021-04-15

32-3, Eulji-ro, 27-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2285-4578

This is a Korean cuisine located in Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul. It sells boiled chicken in clear broth. The best menu at this restaurant is noodle soup with chicken.