Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장) - Area information - Korea travel information

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

352.3M    2025-06-17

Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Songhyeon Green Plaza, located between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jongno, is a space for culture and rest. The site was formerly used as housing for Shiksan Bank during Japanese rule. After Korea’s liberation, it served as a residence for the US Embassy and military personnel. Later in 1997, it was returned to the Korean government but remained unused for years. In 2022, the ownership was transferred to the Korean House and Land Corporation and then to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which redeveloped it into a green plaza and opened it to the public. Upon entering the plaza, visitors are greeted by a spacious lawn adorned with flowers during the blooming season. The plaza is connected to the nearby tourist attractions through shortcuts cutting through it, including Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gwanghwamun Plaza, Insa-dong, and Bukchon Hanok Village.  

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

376.9M    2024-04-17

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

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Slow Steady Club - Samcheong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (슬로우스테디클럽 삼청)

Slow Steady Club - Samcheong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (슬로우스테디클럽 삼청)

380.8M    2024-06-27

2F, 84, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Hwangsaengga Kalguksu (황생가칼국수)

390.8M    2024-03-18

78 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-739-6334

Hwangsaengga Kalguksu is a specialty restaurant located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, known for its kalguksu (noodle soup). Kalguksu is a type of noodle soup made by thinly slicing dough into noodles with a knife and boiling them in a broth made from beef bones, clams, or seafood. Their menu includes options like wang mandu (jumbo mandu), hanu suyuk (boiled Korean beef slices), kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean soup), beoseot jeongol (mushroom hot pot), and mandutguk (mandu soup). It was selected as a Michelin Guide Seoul 2023 restaurant.

Yeonwoohouse [Korea Quality] / 연우하우스 [한국관광 품질인증]

Yeonwoohouse [Korea Quality] / 연우하우스 [한국관광 품질인증]

398.0M    2023-09-12

5-13 , Bukchon-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-742-1115

Yeonoo House is a quiet and cozy traditional hanok in Bukchon Hanok Village, Jongno, Seoul. There are two small rooms, each with its own bathroom. Residents can access a superb panoramic view of Bukchon Hanok Village by mounting a ladder up to the roof. As Yeonoo is an old building, careful attention is paid to hygiene management. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace are all nearby.

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

398.7M    2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Nwijo (뉘조)

Nwijo (뉘조)

410.9M    2024-03-06

27 Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9311

Nwijo is a Korean table d'hote restaurant located in Insa-dong where you can enjoy course meals made from hundreds of wild herbs. Starting with pumpkin porridge and water kimchi, basic dishes such as wild herb salads, pancakes, kimchi with boiled pork slices, and mixed roots are served along with set menu and wild herb enzymes as a standard part of the meal.

Hyangnamu Tree in Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁 향나무)

Hyangnamu Tree in Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁 향나무)

421.8M    2025-01-13

99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3668-2300

Hyangnamu or 'Aromatic Tree' in Changdeokgung Palace is estimated to be about 700 years old, meaning it had likely been planted before the palace was built. It stands 12m in x_height, measures 5.9m in girth around the roots, and has branches spreading in all four directions. It is designated and protected as a National Natural Monument.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul [MMCA Seoul] (국립현대미술관 서울관)

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul [MMCA Seoul] (국립현대미술관 서울관)

422.6M    2023-06-23

30, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3701-9500

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA Seoul) opened in 2013 as a city venue of the MMCA, which opened in 1986 in Gwacheon. The museum site was where many of Korea’s historical and political developments were achieved, both during the Joseon dynasty and after the Korean War. The Seoul venue of MMCA stands out from other museums through its use of Korea’s traditional architectural concept of "madang," a spacious courtyard where people can come and gather to socialize. The exterior of the building stands in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Inside, the museum is equipped with many facilities, including a reference center, project gallery theater, and multipurpose hall. MMCA Seoul strives to accommodate every mode of new artistic endeavor and to communicate with the public.

The Hanok Smith Likes (스미스가 좋아하는 한옥)

The Hanok Smith Likes (스미스가 좋아하는 한옥)

427.8M    2024-03-11

22-7 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-7003

The Hanok Smith Likes is a restaurant located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, housed in a renovated hanok. It offers a fusion of Korea's traditional beauty with Italian cuisine. Specializing in oven-baked pizza and pasta, it also features a variety of Italian dishes. The oven-baked pizzas are particularly popular, known for their chewy crusts and generous toppings. In 2023, it was selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul.