Museum Kimchikan (뮤지엄 김치간) - Area information - Korea travel information

Museum Kimchikan (뮤지엄 김치간)

882.3M    2025-06-19

(4-6th floor, Maru Art Center), 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Museum Kimchikan is a museum dedicated to kimchi in Insa-dong’s Maru Art Center. The exhibition details the culture, history, trajectory, and efficacy of kimchi and teaches the visitors how to make kimchi through videos. Visitors can also sample different types of kimchi. The museum offers both individual and group experience programs.

Isae - Insa Branch (No. 2) [Tax Refund Shop] (이새 인사2호)

891.5M    2024-04-18

30-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Jogyesa Temple (조계사(서울))

896.5M    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.

Seoul International Writers' Festival (서울국제작가축제)

899.7M    2025-07-30

26 Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-8826-5207

Seoul International Writers' Festival was founded in 2006 with aims to lay a foundation for connecting Korean literature and international literature. This year's theme is "() Meets the Eye," inviting attendees to explore the beauty of literature that is much more than meets the eye.

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

913.8M    2025-03-16

29 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-732-2235

As of today, there are approximately 70 shops in the Insa-dong area that sell antique arts. Some of the products they sell include antique artworks, porcelains, woodcrafts, and metalwork. Visitors may even find rare and valuable products such as earthenware from the Silla period or white porcelain used in the Joseon dynasty. Each shop is a specialty store, authorized to sell product types that are of their expertise, ranging from antique furniture and traditional artworks to handcrafted items.

Seoul Gongyesa [Tax Refund Shop] (서울공예사)

924.2M    2024-04-16

1F, 27-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Tteulan Teahouse (뜰안)

938.0M    2024-12-10

Tteulan Teahouse is a cafe that really allows one to feel the tradition and flair of Korea. Tteulan has two entrances: one facing the wide alley and the other facing the smaller one. The smaller entrance is decorated like a garden, so it feels as if one is stepping into a land of fairy-tales. The café has a floor seating tables with traditional items like gadari soban (a table with legs that curve like a dog's legs), and jogakbo (a textile woven from several pieces of scrap cloth), all of which add to the traditional Korean aesthetic. The menu features ssanghwacha (medicinal herb tea known to help the immune system), a favorite among middle-aged and elderly Koreans; omija tea (omija is a tart berry that grows in East Asia known to be good for lung and bronchial health and boosts immunity); citrus tea (usually made with yuzu which is rich in vitamin C and said to help mitigate fatigue); and pour-over coffee. Traditional desserts include mugwort rice cake (rice cake with mugwort added for herbal flavor, best enjoyed with malt syrup), pumpkin rice cake, and roasted grain powder (a nutritious beverage made with a variety of powdered grain). It can be hard to find seating in the afternoon, so visitors are advised to avoid these hours if they seek to enjoy their drink in peace.

Kimchigol Well-being Bapsang(김치골웰빙밥상)

946.9M    2024-10-14

22-5 Insadong-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul
+82-2-720-6436

A restaurant where you can try kimchi, a Korean traditional dish, and meat. The representative menu is kimchi cabbage wraps with pork. This is a Korean cuisine located in Insa-dong, Seoul.

Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery (서울아트센터 공평갤러리)

954.6M    2021-06-19

24, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-4214-0070

Opened in 1992, Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery is a 17,791㎡, two-story building with four exhibition halls. It is one of the main galleries of Insa-dong, displaying diverse artwork ranging from Western and Korean paintings to sculptures. Due to the great interest in Korean paintings, 2~3 of the annual long-term exhibitions focus solely on them.

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

958.8M    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.