Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을) - Area information - Korea travel information

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

7.7Km    2025-07-14

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

7.7Km    2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Dami Porridge (다미죽)

7.7Km    2024-03-11

38, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-777-5077

Located in Myeongdong Street, Dami Porridge focuses on porridge. Their delectable porridges are made with a variety of seafood including abalone as well as mushrooms. Porridge is easy to digest and full of nutrients, so it's recommended for when you're not feeling well.

CheongKwanJang - Hongje Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (정관장 홍제)

7.7Km    2024-04-16

1F, 405, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

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Olive Young - Dongnimmun Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 독립문)

7.7Km    2024-04-18

99, Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Harmony Mart Myeong-dong Station Branch (하모니마트 명동역점)

7.7Km    2024-12-23

58 , Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-752-2269

Harmony Mart Myeongdong Station Branch is a discount supermarket specializing in Korean products popular with foreign tourists. It’s on the 1st basement floor of the Shinil Building annex, just a minute's walk from Exit 8 of Myeongdong Subway Station, Jungu, Seoul. Shop here for kimchi, seaweed, ginseng products, tea, ramen, handicrafts, daily necessities and souvenirs. English, Chinese, and Japanese are spoken, and payments can be made in yen and yuan. With purchases of KRW 50,000 or more, there’s free delivery to accomodations within a 5km radius.

Myeong-dong Mart - Myeong-dong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (명동마트 명동)

7.7Km    2024-04-18

B1F, 58, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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The Painters Season 2(페인터즈 시즌2)

7.7Km    2025-07-21

3 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Dapsimni Antique Art Street (답십리 고미술상가)

7.7Km    2020-09-18

99, Gomisul-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2249-0336

Dapsimni Antique Art Street is where travelers can stumble upon valuable old paintings, antique furniture and pottery as well as a variety of household items. These antique shops used to be scattered throughout the area of Cheonggyecheon Stream 8(pal)-ga, Itaewon, and Ahyeon-dong, but have gathered within Dapsimni area since the mid-1980s. There are approximately 140 shops along the streets.

It is quite fun to browse through antiquities including wooden candlesticks, grandfather clocks, and old picture frames, items which are usually hard to find in regular stores. These rare items attract not only Koreans but also international visitors to this street. While shops in Insa-dong are popular for selling high-quality antiques, shops in Dapsimni Art Street are popular for offering a wide assortment of antiques at reasonable prices.

Ziozia Ssts - Myeong-dong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (지오지아 SSTS 명동점)

7.7Km    2024-04-22

6, Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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