Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (서울 남산국악당) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (서울 남산국악당)

Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (서울 남산국악당)

8.1Km    2021-08-02

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

Seoul Namsan Gukakdang was established by Seoul Metropolitan Government as a representative traditional art-centered performance hall in 2007. It is comprised of one ground and two basement levels. The performance hall is located on the basement floor with 300 seats, equipped with facilities that deliver pansori sounds and gayageum music to every seat. Visitors can make a reservation at the Namsangol Hanok Village website.

Nam-Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) (서울시립미술관 남서울생활미술관)

Nam-Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) (서울시립미술관 남서울생활미술관)

8.1Km    2023-10-17

2076, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

The Nam-Seoul Museum of Art offers visitors a meaningful opportunity to linger beside the traces of history. The building previously served as the Belgian Consulate during the Korean Empire (1897-1910) and has since been designated as a historic Site. It was first constructed in Hoehyeon-dong in 1905 and was relocated to its current location in Namhyeon-dong in 1983. The museum hosts public programs tailored for audiences from various backgrounds in rooms arranged along both sides of a long corridor in the two-story building.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

8.1Km    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.

Cheonggyecheon Old Books Street (청계천헌책방거리)

Cheonggyecheon Old Books Street (청계천헌책방거리)

8.1Km    2023-12-22

20 Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Walking east along Cheonggyecheon Stream, which flows near Sewoon Plaza, you will see a cluster of small bookstores. Books published 30 to 50 years ago, and various out-of-date magazines are piled up in about ten bookstores. You can indirectly experience the old culture and history that formed the basis of K-content, and sometimes you can also find foreign books. Nearby is Dongdaemun Market, a wholesale market selling various subsidiary materials, and Pyounghwa Market (open from night to early morning), where you can browse clothing fabrics, which are excellent places to visit together.

ARTEASPOON (아티스푼)

ARTEASPOON (아티스푼)

8.1Km    2025-10-23

7 Sinheung-ro 36-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

ARTEASPOON operates cultural arts programs centered on paintings, music, and books. It also has a program related to exploring one's feelings and mind, and offers a special program for foreigners for learning Korean culture and art. Located in Huam-dong at the foothills of Namsan Mountain, it's an ideal place to immerse in art and inspirations.

HOTEL QB (호텔큐비(호텔QB))

HOTEL QB (호텔큐비(호텔QB))

8.1Km    2024-12-23

322-10 , Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hotel QB in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from Dongdaemun subway station and close to the airport bus stop. Rooms range from single rooms for individual travelers to a quad room, and there is a studio and fitting room where selfies and photos can be taken. The hotel cafe has a microwave, water purifier and refrigerator, and customized travel consulting and free luggage storage are provided in the lobby. Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, Dongmyo Flea Market and a variety of fashion wholesalers are all nearby.

Donga Stationery (동아완구)

Donga Stationery (동아완구)

8.2Km    2024-09-11

5 Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Donga Stationery is a stationery store located along Changsin-dong Stationery Street. The stop offers a full range of stationery and character goods and is popular among children and adults alike. The shop is located right by Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 4, making it easily accessible.

Pyounghwa (Pyeonghwa) Fashion Town (서울 평화시장)

Pyounghwa (Pyeonghwa) Fashion Town (서울 평화시장)

8.2Km    2025-01-06

274, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Pyounghwa Fashion Town market in Dongdaemun has been selling fashion clothing and accessories for over 50 years ever since the end of the Korean War. It was here that in 1953 North Korean refugees started selling clothes made from US army uniforms. Their market was then named Pyounghwa, which means peace, in the hope that no other wars would be fought on Korean soil. The Pyounghwa Fashion Town was therefore the beginning of the 30,000 stores that now make up Dongdaemun Fashion Town, which is seen as one of the global centers of the fashion industry.

Spread over a large area, this historical fashion market is divided into several districts, the ‘Gu Pyounghwa Fashion Town’ is the oldest, and there is also the ‘Shin Pyounghwa Fashion Town’, ‘Dong Pyounghwa Fashion Town’, and ‘Cheong Pyounghwa Fashion Town’.

Korea House (한국의집)

Korea House (한국의집)

8.2Km    2025-10-23

10, Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building.

It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese.

In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.

Choi Hyeok Korean Medicine Clinic (최혁한의원)

Choi Hyeok Korean Medicine Clinic (최혁한의원)

8.2Km    2025-10-23

(1st Floor), 52 Yangnyeongdong-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

Choi Hyeok Korean Medicine Clinic is particularly popular among Japanese visitors. Words about our affordable prices, friendly services, and dedication of the chief and the staff have spread in Japan, which has attracted over 2,000 Japanese visitors to the clinic annually. We offer an extensive array of services, including skin care, wrinkle removal, bloodletting acupuncture, weight-loss herbal medicine (hanyak), lipolysis acupuncture, gongjindan, kyungokgo, and “Magic Powder.” We accept appointments for wrinkle therapy on Sundays. We deliver hanyak to patients’ hotels if they are not too far away. We also ship to patients’ homes in Japan. You are always welcome to contact us on Line or Instagram.