Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산)

740.1M 82971 2024-03-04

San 2-1, Muak-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-2834

Inwangsan Mountain is a rocky mountain located to the northwestern side of Seoul. It stands 338m tall. The Seoul City Wall is built along its ridge, connecting to the Baegak Mountain Trail. From the summit, one can see the three mountains of Naksan Mountain, Namsan Mountain, and the Bugaksan Mountain surrounding the historical center of Hanyang, the historical name for Seoul in Joseon period, with the Gyeongbokgung Palace at the center. There are five hiking trails, all taking about two hours to complete. It takes about three hours if you want to visit all the peaks of the mountain.

Seoul Street Art Festival (서울거리예술축제)

745.2M 53531 2024-07-26

Taepyeongno 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-758-2036

Seoul Street Art Festival is held throughout Seoul and introduces high quality street performances.

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

746.4M 154064 2022-12-14

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.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

749.1M 112558 2023-02-22

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.

Seoul Museum of Art (서울시립미술관(서소문본관))

755.8M 140222 2024-06-19

61 Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2124-8800

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is a space for all to meet and experience the joy of art. Located in the center of Jeong-dong, a district that retains traces of Seoul’s modern and contemporary history, the museum integrates the historical facade of the former Supreme Court with modern architecture. In addition to various programs―encompassing exhibitions, educational outreach initiatives, screenings, workshops, performances, and talks, communal spaces including SeMA Cafe, the artbook store, the open space lobby, and the outdoor sculpture park SeMA WALK provide a rich range of ways for visitors to experience art.

Gomguksijib (곰국시집)

755.8M 19052 2016-10-21

24, Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-756-3249~50

Gomguksi is a soup consisting of handmade noodles and beef slices in a thick and rich beef broth. Gomguksi became famous through word-of-mouth by tourists from the neighboring country of Japan. These days the restaurant is always crowded with people. Also, the side dishes that accompany Gomguksi are extremely delicious.

Seoul Metropolitan Library (서울도서관)

756.6M 41008 2022-12-14

110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2133-0300

Seoul Library provides access to a wide range of documents and materials about Seoul Metropolitan City. Visitors will find diverse resources related to the city including history, culture, urban planning, transportation, environmental issues, administration, reports on outbound visitors, research documents, video clips, and e-data.

Olive Young - Mugyodong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 무교동점)

756.3M 0 2024-06-26

1F, 24, Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Tosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌삼계탕)

760.0M 283332 2024-03-12

5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-737-7444

Tosokchon Samgyetang is a restaurant specializing in samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) near Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is housed in several renovated traditional hanok buildings, exuding a nostalgic atmosphere. Samgyetang is a traditional Korean nutritious food made by simmering cleaned young chicken with ginseng, jujube, sweet rice batter, and various nuts. The thick broth of samgyetang, served alongside ginseng liquor, stimulates the appetite. Diced radish kimchi and cabbage kimchi are served as basic side dishes.

Daelim Museum (대림미술관)

762.4M 33535 2022-07-29

21, Jahamun-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-720-0667

The Daelim Museum, built by the Daelim Group, was first established in Daejeon in 1996 and later moved to Jongno, Seoul in 2002. The art gallery studies, analyzes, and presents modern art through the lens of photography and holds exhibitions centered around photo media.

The museum is located in the residential area of Tongui-dong, near the time-honored Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum, which was designed by French architect, Vincent Cornu, and built by the Daelim Corporation, opened its door to the public in late May 2002.

On the first floor, there is a garden, parking lot, reception desk, storage area, and conference room. On the second and third floor are offices and exhibition hall approximately 595 m² in size, consisting of small and large rooms, a long gallery, and a special high-ceilinged exhibition space. On the fourth floor, there is a seminar room that can seat up to 120 guests and a balcony with a beautiful view. From the balcony of the seminar room, Visitors can also enjoy a wide open view of Inwangsan Mountain and Bukhansan Mountain. The stained glass panels (designed to reflect the beauty of traditional Korean wrapping cloth) and the scenic lounges on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building add to the overall charm.

Above all else, the museum was designed with consideration of the photos, which are very sensitive to humidity, light, and temperature.

Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산) - Area information - Korea travel information