Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리) - Area information - Korea travel information

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

707.3M    2022-10-26

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.

Yangbandeck (양반댁)

707.9M    2024-03-18

19-18 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-5507, +82-2-730-1112

Yangbandeck is a traditional Korean house in Insa-dong, serving ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab) and bori gulbi (barley-aged dried yellow croaker). Theganjang gejang is made from crabs filled with roe, matured in soy sauce. The taste of barley-aged dried yellow croaker, made from dried yellow croaker matured in sea breeze and served on top of rice, is exceptional. Each meal comes with a hot pot rice, and side dishes such as soybean paste jjigae, pancakes, kimchi, and japchae are served as standard.

Areumdaun Cha Bangmulgwan (Beautiful Tea Museum) (아름다운차박물관)

Areumdaun Cha Bangmulgwan (Beautiful Tea Museum) (아름다운차박물관)

708.1M    2019-08-02

19-11, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-6678

In addition to gourmet restaurants, traditional tea houses are a popular destination in Insa-dong. Among them, we recommend Areumdaun Cha Bangmulgwan, where you can taste more than 100 types of tea, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese. The shop also serves as a museum and gallery. Enjoy a leisurely cup of tea as you appreciate the art that is on display.

Neulmajung (늘마중)

Neulmajung (늘마중)

708.6M    2024-01-12

11-5 Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Makgeolli is a traditional liquor made from rice or wheat as a main ingredient and with yeast and various other ingredients. Its uniqueness lies in the main ingredient or yeast used, thus a variety of makgeolli made with local specialties can be found throughout Korea. Neulmajung is a pub restaurant that serves 34 types of makgeolli from all over the country, as well as many foods that go well with them. In addition, its soft wooden interior creates a comfortable atmosphere. Its representative dish is haemul pajeon (seafood and green onion pancake), made with plenty of ingredients. They also serve crispy pan-fried gamja jeon (potato pancake)  and memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe), rich in both flavor and taste as it is made with buckwheat from Bongpyeong, Gangwon-do, all of which are a perfect paring to makgeolli.

Vegetarian Restaurant Osegyehyang (채식요리전문점 오세계향)

709.4M    2024-03-18

14-5 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-7171

Osegyehyang is a vegetarian restaurant located in Insa-dong. It specializes in vegetarian cuisine, offering a variety of dishes including noodles, traditional Korean dishes, and specialty items. Some of its popular dishes include maesil tangsuchae (vegan deep-fried pork with sweet and sour sauce), pyogobeoseotmari (rolled shiitake mushrooms), vegan yangnyeom chicken (vegan seasoned fried chicken), tteokbokki, jjajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles), jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), vegan steak, and bulgui ttukbaegi (vegan bulgogi), all prepared without meat but still delicious.

GRANDHAND. Seochon (그랑핸드 서촌)

GRANDHAND. Seochon (그랑핸드 서촌)

710.1M    2023-08-21

14-2, Jahamun-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Lauched in 2014 at a small hanok in Bukchon Hanok Village, Korea perfume brand now has six stores around Seoul as well as a cafe brand KOMFORTABLE. With no adversements or online sales, GRANDHAND has preserved its roots for over 7 years. GRANDHAND. Seochon located between Gyeongbokgung Palace and various art museums has customers of all ages and nationalities. 

Seoul Former Russian Legation (서울 구 러시아공사관)

Seoul Former Russian Legation (서울 구 러시아공사관)

712.7M    2020-06-18

21-18, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3396-5882

The Russian Legation was built in a Renaissance style in 1890. Russian architect, A. J. Scredin Sabatine designed the structure. In 1895, during the Joseon dynasty, the Eulmisabyeon Incident took place as a show of force by the Japanese.

Empress Myeongseong-hwanghu was emerging as a strong figure in Korea at a time when a power struggle between Japan, China, Russia, and other powers were taking place. Japanese Minister, Miura Goro saw her as a threat and ordered her assassination. After hearing news of the Empress’s assassination, King Gojong and the Crown Prince sought refuge in the Russian Embassy for one year.

After 1945, the Soviet Union took over the embassy until it was almost completely destroyed by a fire during the Korean War [1950~1953]. The only remaining parts of the building are the tower and basement areas. The building was restored to its current condition in 1973 and is now enjoyed by many as a public park.

Chadolbakhin Jjukkumi - Jongro Branch (차돌박힌쭈꾸미 종로)

Chadolbakhin Jjukkumi - Jongro Branch (차돌박힌쭈꾸미 종로)

712.7M    2021-03-19

47-1, Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2648-9163

You can eat jjukumi (webfoot octopus) with cheese fondue. The best menu at this restaurant is stir-fried webfoot octopus. This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno, Seoul.

Gaeseong Mandu Koong (개성만두 궁)

Gaeseong Mandu Koong (개성만두 궁)

713.3M    2023-05-24

11-3, Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-9240

Gaeseong Mandu Koong has served Gaeseong-style mandu (dumplings) for more than 30 years. The elderly proprietor, who fled south during the Korean War runs this restaurant with the help of her granddaughters. Characterized by its delicate taste, Gaeseong mandu stuffing consists of pork and various vegetables such as cabbage and pumpkin. This restaurant's mandu is so popular that it sometimes gets sold out even before evening. Typical menu includes mandu jeongol (hot pot) and mandu guk (soup). The hot pot is made of various ingredients including mandu, rice cakes, mushrooms, and meat, and serves two to three persons. For several persons, it's recommended to eat bossam (boiled meat slices wrapped in lettuce leaves or kimchi) and Korean-style pancakes.

Beautiful Tea Museum (아름다운 차박물관)

Beautiful Tea Museum (아름다운 차박물관)

714.7M    2022-07-26

19-11, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-6678

Located in Insa-dong, The Beautiful Tea Museum aims to promote Korean tea culture. It preserves and exhibits tea related utensils and items, featuring those from the ancient Gaya and Joseon period as well as items from abroad such as China and Tibet. The museum also displays original tea pots and other ceramics made by young artists and ceramists. Inside the museum is a tea house named "Tea Story," serving a wide variety of teas. Visitors can also purchase tea leaves from all over the world at the Tea Shop.