Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

5.0Km 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.

Ipamnamu - Insa Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (이팝나무 인사)

5.0Km 2024-04-18

4, Insadong 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Hanji Chueok (Recollections) (한지추억)

5.0Km 2022-09-16

6, Insadong 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-2059

Hanji Chueok (Recollections) is one of the better-known craft shops in Insa-dong and has even been featured by a number of international magazines. Prepared using traditional Korean processing methods, hanji is a type of beautiful, high-quality paper. Hanji Chueok is a great place to experience the tradition of hanji crafts; accessories, photo frames, and interior design items line the store shelves. Visitors can not only purchase extremely well-crafted items, but can also participate in seminars taught by professional artists to learn how to make their own hanji items. Visitors can take home their hanji creations as a lovely souvenir at the conclusion of the seminar.

Top50 Glasses [Tax Refund Shop] (으뜸50안경)

5.0Km 2024-06-27

1F, Bldg 6, 205 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

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Tombola (톰볼라)

5.0Km 2020-04-27

16, Seorae-ro 7-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-593-4660

Located in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Tombola is an Italian restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and rustic cuisine. The restaurant’s relaxed, yet vibrant atmosphere makes for an ambience that is friendly, but at the same time exotic. Diners can enjoy excellent Italian home-cooked dishes like pizza and pasta at affordable prices, making this particular eatery incredibly popular (reservations strongly recommended!). The most popular menu item is the gratin that comes slathered with cheese.