Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장) - Area information - Korea travel information

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

1.0Km    2025-11-11

Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Songhyeon Green Plaza, located between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jongno, is a space for culture and rest. The site was formerly used as housing for Shiksan Bank during Japanese rule. After Korea’s liberation, it served as a residence for the US Embassy and military personnel. Later in 1997, it was returned to the Korean government but remained unused for years. In 2022, the ownership was transferred to the Korean House and Land Corporation and then to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which redeveloped it into a green plaza and opened it to the public. Upon entering the plaza, visitors are greeted by a spacious lawn adorned with flowers during the blooming season. The plaza is connected to the nearby tourist attractions through shortcuts cutting through it, including Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gwanghwamun Plaza, Insa-dong, and Bukchon Hanok Village.  

Kukje Gallery (국제갤러리)

1.1Km    2021-07-29

54, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-8449

The Kukje Galley has been committed to presenting the work of significant Korean and international contemporary artists to the public since 1982. The gallery has established itself as a leading venue for international exhibits such as Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Francis, Jim Dine, Frank Stella, Robert Mangold, Anthony Caro, Cy Twombly, Edward Ruscha, Anselm Kiefer, Joseph Beuys, and Bill Viola, attracting enthusiastic responses from both the public and the media.

The gallery has placed emphasis on collaborations between artists, galleries, and art dealers around the world and nurturing upcoming artists by sponsoring their artwork and giving them international exposure.

Modern Shabu House Gwanghwamun D Tower Branch (모던샤브하우스 광화문D타워점)

1.1Km    2025-12-02

17 Jong-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Located in Jongno-gu, Modern Shabu House Gwanghwamun D Tower Branch offers a selection of specialty broths to enjoy unlimited beef, pork, and vegetables. The restaurant serves four cuts of pork and beef in every course. The interior is designed with natural materials like earth, stone, and wood, inspired by the fluid process of cooking ingredients like meat and vegetables in a pot. The design reflects the natural movement and flow of ingredients as they cook together. The restaurant also has a range of private rooms, making it a popular choice for families with children and for gatherings, providing a comfortable dining experience.

Ilmin Art Museum (일민미술관)

1.1Km    2022-09-27

152, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Ilmin Art Museum located in former Dong-A Newspaper Building, was formed in honor of their honorable and late CEO Kim Sang-man. The museum was established in December of 1996, and with a full renovation in 2001, large exhibition hall and Ilmin collection was placed in. Through the renovation, the combination of glass and steel made Artrium aimed to become one of the best comtemporary museum, connecting the museum to the streets of Gwanghwamun. 

 This museum boasts a large Ilmin collection. There are 430 pieces of Ilmin collection from Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to present, 1,200 pieces in the Donga Newspaper's collection of art, and 100 pieces of art owned by Hyundai Corporation. The Ilmin Collection mostly consists of pieces that Kim Sang-man collected from ceramics to aesthetic paintings. The Dongah Newspaper's collection has time-relevant pieces that are important in history.

Luii (루이)

1.1Km    2024-07-17

40, Sejong-daero 21-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-736-8889

Luii is a Chinese restaurant operated by a veteran chef with extensive experience in Chinese cuisine. The restaurant has several rooms of different sizes to accommodate various events. It also has a VIP room for more private gatherings.

Heroes of Independence Look at the Stars (독립의 영웅, 별을 보다)

1.1Km    2025-05-21

서울특별시 서대문구 통일로 251 (현저동)

Pyunkang Yul Flagship & Tea house (편강 율 플래그십&티하우스)

1.1Km    2025-12-10

35-4 Bukchon-ro 5ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Pyunkang Yul Flagship & Tea house is a cafe in Bukchon Hanok Village near Gyeongbokgung Palace. The first floor is a teahouse where one can enjoy Korean tea infused with traditional ingredients and delightful desserts with a view of the cafe's serene garden, and the second floor is a flagship store of Pyeongang Yul, a K-beauty brand known for integrating hanbang (traditional Korean medicine) in their skincare products. The third floor features a rooftop that offers a sweeping view of the Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Jogyesa Temple (조계사(서울))

1.1Km    2024-10-25

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

As the main temple as well as the district head temple of the Jogye order in Seoul, Jogyesa Temple is the center of Korean Buddhism. The temple was built in the late 14th century during the Goryeo period but was completely destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt under the name of Gakwangsa Temple in 1910 with the effort of many respectful monks, namely Han Yong-un and Lee Hee-gwang. The temple was given a role as the head temple of Korea’s Buddhism and renamed to Tegosa Temple in 1936. In 1954, a purification drive took place to eliminate Japanese influence and revive traditional Buddhism, which established the present day Jogyesa Temple as a result.

Jogyesa Temple plays an important role in Korean Buddhism as the head temple of the Jogye order. Jogyesa Temple’s Dharma Hall serves as the main venue for several Buddhist events, holding rituals, lectures, ceremonies, and other events all year long. The annual lantern festival in celebration of Buddha's birthday also takes place at this temple.

Bukchon Hanok Village Gamgodang Street (북촌한옥마을 감고당길)

1.1Km    2025-10-30

Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

An alley with cute cafes and galleries
This is the road that appeared in the last episode and the flashback scene where Choi Ung (played by Choi Woosik) and Kuk Yeonsoo (played by Kim Dami) got drunk. Behind the Seoul Craft Museum in Bukchon Hanok Village, it extends for about 440m from Poongmoon Girls' High School to Jeongdok Library. There are many pretty cafes and galleries on the cozy road, and there are also craft markets open, so there is plenty to look around. The alley where Kuk Yeonsoo walked with the drunken Choi Ung on her back is Yunboseon Street in the middle of Gamgodang Street. It stretches along the hill between narrow tiled walls and stone walls, giving off a unique atmosphere.

World Jewellery Museum (세계장신구박물관)

1.2Km    2023-09-21

2, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-1610

Situated in the gallery district in the back alley of Samcheong-dong (east of Gyeongbokgung Palace), the World Jewellery Museum houses 3,000 jewelry pieces from 60 countries, which have been collected over 30 years. Of which, 1,000 have been selected for display. The first floor contains an Amber Wall that goes back as far as 50 million years, the Golden Hall (El Dorado), the Necklace Hall, and the solemn Alter of the Cross. The second floor holds a mask wall, rings, beads and ivory as well as modern jewelry.