Dongnimmun Gate (독립문)

2.1Km 2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Dongnimmun stands at the location originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet. In 1898, to announce the independence from Japan, Dongnimun was constructed with the fund collected by the citizens. The traces of the past still remain on Dongnimmun with two pillars in front of Dongnimmun being the remains of Yeongeunmun.

The Arc de Triomphe in France can be recalled in comparison to Dongnimmun. Dongnimmun was built using granite with a passageway x_height of 14.28 meters. On the top it is written ‘Dongnimmun’ in Korean with the national flag drawn on each side. On the inner-left side there are stone stairs leading to the attic. The national flower Mugunghwa are planted around Dongnimmun. Now it is surrounded by roads and it is eye-catching to view when passing by.

Onion Anguk Branch (어니언 안국)

2.1Km 2024-02-20

5 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Onion is a café situated in a hanok dating back to the 1920s. Renovated with careful preservation of the daecheongmaru and madang, the café offers a glimpse into traditional Korean architecture. The signature menu item is the vanilla bean latte, and popular desserts include pandoro and salty butter bread. Its proximity to nearby attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace makes it a convenient stop for those exploring Seoul's major palaces.

Tongin Market (통인시장)

2.1Km 2025-06-19

18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Tongin Market dates back to June 1941, as a public market set up for Japanese residents near the Hyoja-dong neighborhood when Korea was still under Japanese rule. After the Korean War, the nation experienced a swift rise in population, which led to a natural increase in consumption and demand. As a result the area’s street vendors and stores used the former Tongin Market area as their marketplace. Now, Tongin Market consists of 75 stores, most of which are restaurants and grocery stores. There are also some shops selling manufactured goods like underwear and shoes.

Tteok Museum (떡박물관)

2.1Km 2021-09-29

71, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-5447

The Tteok Museum displays over 2,000 Korean kitchen utensils and tteok (rice cake) related items, arranged by various themes. The displayed utensils are handmade household necessities that are ingenuous, yet reveal the lifestyle of the working class. The elderly may relive fond childhood memories and the younger generation can experience the wisdom of ancestors through the rare kitchen utensils.

Jilsiru -Rice Cake Café (떡카페 질시루)

2.1Km 2020-04-24

71, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-0258

Jilsiru is a modern cafe serving a panoply of traditional snacks. Customers may enjoy the wide variety of tteok (rice cake), hangwa (Korean traditional sweets & cookies), and traditional organic beverages at this cafe with a sophisicated interior.

Moonguesthouse(문게스트하우스)

2.1Km 2024-06-20

31-18, Samil-daero 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-745-8008, +82-10-8704-9981

The Moon Guesthouse is situated near a number of interesting tourist destinations including Unhyeongung Palace (3min on foot), Bukchon Hanok Village (5min on foot), Changdeokgung Palace (5min on foot), and Changgyeonggung Palace (10min on foot). The guesthouse was named ‘moon’ (‘door’ in English) because it has many 176 doors and windows. Upon entering by the gate, visitors will see a ‘ㄷ’-shaped hanok building in the courtyard, in which a wooden bedstead and a table are placed. On the opposite of the hanok building there is a wall roofed with tiles engraved with Korean patterns such as deer, pine, turtle, etc. Flowers in the flowerbed lined up along the wall are in bloom and the bonsai are also well-kept in the house. Renovated and opened as a guesthouse in September 2011, Moon Guesthouse consists of a bonchae (main building) and a byeolchae (detached house). The rooms are decorated with red clay and hanji (traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees), and have under-the-floor heating (ondol). Each room is equipped with an air-conditioner, and has a 40cm-thick layer of red clay over the ceiling for insulation, making the rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. The house has seven individual guestrooms and five modern bathrooms, but the entire building (bonchae or byeolchae) can be rented, too. In particular, the unhyeondang of the bonchae is very popular as it can be converted into one large space for special events, group workshops, etc. simply by opening all the sliding doors (Bunhapmun – Goryeo construction style). This room, which is decorated with a flower-patterned windscreen, a landscape painting, and calligraphy, has been used as a shooting location for various TV programs including KBS2’s TV reality program Man’s Qualification and its variety show The Human Condition. The guestrooms are also equipped with traditional furniture including a cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The guesthouse also provides a variety of experience programs from 11am to 3pm, including tea ceremony, wearing Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), making kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste), playing a traditional musical instrument, making a rubbing of a stone inscription, calligraphy, drawing orchids on a fan, and so on. The house has about seventy hanbok and other clothing accessories, as well as a royal costume. Its calligraphy and drawing orchid programs are run directly by the owner, who used to work as a classical Chinese teacher at a high school.

Jalppajin Memil Ikseon Branch (잘빠진메밀 익선)

2.1Km 2024-03-18

73 Yulgok-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-4531-1214

Jalppajin Memil is a specialty restaurant that directly kneads 100% buckwheat dough to make buckwheat noodles. They offer both bibim makguksu (spicy buckwheat noodles) and mul makguksu (buckwheat noodles). Additionally, they serve memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe), memil mandu (buckwheat mandu), and tender suyuk (boiled pork slices). They have a selection of 10 different kinds of makgeolli (unrefined rice wine) including chestnut, citrus, corn, and mulberry, allowing customers to choose according to their preference. Their famous makgeolli sampler set, which allows customers to taste five different types of makgeolli in small quantities, is popular.

Hostel Tommy (호스텔 토미)

2.1Km 2021-05-27

66, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-744-6844

Hostel Tommy is located in the Jongno district, right in the middle of Seoul. The location is within walking distance from some of the major tourist attractions such as Changdeokgung Palace, Samcheong-dong, Insa-dong, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Myeong-dong, and Dongdaemun Shopping Center. Jongno 3-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3 & 5) and the Airport Bus Stop are also easily accessible from the hostel, making travel by public transportation convenient. The hostel provides free international calls and wireless internet access to guests. Friendly and helpful staff that speak English, French, or Japanese are always available to make sure guests have a comfortable stay. All rooms have a bathroom, mini-fridge, TV, towels, and a hair dryer. Toast, eggs, coffee, juice and jam are served for breakfast every morning.

Hwangsaengga Kalguksu (황생가칼국수)

2.1Km 2024-03-18

78 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-739-6334

Hwangsaengga Kalguksu is a specialty restaurant located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, known for its kalguksu (noodle soup). Kalguksu is a type of noodle soup made by thinly slicing dough into noodles with a knife and boiling them in a broth made from beef bones, clams, or seafood. Their menu includes options like wang mandu (jumbo mandu), hanu suyuk (boiled Korean beef slices), kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean soup), beoseot jeongol (mushroom hot pot), and mandutguk (mandu soup). It was selected as a Michelin Guide Seoul 2023 restaurant.

Sewoon Plaza (세운상가)

2.1Km 2024-10-25

159 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Makercity Sewoon is Korea's first comprehensive electronics market, established in 1968 and has a 40-year history. As a mecca in the urban electronics industry area located in Jongno, the center of Seoul, you can purchase various electronic products here.
Since 2014, Seoul's urban regeneration project has been underway, and a pedestrian overpass, rooftop observatory, plaza, and Makers Cube, where you can experience the 4th industrial revolution, have been created to provide unique attractions.

Dongnimmun Gate (독립문) - Area information - Korea travel information