Seodaemun Independence Park (서대문독립공원) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seodaemun Independence Park (서대문독립공원)

2.6Km    2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Seodaemun Independence Park was built on the former Seoul Detention Camp. It was used to imprison thousands of Korean independence activists until the liberation from the Japanese occupation on August 15, 1945, as well as the political prisoners during the political turmoil in the 1960s. When the prison was moved to Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do in November 1987, the area was restored and turned into a memorial park in August 15, 1992 to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs. The park preserves seven prison buildings, an execution ground, underground women’s prison, and the March 1st Movement Monument that has been moved from Tapgol Park in Jongno.

One of the most significant monuments of the Seodaemun Independence Park is Dongnimmun Gate (Independence Gate), which has been designated a Historic Site. Nearby is Dongnipgwan (Independence Hall), originally called Mohwagwan, which was used to greet Chinese envoys during the Joseon dynasty. Today, the hall enshrines 2,327 tablets inscribed with the names of Koreans who died for the cause of national independence. Standing right next to Dongnimmun Gate are the remnants of Yeongeunmun Gate, another Historic Site. Other sights inside the park include the Patriotic Martyr Monument, Declaration of Independence Monument, and Statue of Dr. Seo Jae-pil, who was an independence activist and publisher of Korea’s first independent newspaper. The main highlight of the park is the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, a former prison building that was renovated into a history museum.

Seoul Hiking Tourism Center - Bugaksan Branch (서울도심등산관광센터(북악산))

Seoul Hiking Tourism Center - Bugaksan Branch (서울도심등산관광센터(북악산))

2.6Km    2024-03-05

88 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Bugaksan branch of Seoul Hiking Tourism Center is located on Samcheong-dong Culture Street and provides various services to hikers. It provides hiking course guidance and information (available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese) about the mountains of Seoul, including Bukhansan, Bugaksan, and Inwangsan Mountains, as well as promotional materials such as Seoul hiking tourism guidebooks and maps. Also, it operates hiking tour programs with various themes every week for foreigners and offers hiking gear rental services such as hiking boots, hiking attire, trekking poles, gloves, and crampons for foreigners. (Koreans accompanied by foreigners can also rent the gear.) In addition, there is a storage locker and lounge for visitors, so they can pack up and rest before hiking.

Gyeongnidan Street (경리단길)

2.6Km    2023-01-18

Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Gyeongnidan Street refers to the 937-meter-long road from the main gate of MND Financial Management Corps to Grand Hyatt Seoul as well as all of the nearby streets and alleys. It is called Gyeongnidan Street because the Korean army's central finance corps, or Gyeongnidan in Korean, used to be located here, and has gained fame for presenting a different vibe than that of Itaewon despite being part of Itaewon-dong. Gyeongnidan Street is an area of culture and youth where people are able to enjoy diverse and special cuisine and dishes at unique restaurants and cafes. Although it resembles a typical neighborhood of Seoul, it features foreigners who have come from many different places around the globe living in natural harmony with Korean locals, which exudes a unique, exotic atmosphere. It is fun to walk along the various streets and alleys to discover novel and sophisticated shops.

Cheong Wa Dae Media Display (청와대 국민과 함께 영상전시)

Cheong Wa Dae Media Display (청와대 국민과 함께 영상전시)

2.6Km    2025-08-20

1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
박주원 학예연구사 02-3771-8636

Cheong Wa Dae Media Display brightens the night through a media facade display on Yeongbingwan Hall. The display shows the history of Cheong Wa Dae through the theme "Twelve Lights".

Danha(단하)

Danha(단하)

2.6Km    2025-11-05

39-7 Palpan-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

BLACKPINK's “HOW YOU LIKE THAT” music video created a sensation, reaching 100 million views within 32 hours of its release. The most noteworthy part of the music video was the hanbok they wore. Danha, which was in charge of making the costumes, improved the traditional hanbok and completely recreated it as a stage costume, garnering attention from all over the world. Danha is famous for designing hanboks using traditional patterns. The patterns engraved on the clothes in the BLACKPINK music video used the phoenix design pattern of the royal cloth. Danha's hanbok can be purchased through the online shop, and if you want to have it custom-made, you can visit Danha Maison after making a reservation.

National Memorial of Korean Provisional Government (국립대한민국임시정부기념관)

2.6Km    2023-01-16

279-24, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

The National Memorial of Korean Provisional Government was established to shine a light on the proud history of the Korean Provisional Government's independence and the spirit of a democratic republic and to pass it on to future generations. The four-story memorial building with three underground floors houses three permanent exhibits, one special exhibit, Larchiveum, Symbol Plaza, storage, multi-purpose hall, and rooftop garden over a total area of 3,656 square meters, a total floor area of 9,703 square meters and a total exhibition space of 2,240 square meters. The permanent exhibits consist of a series of historic events from the March 1st Movement, which served as a turning point for the formation of the Provisional Government, to the foundation of the Korean Government that succeeded the mantle of the provisional government, while the special exhibit on the 1st floor currently hosts a special opening exhibition under the title of 『The Return of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea』. Moreover, a symbolic wall installation under the theme of "Waves of History" is displayed in the outdoor plaza on the 1st floor of the memorial expressing the Provisional Government’s desire for independence and the dynamics of the past, present, and future of Korea.

GRANDHAND. Gahoe (그랑핸드 가회점)

GRANDHAND. Gahoe (그랑핸드 가회점)

2.6Km    2025-12-04

61 Bukchon-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Launched in 2014 at a small hanok in Bukchon Hanok Village, this Korean perfume brand now has nine stores around Seoul. With no advertisements or online sales, GRANDHAND has preserved its roots for years. GRANDHAND. Gahoe located amidst the beautiful surroundings of Bukchon Hanok Village and various art museums has customers of all ages and nationalities.

K.O.N.G Gallery (공근혜갤러리)

K.O.N.G Gallery (공근혜갤러리)

2.6Km    2025-10-28

38 Samcheong-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Samcheong-dong)

Since its opening in 2005, the gallery has made a significant impact on the Korean photography scene by introducing world-class photographers to Korea. It relocated to its present site next to the Cheongwadae, Samcheong-dong, in 2010, adding spaces for painting, sculpture, video, installation, and other forms of contemporary art. The gallery focuses on artists based in Paris, London, and New York, presenting works that represent the current state of contemporary art in the 21st century. It also plays a vital role as a Korean gallery by discovering young Korean artists and supporting their overseas activities.

Ewha Womans University Museum (이화여자대학교박물관)

Ewha Womans University Museum (이화여자대학교박물관)

2.7Km    2022-09-14

52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

The Ewha Womans University Museum was established in 1935 with the goal of preserving the cultural heritage of Korea. Originally, items related to folk art, traditional woodwork, and pottery were put on display in the hall of the main university to keep them from being confiscated during the Japanese occupation. This later led to the opening of the museum to display and store the growing collection.

Regular exhibitions of the museum’s collection have been taking place annually from 1972. Since 1996, the museum also held special exhibitions that focus on other themes related to cultural heritage. Additional small-scale exhibitions are also held frequently to promote Korea's traditional culture and art.

A ceramics research facility as well as a more traditional museum, a large portion of the museum’s efforts is focused on the research and excavation of kilns. To this aim, excavation teams from the museum have traveled to various parts of the country to conduct studies on historic sites and assess the value of artifacts. Through the publication of books and reports on its discoveries, the museum has contributed to raising knowledge and awareness of Korean cultural heritage in academia and among the public.

Ewha Welcome Center (이화웰컴센터)

2.7Km    2022-09-13

52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Ewha Welcome Center opened in 2013 as the first promotional center and visitor center of its kind on a university campus in Korea, comprised of an information desk, exhibition lounge, and gift shop. The information desk offers useful information to help visitors get the most out of their Ewha campus experience. The exhibition lounge introduces the history, traditions, and vision of the present-day and future of the university year-round. Visitors can purchase university gear at the gift shop. Furthermore, foreign visitors can take part in a range of campus tour programs in English and Chinese for an enriching experience.