1.8Km 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.
1.8Km 2021-06-10
Jongno3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul-si
+82-2-1330
There is an enormous selection of wholesalers and retail jewelry stores in this district, spread throughout Jongno 3(sam)-ga and 4(sa)-ga. The glittering showcases here are especially popular amongst couples and foreign tourists looking to find fine jewelry at affordable prices. Stores in the jewelry district have a selection of designs that are extraordinarily diverse and prices that are 30 to 40% lower than at other jewelry outlets in Korea.
- A fabulous selection at wholesale prices
The Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District is located in Jongno, with shops flooding the alleyways all along the main street and stretching for a length of one kilometer. The area holds a total of over 1,000 jewelry stores, some 300 design and manufacturing stores, and 20 licensed evaluators.
The Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District originated in Yeji-dong of Jongno 4(sa)-ga, then expanded to include Bongik-dong near the Danseongsa Theater at Jongno 3(sam)-ga.
As the district grew, retail jewelry stores both large and small populated both sides of the main street from Jonggak to Jongno 5(oh)-ga.
Most of the stores in Yeji-dong deal in watches and gemstones, giving the area the name Watch Alley. The back alleys of Bongik-dong and Yeji-dong are mostly filled with wholesalers whose clients consist of brokers and jewelers from around the country. Retail sales are possible at these shops, but some of them might hesitate to deal in small quantities.
The larger stores along Jong-ro literally glitter with dozens of flashy showcases presenting a great selection of jewelry and other precious metals. Prices are already discounted to begin with, but you may be able to bargain even further.
Stores in this district are affiliated with setting factories, so if you have a special design in mind, you can probably get it custom ordered. Thus, if you go in with a brand name jewelry brochure, they will most likely be able to make a similar looking item or even customize it to your preferences.
In addition to its grand variety of diamonds, rubies, domestic amethysts, and almost any precious stone you can imagine, gold is also available in 14k, 18k and 24k yellow or white, as well as in platinum. Watches are often discounted at 50-60% off the retail price, and of course this is the very best place to buy fancy wedding jewelry at amazingly low prices.
We suggest, however, that you take your time and look around, because prices, not to mention their inventory, will vary significantly from shop to shop.
As soon as a new brochure is published by an international brand such as Cartier, TIFFANY or BVLGARI, near-identical designs appear in these stores almost immediately.
Furthermore, this area has recently become the home of accessories for famous Korean entertainers. Companies in the district will consult with coordinators, then design and manufacture items, and lend them to stars for them to wear. When entertainers wear this jewelry on television, the coverage serves to promote these designs. Examples of designs that have attracted a lot of attention previously, include Lee Seung-yeon’s earrings, Jeon Ji-hyeon’s necklace, Moon Hee-jun’s necklace, Lee Yeong-ae’s earrings, and much more.
Nowadays, many foreign tourists, especially Japanese tourists, make the trip to the Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District, as prices here are much cheaper than in their home countries.
The Jewelry District is conveniently located at the center of Seoul’s major palaces and near the downtown areas. Of these, the closest tourist areas include Myeong-dong, downtown Jong-ro, Dongdaemun Market, and Namdaeumun Market.
1.8Km 2021-03-16
71, Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2280-7000
Hotel PJ is located near Euljiro 4-ga, a transportation hub connecting subway lines 2, 3, 4, and 5, allowing guests to reach Seoul's tourist destinations such as Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, Namsan, Insa-dong, Hongdae, and Daehangno with ease. The hotel has 272 guestrooms as well as a restaurant, cafe, banquet halls, and a business center.
1.8Km 2022-12-14
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.
1.8Km 2020-12-10
439, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-5355-3029
Located in Gyeongun-dong, Jongno-gu at the very heart of Seoul, Sieunjae is a hanok with a longstanding tradition. It has three guestrooms including the anbang (main room), byeolchae (detached building), and jakeunbang (small room). The anbang is the only room with a living room, where various items of old furniture, including a comfortable sofa, create an antique atmosphere. The communal bathroom and toilets are supplied with toiletries, while the communal kitchen is equipped with cooking equipment and a washing machine.
The house can be rented either as individual accommodations or in its entirety. As it is situated in Jongno-gu, at the very heart of Seoul, guests can easily reach many nearby major tourist attractions. Car users are advised to use the public parking lot as the house has no parking spaces. Entering by a small gate, the little flowerbed comes into sight. This old hanok shows traces of repair works on the tiled roof.
1.8Km 2021-03-19
430, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-762-5157
A gopchang (intestine) restaurant located near Nakwon Music Mall. The best menu at this restaurant is beef small intestine hot pot/pork small intestine hot pot. This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno, Seoul.
1.8Km 2016-12-30
6, Insadong 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-737-1155
Sarangchae is located in Insa-dong, one of the most famous neighborhoods visited by tourists. Majority of the restaurant's customers are foreigners, and they offer reasonably priced Korean dishes that are highly popular among foreign visitors.
1.8Km 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.
1.8Km 2017-02-01
1-5, Sajik-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-2608
Not like usual Gamjatang (pork back-bone stew), Halmajip’s Gamjatang uses only bean sprout and leek to make a refreshing soup taste along with red pepper powder, for a spicy flavor.
1.8Km 2021-03-29
20, Cheongpa-ro 47na-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-706-9093
You can enjoy coffee roasted by a professional barista. This cafe is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The most famous menu is americano.