Dongdaemun Shopping Complex·Dongdaemun Shopping Town (동대문 종합시장·동대문 쇼핑타운) - Area information - Korea travel information

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex·Dongdaemun Shopping Town (동대문 종합시장·동대문 쇼핑타운)

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex·Dongdaemun Shopping Town (동대문 종합시장·동대문 쇼핑타운)

2.6Km    2025-06-30

266 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Dongdaemun Shopping Complex is one of Korea’s most well-known markets. It was founded in December 1970 as the largest of its kind in Asia and has maintained that status for the last 40 years. Browsing the plethora of shops, you can find fabric and clothing following all the latest global fashion trends. Dongdaemun Shopping Complex continues to build up its reputation as a hub of international design.

Seoul City Wall Museum (한양도성박물관)

Seoul City Wall Museum (한양도성박물관)

2.6Km    2023-12-22

283, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, built in 1396, was the city fortress wall that protected the capital city Seoul for over 600 years. The fortress wall was built along the terrains and although it became partially damaged during the modernization process, its original form remains well to this day, making it a cultural heritage that coexists with the modern city. The Seoul City Wall Museum, located in Heungjinjimun Park, is a museum containing the history and culture of city wall from the Joseon dynasty to the present. It is a cultural space with a permanent exhibition hall, special exhibition hall, city wall information center, and study room.

Hillhouse Hotel / 힐하우스 호텔

Hillhouse Hotel / 힐하우스 호텔

2.7Km    2025-03-18

42 , Sogong-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hill House Hotel is a business hotel at the foot of Namsan Mountain in Seoul. Free internet is available in all rooms, and there is a shared microwave on the first floor. A free luggage storage service is provided for customers’ convenience. Nearby transport links include Hoehyeon subway station, Seoul Station, and Myeongdong subway station, so this is a good base for exploring downtown Seoul. Namsan Park, N Seoul Tower and Namdaemun Market are all within walking distance.

Namsan Cable Car (남산 케이블카)

2.7Km    2024-10-25

83 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsan Cable Car provides a panoramic view of downtown Seoul. The cable car has been in operation for over 40 years, taking tourists and residents alike to Namsan Seoul Tower, one of the most representative tourist attractions in the city.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

2.7Km    2025-07-14

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (서울 남산국악당)

Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (서울 남산국악당)

2.7Km    2021-08-02

28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Seoul Namsan Gukakdang was established by Seoul Metropolitan Government as a representative traditional art-centered performance hall in 2007. It is comprised of one ground and two basement levels. The performance hall is located on the basement floor with 300 seats, equipped with facilities that deliver pansori sounds and gayageum music to every seat. Visitors can make a reservation at the Namsangol Hanok Village website.

Pyounghwa (Pyeonghwa) Fashion Town (서울 평화시장)

Pyounghwa (Pyeonghwa) Fashion Town (서울 평화시장)

2.8Km    2025-01-06

274, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Pyounghwa Fashion Town market in Dongdaemun has been selling fashion clothing and accessories for over 50 years ever since the end of the Korean War. It was here that in 1953 North Korean refugees started selling clothes made from US army uniforms. Their market was then named Pyounghwa, which means peace, in the hope that no other wars would be fought on Korean soil. The Pyounghwa Fashion Town was therefore the beginning of the 30,000 stores that now make up Dongdaemun Fashion Town, which is seen as one of the global centers of the fashion industry.

Spread over a large area, this historical fashion market is divided into several districts, the ‘Gu Pyounghwa Fashion Town’ is the oldest, and there is also the ‘Shin Pyounghwa Fashion Town’, ‘Dong Pyounghwa Fashion Town’, and ‘Cheong Pyounghwa Fashion Town’.

Cheonggyecheon Old Books Street (청계천헌책방거리)

Cheonggyecheon Old Books Street (청계천헌책방거리)

2.8Km    2023-12-22

20 Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Walking east along Cheonggyecheon Stream, which flows near Sewoon Plaza, you will see a cluster of small bookstores. Books published 30 to 50 years ago, and various out-of-date magazines are piled up in about ten bookstores. You can indirectly experience the old culture and history that formed the basis of K-content, and sometimes you can also find foreign books. Nearby is Dongdaemun Market, a wholesale market selling various subsidiary materials, and Pyounghwa Market (open from night to early morning), where you can browse clothing fabrics, which are excellent places to visit together.

Haepungbuwongun Yun Taekyeong's Jaesil (해풍부원군윤택영댁재실)

Haepungbuwongun Yun Taekyeong's Jaesil (해풍부원군윤택영댁재실)

2.8Km    2021-11-10

28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Haepungbuwongun Yun Taekyeong's Jaesil is a shrine house built by the father-in-law of King Sunjong of Joseon dynasty in 1906 when his daughter was proclaimed the crowned princess of Joseon and entered Changdeokgung Palace to later become Queen Sunjeong. Red pine trees salvaged from the demolition of Gyeongungung Palace were used to construct the house. It was originally located in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, but was later restored and moved to its present location. The shrine of the house that was destroyed in 1960 was also restored.
Because the house is more of a shrine rather than residential living quarters, it has many unique features. For example, unlike other houses, it has the anchae (women’s quarters) located across from sarangbang (men’s quarters) with daecheong (living room) positioned between them.

Heunginjimun Gate - Dongdaemun Gate (흥인지문)

Heunginjimun Gate - Dongdaemun Gate (흥인지문)

2.8Km    2025-10-23

288, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed essential government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year in 1396, remodeled during the reign of King Danjong in 1453, and was newly built in 1869 during the sixth year of King Gojong’s reign in 1869.

The gate features a hipped roof with five front and two side compartments on a two-storied building. The thin and weak bracket system supports the eaves and is excessively decorated, reflecting the construction features of the late Joseon period. Also, outside of the fortress is the half-circle-shaped Ongseong, a small wall, to protect the gate.

One of the unique factors of Heunginjimun Gate is that it is the only gate among Seoul’s eight to have Ongseong, further exhibiting the style of construction used during the late Joseon period.