Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

2.4Km 2023-08-11

5, Chilpae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Seosomun Gate area, which is located outside Seosomun Gate, was used as a persecution site in the 19th century before it turned into the local park of today. Many Catholics were suppressed and martyred here, making the area a holy site for Korean Catholics. Seosomun Gate was a gateway to Chilpae Market located near Namdaemun Gate. It was always busy with passerbys and the persecution site was established outside the gate to set an example of crime punishment to all the witnesses.

On May 15, 1999, a memorial tower was raised at the center of the park in honor of the martyrs. In 2013, Seoul's Jung-gu district also founded Seosumun Holy Shrine History Museum with a memorial exhibition hall in their honor.

Jangan Accessory Shopping Center (장안 액세서리상가)

2.5Km 2021-06-04

42-2, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-5600

Jangan Accessory Shopping Center has a history of offering visitors unique accessories with colorful designs. Each shop boasts its own items, different from other stores. Visitors can enjoy purchasing accessories at discounted prices.

Bijindo Haemulttukbaegi (비진도해물뚝배기)

2.5Km 2021-03-30

53, Seosomun-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-312-2867

It is a place that many tourists, as well as office workers, visit. This seafood restaurant is located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is seafood hot pot.

Hanaro Optics [Tax Refund Shop] (하나로안경원)

2.5Km 2024-04-19

48, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Pildong Myeonok (필동면옥)

2.5Km 2024-03-07

26, Seoae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2266-2611

Pildong Myeonok specializes in authentic pyeongyang naengmyeon (pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles). Their signature dish is Pyeongyang naengmyeon (Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles), which has a light and refreshing broth and chewy noodles. Mandu and Mandut guk (Mandu soup) are also popular dishes to go with it. Having been selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul 2023, this restaurant is a favorite among locals and tourists alike for its flavorful noodles.

Seodaemun Independence Park (서대문독립공원)

2.5Km 2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3140-8305

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.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

2.5Km 2024-10-25

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2261-0500

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.

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion (북악스카이 팔각정)

2.5Km 2024-12-31

267 Bugaksan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion exudes a tranquil, serene beauty regardless of the season. The pavilion, which sits on Bugaksan's 1,652,900 square meter summit at an altitude of 345 meters, was built in a traditional Korean-style and became a popular attraction within the city. There are also spaces for visitors to enjoy food and drinks.

Pyounghwa (Pyeonghwa) Fashion Town (서울 평화시장)

2.5Km 2025-01-06

274, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2265-3531~3

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’.

Soda - Hyundai Dongdaemun Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (소다 현대동대문점)

2.5Km 2024-04-22

3F, 20, Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원) - Area information - Korea travel information