Korea House (한국의집) - Area information - Korea travel information

Korea House (한국의집)

1.1Km    2025-10-23

10, Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building.

It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese.

In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.

Korea House (한국의집)

1.1Km    2024-03-05

10 Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2266-9101

Located in the center of Seoul, Korea House is a must-visit tourism spot as a high-end cultural complex offering Hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hote), traditional refreshments, traditional performance arts, and traditional weddings, allowing visitors to feel the beauty of Korean culture and the taste of Korea. Guests can also enjoy the elegant beauty of hanok.

Insa-dong (인사동)

1.1Km    2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Ojugine (오죽이네)

1.1Km    2024-12-10

Ojugine is a restaurant that specializes in dak maeuntang, a spicy chicken stew that is different from dak bokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken), as the former has more soup than the latter. The stew is served whilst boiling, so one just needs to let it sit for a bit on the table before digging in. The spicy sauce and chicken are a match made in heaven, and the same goes for this dish. Interestingly, Ojugine uses smaller chickens to prepare their dishes, so the flesh braises in the stock faster. The resulting combination is sure to offer a memorable meal. Any remaining soup can be reused as a sauce for fried rice after the main meal, so visitors are advised to leave some space in their stomach.

High - Anguk Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (하이엔드코리아 안국)

1.1Km    2024-04-17

1F, 62-5, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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HANILKWAN - Gwanghwamun Branch (한일관 광화문)

1.1Km    2024-03-18

50, Jong-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-7557

It is a store that has been operating with a long tradition since 1939. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The most famous menu is bulgogi.

Ewha Centennial Hall (이화여고100주년기념관)

1.1Km    2024-02-20

26 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Ewha Centennial Hall is a multimedia education center located next to Ewha Girls' High School. Spanning underground and five above-ground floors, it features a gallery, a cafe, music rooms, individual practice rooms, and audio-visual rooms. The Hwaham Hall on the first and second floors is utilized for performances such as musicals and concerts, as well as educational events.

Teafference Seoul (티퍼런스서울)

1.1Km    2024-02-01

61 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Teafference Seoul is where visitors can taste purple tea made from purple tea leaves that grow naturally on the 1,800-meter plateau in Kenya. As a café and a cultural complex, it comprises a gallery tea café on the first floor where one can enjoy purple tea and art exhibitions, a beauty shop on the second floor, and a rooftop on the third floor. Exhibitions of paintings and photographs are always held using the walls and staircase landings of the spacious interior, making it a great place to relax while enjoying a cup of tea. In addition, this place has an appealing vibe, making it especially popular on social media. Not only is purple tea pretty in color, but it also has less caffeine than green tea or black tea, thus serves as a suitable option for the health-conscious. A variety of menu items are available, including Teafference Signature Purple Tea, Teafference Purple Milk Tea, and Teafference Purple Tea Einspanner. Another recommended menu item is Purple Tea-Makase, a course menu which serves several types of purple tea and desserts.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

1.1Km    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.

Sejong-ro Park (세종로공원)

1.1Km    2022-08-31

jiha 189, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-9598

Sejong-ro Park is located next to Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. Inside the park, there are wooden benches and shaded areas where people can sit and relax. Also available are water fountains, a round outdoor stage, and various sculptures. The lunch crowd from the nearby office buildings often come to the park during weekdays. On the weekends, the park is also used as a venue for outdoor weddings.

Seoul's anthem and the poem "Bulnori" by Ju Yo-han are written on a memorial stone that can be found inside the park.