Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

1.4Km    2024-12-10

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA), the first public museum of craft art in Korea, opened its doors in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, in July 2021 after renovating five buildings of the former Pungmoon Girls’ High School. SeMoCA studies and shares not only works, but also information, records, people, and environment related to craft art with the goal of becoming a dynamic platform for experiencing the technical, practical, artistic, and cultural values of craft.
 SeMoCA holds a collection that comprises various crafts and craft materials covering multiple fields and eras from the traditional to the present. SeMoCA also holds exhibitions that feature the history of craft from traditional to contemporary art as well as local and children’s crafts, along with programs that utilize the museum’s craft installations, craft archives, craft library, and craft resource management system.
The site of the museum has deep historical roots as it is also the Andong Secondary Palace Site, where a detached palace was constructed as a royal residence for King Sejong’s son Prince Yeongeung, and served as a venue for royal celebrations, such as the wedding of King Sunjong. The site is also at the center of Jongno-gu, where Joseon-era master artisans (“gyeonggongjang”) of the royal palace produced and delivered craft works.
<Credit: Seoul Museum of Craft Art>

Larva Town (라바타운)

1.5Km    2022-12-23

1, Gyeonghuigung 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-4609-6492

Larva Town is divided into areas of three different themes: TUBAn Yard, TUBAn Goods, and Cafe Wingcle. TUBAn Yard greets visitors with animation character Larva dressed up as a gatekeeper from the Joseon dynasty along with other amusing sculptures that serve as excellent props for taking souvenir photos. The yard is open to public, welcoming any passerby to stop by and relax. As for TUBAn Goods, the shop is filled with character merchandise targeted towards consumers of diverse age range. Featured characters include TUBAn's iconic Larva, Dinocore, and Wingcle. After looking around TUBAn Yard and TUBAn Goods, visitors can stop by Cafe Wingcle where they can enjoy a cup of coffee with dessert surrounded by adorable Wingcle and friends.

Gwangjang Market (광장시장)

1.5Km    2024-07-08

88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2267-0291

Gwangjang Market was the first permanent market in Korea and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The name Gwangjang means "to gather from afar and keep altogether." The market began as a small trading center that brought in goods from nearby regions, but has now grown into a large wholesale market selling a variety of goods, including upholstery, imported goods, groceries, dried fish, traditional goods, and more. The most popular section of the market is the food street connected to the East Gate, North Gate 2, and South Gate 1. The food street caters to a wide range of patrons due to the plethora of menus available. It is also one of the most recommended tourist attraction for international travelers.

Eunseong Hoejip (은성회집)

1.5Km    2021-03-29

88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2267-6813

You can enjoy Daegu maeuntang (fish stew), which is perfect for hangover. This restaurant's signature menu is sicy codfish stew. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Jeongdong Guksi (정동국시)

1.5Km    2024-06-19

5 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
02-732-0114

Jeongdong Guksi features a rich soup with a clean taste, created by carefully removing the oil dozens of times while boiling Korean beef bones for 15 hours. The restaurant uses this same beef bone broth in their mandutguk (dumpling soup), something not many restaurants do. The rich flavor of the broth combined with the soft dumplings, made in-house daily, is a must-try. The restaurant is also surrounded by many cultural and artistic spaces, making it a great addition to tours in the area.

Bangsan Wholesale Market (방산 종합시장)

1.5Km    2024-10-30

20, Dongho-ro 37-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2268-6691

Bangsan Market is a wholesale market with approximately 250 stores that sells packaging and promotional materials. The market was popular with patissiers in the past and is currently more famous for being a bakery street.

Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

1.5Km    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.

Theatre Changdeokgung (창덕궁 소극장)

1.5Km    2021-12-07

88-1, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-742-7278

Theatre Changdeokgung is located across from Changdeokgung Palace in the Gugak-ro Special Cultural Zone of Seoul. To recreate the traditional Korean entertainment setting and offer a better view of the stage, the theater is designed with floor seatings facing a platform stage. The theater offers a wide array of performances including samulnori (traditional Korean percussion quartet), traditional Korean music, and madanggeuk (a play infused with traditional music and performances). First time visitors often find the creative and cozy experience create a lasting memory of Korean culture and arts. Also nearby the theater are a number of tourist attractions including Changdeokgung Palace, Unhyeongung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, and Insa-dong.

Goethe-Institut Korea (주한독일문화원)

1.5Km    2019-03-18

132, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Goethe-Institut branches out worldwide as a cultural ambassador of Germany. The institution promotes German language and facilitates international cultural exchanges abroad by providing information related to Germany's culture, society and politics.

With an extensive network around the globe consisting of Goethe-Centers, cultural organizations, information centers, language examination centers, and language learning centers, Goethe-Institut is able to carry out tasks centered on foreign culture and educational policies. The center also engages in activities as a partner to Germany’s private and public cultural organizations, the federal government, and local communities.

Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

1.5Km    2025-01-17

55 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seoul Museum of History covers everything about Seoul's history and culture from the prehistoric era to modern times, focusing especially on the Joseon era. The museum aims to raise cultural awareness and build a strong bond within the community by collecting, preserving, researching, and displaying artifacts and materials related to Seoul as well as promoting the city's history and culture to an international audience.