Dong-Lim Knot Museum (동림매듭박물관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Dong-Lim Knot Museum (동림매듭박물관)

Dong-Lim Knot Museum (동림매듭박물관)

613.3M    2021-12-21

10, Bukchon-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Opened in April 2004, Dong-Lim Knot Museum exhibits a variety of decorative traditional Korean maedeup (knots): norigae for hanbok, belts, pouches, as well as materials like thread, cord, and accessories. Housed in a hanok, a traditional Korean house, the gallery has a variety of exhibits, including old and new artwork, and creations that reflect modern trends.

Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery (서울아트센터 공평갤러리)

Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery (서울아트센터 공평갤러리)

626.2M    2021-06-19

24, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Opened in 1992, Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery is a 17,791㎡, two-story building with four exhibition halls. It is one of the main galleries of Insa-dong, displaying diverse artwork ranging from Western and Korean paintings to sculptures. Due to the great interest in Korean paintings, 2~3 of the annual long-term exhibitions focus solely on them.

Baek In-je House (백인제가옥)

Baek In-je House (백인제가옥)

627.5M    2025-10-24

16 Bukchon-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Baek In-je House, located in Bukchon Hanok Village, is a hanok built during the Japanese administration period that portrays modern hanok features. The structure consists of a main room offering a good view of the whole village, spacious bedrooms, a large garden, and annex buildings. As it maintains the beauty of a traditional hanok while incorporating the modern trend of its time, Baek In-je House is considered to be highly valuable in means of both architecture and history, representing the Bukchon Hanok Village together with Yun Bo-seon House.

Baek In-je House was built from black pine, which was first introduced in Seoul during the Gyeongseong Expo in 1907, distinguishing itself from other upper-class houses of its time. Unlike other traditional hanok designs that separate the main building from the other rooms, Baek In-je House connects the two with a hallway, allowing convenient access between the two structures. The house also consists of a Japanese-style hallway and floor mat rooms, reflecting the interior trends of that period. Baek In-je House is also unique in that the main room is partially built as a two-story structure, a style that was never seen in any traditional hanok built during the Joseon period.

Toin (토인)

Toin (토인)

627.1M    2025-11-05

48 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Toy store where you can buy Dalgona sets
It is a retro-style store that sells nostalgic toys and snacks. The small space is filled with colorfully colored wrapping paper and toys that are difficult to understand at first glance. As soon as you enter this place, children and adults will feel excited and their eyes will sparkle. Among the various products, the most popular item is by far the Dalgona set. It is good to make new memories by choosing snacks and toys that suit your taste

Matthew Chang Anguk (메튜장 안국)

Matthew Chang Anguk (메튜장 안국)

634.9M    2025-07-14

33 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Matthew Chang Anguk flagship store uses the whole space to bring the brand's philosophy to life through fragrance. Located in Anguk, the heart of Korea's tradition and aesthetics, the store's tranquil atmosphere sets the mood for visitors to try on and experiment with the brand's carefully selected perfume collection. The staff provides assistance in recommending the perfect scent according to visitor's preference, mood, and nostalgia. The store also has a section dedicated to body care products, such as hand wash and body lotion.

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

635.2M    2025-03-16

29 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

As of today, there are approximately 70 shops in the Insa-dong area that sell antique arts. Some of the products they sell include antique artworks, porcelains, woodcrafts, and metalwork. Visitors may even find rare and valuable products such as earthenware from the Silla period or white porcelain used in the Joseon dynasty. Each shop is a specialty store, authorized to sell product types that are of their expertise, ranging from antique furniture and traditional artworks to handcrafted items.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

655.6M    2025-06-19

4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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.

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

660.7M    2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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.

Museum Kimchikan (뮤지엄 김치간)

Museum Kimchikan (뮤지엄 김치간)

665.6M    2025-06-19

(4-6th floor, Maru Art Center), 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Museum Kimchikan is a museum dedicated to kimchi in Insa-dong’s Maru Art Center. The exhibition details the culture, history, trajectory, and efficacy of kimchi and teaches the visitors how to make kimchi through videos. Visitors can also sample different types of kimchi. The museum offers both individual and group experience programs.

Insadong Cultural Street (인사동 문화의 거리)

Insadong Cultural Street (인사동 문화의 거리)

676.6M    2023-12-26

Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Metropolitan City

Insadong Cultural Street is a popular tourist destination for visitors from all around the world, thanks to its numerous art galleries, restaurants serving Korean table d’hote, traditional teahouses, and street vendors lining the streets. Its most recognizable feature is the use of Hangeul (Korean script) in storefronts, which allows the visitors to really see just what makes this place so special. Unlike the nearby Ikseon-dong Hanok Street, Insadong Cultural Street has larger streets with wider stores, so it is much easier to traverse. On evenings and weekends, one can find buskers performing on the side of the road.