Myeongdong Theater (명동예술극장) - Area information - Korea travel information

Myeongdong Theater (명동예술극장)

1.3Km    2021-06-09

35, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-1644-2003

Myeongdong Theater is an exclusive theatrical performance center, located in what was originally the National Theater of Korea. From 1934 to 1973, the National Theater of Korea pioneered Korean arts and culture, serving as a movie theater, performance hall and art theater. Though it closed its doors in 1975, it was reopened on June 5, 2009 after 3 years of renovation under the name of Myeongdong Theater. The exterior of the theater was left untouched, while the interior was completely updated for a modern design. The theater has a mid-sized performance hall with state-of-the-art stage equipment and a seating capacity of 588 seats. The close proximity of the seats and the stage offers great views as well as allows the audience to share the passion of the performers on stage. The theater presents a range of performances such as theatrical plays, experimental plays, non-verbal performances, and musicals. In addition, the place is a popular venue for diverse events like acting contests, theater festivals and performance festivals.

Seoul Hiking Tourism Center - Bugaksan Branch (서울도심등산관광센터(북악산))

1.3Km    2024-03-05

88 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Bugaksan branch of Seoul Hiking Tourism Center is located on Samcheong-dong Culture Street and provides various services to hikers. It provides hiking course guidance and information (available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese) about the mountains of Seoul, including Bukhansan, Bugaksan, and Inwangsan Mountains, as well as promotional materials such as Seoul hiking tourism guidebooks and maps. Also, it operates hiking tour programs with various themes every week for foreigners and offers hiking gear rental services such as hiking boots, hiking attire, trekking poles, gloves, and crampons for foreigners. (Koreans accompanied by foreigners can also rent the gear.) In addition, there is a storage locker and lounge for visitors, so they can pack up and rest before hiking.

Hangover(행오버)

1.3Km    2025-09-15

서울특별시 종로구 대학로12길 69 (동숭동)

Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (충무공 이순신 동상)

1.3Km    2024-03-04

175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin can be found at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) was a naval commander who served during the Japanese invasion of Korea (also known as Imjin War: 1592-1598). The undefeated admiral achieved 23 victories against the Japanese navy using innovative tactics, and he is thus considered as one of the greatest generals in the history of Korea. Admiral Yi’s likeness can be found on the 100 won coin.

Cat on the Rooftop(옥탑방 고양이)

1.3Km    2025-10-23

서울특별시 종로구 대학로10길 24

Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley (서울 동대문 닭한마리 골목)

1.3Km    2024-03-04

37-7, Jongno 5(o)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2236-9135

Located near the Dongdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley gets its name from the restaurants serving dak hanmari (whole chicken soup) that line the alley. Dak hanmari (whole chicken soup), literally “one whole chicken” in Korean, is a dish where a whole chicken is boiled in a soup and served with the alley’s special sauce. After the diners eat the meat, the broth is used to make kalguksu (noodle soup). Because the area is home to large-scale apparel and fashion material markets of the Dongdaemun Market, the district is always lively and bustling.

Daehakro Arts Theater (대학로예술극장)

1.3Km    2021-07-05

17, Daehak-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3668-0007

Daehakro Arts Theater is a venue for performing arts that is comprised of a main hall and small hall. The main hall fills the first and second floors and has a proscenium stage with seating arranged in fan-shape. In an effort to present a more contemporary theater experience, the seats here are placed closer to the stage than those of a standard theater, allowing the audience to experience performances more vividly.

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

1.3Km    2024-12-04

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate consists of three arched gates; the center gate was used by the king, while the other two were used by the crown prince and royal officials. The tall granite walls of the gate serve as a platform for the wooden gate tower that watches over the city. The gate has a sign with its name written at the top center of the gate tower.

Gwanghwamun Gate went through several damages and restorations over the course of history. It was first severely damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and was not restored until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864. Under the Japanese administration, the gate was demolished and relocated to the north of the palace's eastern gate, followed by series of damages during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1968, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated back to the south of the palace and was rebuilt using concrete; however, the gate’s position was shifted a few meters away from its original location. In 2006, a major reconstruction project took place to restore Gwanghwamun Gate to its original state and location, disassembling the structure completely and replacing concrete with granite and wood. After three years and eight months of construction, Gwanghwamun Gate was fully restored to its original form and was open to the public on August 15, 2010.

Ilmin Art Museum (일민미술관)

1.3Km    2022-09-27

152, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Ilmin Art Museum located in former Dong-A Newspaper Building, was formed in honor of their honorable and late CEO Kim Sang-man. The museum was established in December of 1996, and with a full renovation in 2001, large exhibition hall and Ilmin collection was placed in. Through the renovation, the combination of glass and steel made Artrium aimed to become one of the best comtemporary museum, connecting the museum to the streets of Gwanghwamun. 

 This museum boasts a large Ilmin collection. There are 430 pieces of Ilmin collection from Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to present, 1,200 pieces in the Donga Newspaper's collection of art, and 100 pieces of art owned by Hyundai Corporation. The Ilmin Collection mostly consists of pieces that Kim Sang-man collected from ceramics to aesthetic paintings. The Dongah Newspaper's collection has time-relevant pieces that are important in history.

The Story of King Sejong (세종이야기)

1.3Km    2022-09-13

jiha 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-399-1000

The Story of King Sejong comprises six different sections with a total area of 3,200 square meters. The museum consists of exhibition zones, an event space, video room, shop and more to display King Sejong’s scientific, artistic, military, and political contributions, including the theory of Minbon, which recognized the people as the base of politics. King Sejong, the 4th king of the Joseon dynasty (1397-1450, reigning from 1418-1450) was responsible for some of the most brilliant achievements in the history of Korea, including the creation of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) and great advancements in the areas of science, culture, art and politics.