1.7Km 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.
1.7Km 2022-09-08
101, Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Art Center K (formerly Wonder Space) opened in February 2012, offers art programs in Daehangno, a neighborhood of youth, romance and culture. It also supports artists through creative activities, exchanges, and trainings, while serving as a performing art hall where people can participate in artistic and creative activities.
Art Center K's three theaters feature unique stages and audience spaces: Donggeurami (Circular) Theater, Semo (Triangle) Theater, and Nemo (Square) Theater. One stage hosts fun and educational open-run performances for children, while the other two theaters offer popular plays, musicals, concerts, and other cultural events.
1.7Km 2024-03-06
29, Toegye-ro 16-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Opened in 1998, Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum is the only textile art museum in Korea. Visiotrs can learn about the excellence and tradition of Korean textiles by observing a wide range of domestic and international textile artworks. In addition to exhibiting its collection, the museum also holds special exhibitions as well as textile and quilt competitions, giving visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with textile artworks.
1.7Km 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.
1.7Km 2025-06-19
18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The Sool Gallery is an exhibition and experience space for traditional Korean liquor, established to promote the taste, style, and cultural values of the time-honored traditional Korean liquor. It provides various information about traditional Korean liquor for consumers or international tourists who can rarely obtain such information elsewhere. In addition, it provides traditional liquor education and business counseling to food service businesses and sales experts to continuously create demand for traditional liquor and expand the market. It is run by experts specializing in traditional liquor, including traditional liquor sommeliers, and it holds events to introduce various traditional liquors with different themes every month, as well as tasting events. Moreover, according to the monthly changing “Recommended Traditional Liquor by Month,” it displays a drinking glass and a bottle of the month recommended by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation.
1.7Km 2025-11-11
18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
HANSIK Space E:eum, located in Jongno, is a cultural space operated by the Korean Food Promotion Institute. It offers visitors an opportunity to delve into Korean cuisine through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and a library.
1.7Km 2024-10-25
55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
As the main temple as well as the district head temple of the Jogye order in Seoul, Jogyesa Temple is the center of Korean Buddhism. The temple was built in the late 14th century during the Goryeo period but was completely destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt under the name of Gakwangsa Temple in 1910 with the effort of many respectful monks, namely Han Yong-un and Lee Hee-gwang. The temple was given a role as the head temple of Korea’s Buddhism and renamed to Tegosa Temple in 1936. In 1954, a purification drive took place to eliminate Japanese influence and revive traditional Buddhism, which established the present day Jogyesa Temple as a result.
Jogyesa Temple plays an important role in Korean Buddhism as the head temple of the Jogye order. Jogyesa Temple’s Dharma Hall serves as the main venue for several Buddhist events, holding rituals, lectures, ceremonies, and other events all year long. The annual lantern festival in celebration of Buddha's birthday also takes place at this temple.