Insa-dong (인사동) - Area information - Korea travel information

Insa-dong (인사동)

4.5Km    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.

Changgyeonggung Palace Honghwamun Gate (창경궁 홍화문)

4.5Km    2021-05-27

99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-762-4868

Honghwamun Gate is the main gate of Changgyeonggung Palace. It has three opening gates in the front and two to the side with a sophisticated locking mechanism.

Hyosajeong Pavilion (효사정)

4.6Km    2025-01-13

55, Hyeonchung-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-820-9848

Hyosajeong Pavilion is where Nohan, the second vice premier of the Joseon dynasty during King Sejong and King Sejo’s reign, stayed. After he lost his mother, he built the pavilion to mourn at her grave while still being able to see his father’s grave in Gaeseong to the North. His brother-in-law, then Minister of the Interior, Gang Sa-deok named the pavilion “Hyosajeong,” which means pavilion of filial piety.

In order to find the original location of the pavilion, poems by Jeong Inji and Seo Geojeong and an old map of Korea were referenced, but the pavilion was not found because the surrounding landscape had changed too much. As a result, a location was selected and the pavilion was reconstructed at its current location. The house is 3 kan* in the front and 2 kan* on the side. The roof is a hip-and-gable roof. The pavilion has one room with under floor heating and a railing around the pavilion

(* kan: a traditional measurement that corresponds to the space between two columns)

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

4.6Km    2020-04-23

34-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9969

Alleys of Changsin-dong (창신동골목길)

4.6Km    2024-10-30

38, Jibong-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

K-movie <PARASITE> - A town full of nostalgia
On the day Kitaek's family returned home, the torrential rain flowed ferociously in streams. The alleys of Changsin-dong, with its narrow and steep stairs, were a good backdrop for visually representing the condition of the Kitaek’s family, who were about to fall. Changsin-dong is a warm and charming neighborhood where traces of the 70s and 80s can be felt.

Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

4.6Km    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.

Leather Craft Shop (손놀림공방)

4.6Km    2024-10-22

19-1 Naksanseonggwakseo 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The leather workshop featured in the drama 'Boyfriend'
It is a leather workshop that appeared in the scene where Cha Soohyeon (Song Hyekyo) and Kim Jinhyeok (Park Bogum) reunite in the drama 'Boyfriend'. It is run by leather craft artist Kim Yeongae and is known for its many cute items. You can experience making leather knotted string bracelets and rings at a low cost.

T1 (T1)

4.6Km    2024-10-29

627 Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Perfect place for T1 fans
It is a space and goods shop for fans of the LoL pro game team T1 who enjoy e-sports. A life-sized figure of the legendary pro gamer Faker is at the entrance, and trophies won in previous LoL-related competitions are on display. It is a place where you can enjoy T1 up close by engraving your name on the same uniform as the players.

Kakao Friends Flagship Store - Gangnam Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (카카오프렌즈 플래그십 강남)

4.6Km    2024-04-18

1F, 2F, 3F, 429, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul

-

Olive Young - Gangnam Main Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 강남본점)

4.6Km    2024-04-23

5, Seolleung-ro 162-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

-