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

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

7.4Km    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.

Insa-dong Geujip (인사동그집)

7.4Km    2024-03-18

3 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-737-0575

Insa-dong Geujip is a hanok-style Korean restaurant located in a narrow alley in Insa-dong. Their signature dish, bulgogi yachaemari (bulgogi and vegetable roll), allows you to choose between stir-fried pork bulgogi, beef bulgogi, or chicken bulgogi. Visitors can enjoy the tangy and sweet flavor of the radish wrap filled with bulgogi and julienned vegetables, accompanied by side dishes and soybean paste stew. They also offer bulgogi nakji jeongol (bulgogi and octopus hot pot), cheolpan sogalbijjim (stir-fried marinated galbi on hot iron plate), and dolsot bibimbap (hot stone pot bibimbap) along with hahu yukhoe bibimbap (Korean beef tartare bibimbap).

HIDE AND SEEK - Ssamzigil Branch (하이드앤시크 쌈지길점)

HIDE AND SEEK - Ssamzigil Branch (하이드앤시크 쌈지길점)

7.4Km    2024-11-13

44 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm
This is where TXT members enjoyed escape games on their own series, “TO DO X TXT.” Chosen as the tagger by random draw, Huening Kai showed impressive game skills, using his instincts to “eliminate” the other members.

WANBAEK BUDAE JJIGAE(완백부대찌개)

WANBAEK BUDAE JJIGAE(완백부대찌개)

7.4Km    2020-11-25

44 Insadong-gil Jongno-gu Seoul
+82-2-722-5397

It is a restaurant introduced in the cartoon “Sikgaek.” The best menu at this restaurant is sausage stew. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Banjjak Banjjak Binnaneun (반짝반짝빛나는)

Banjjak Banjjak Binnaneun (반짝반짝빛나는)

7.4Km    2021-03-19

28-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-738-4525

A Traditional Beverages specialty restaurant located in Insa-dong, Seoul. A store selling hand-crafted Korean traditional tea. The most famous menu is green plum tea.

Isae - Insa Branch (No. 2) [Tax Refund Shop] (이새 인사2호)

7.4Km    2024-04-18

30-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Asin [Tax Refund Shop] (아신)

7.4Km    2024-04-19

1F, 50-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Gallery Park Young Sook - Atelier Seoul (박영숙요 (아틀리에서울))

7.4Km    2020-04-23

30, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-7837

Gallery Park Young Sook (Atelier Seoul) is the gallery of the modern potter, Park Young Sook. The gallery displays and sells white porcelain representing the Joseon dynasty, Buncheong ware, and ceramics with modern flavors. As the name implies, the gallery feels more like a showroom than a shop, even though the various items, including flower vases, decorative ceramics, and daily use earthenware are for sale. Queen Elizabeth II of England visited Gallery Park Young Sook during her second visit. The gallery has even expanded, with another branch opening in New Jersey.

The Hanok Smith Likes (스미스가 좋아하는 한옥)

The Hanok Smith Likes (스미스가 좋아하는 한옥)

7.4Km    2024-03-11

22-7 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-7003

The Hanok Smith Likes is a restaurant located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, housed in a renovated hanok. It offers a fusion of Korea's traditional beauty with Italian cuisine. Specializing in oven-baked pizza and pasta, it also features a variety of Italian dishes. The oven-baked pizzas are particularly popular, known for their chewy crusts and generous toppings. In 2023, it was selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul.