Soul (소울)

5.8Km 2025-08-20

B1, 35 Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Soul is a fine-dining located in Hannam-dong. It presents reinterpretations of Korean cuisine, drawing inspiration from traditional dishes. The menu is structured into lunch and dinner courses. Known for its ability to artistically express familiar flavors encountered in daily life, Soul was selected for the 2023 Michelin Guide Seoul. Operating on a reservation-only basis, bookings can be made via phone.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

5.8Km 2025-07-14

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Simsan Cultural Center (심산기념문화센터)

5.8Km 2022-01-04

55, Sapyeong-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3477-2461

The Simsan Cultural Center was established to commemorate the Confucianism and patriotic spirit of Simsan Kim Chang-Suk. It also offers educational and training programs to the local community for developing life skills while adding to the overall quality of life.

National Hangeul Museum (국립한글박물관)

5.8Km 2022-12-15

139, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2124-6200

The National Hangeul Museum was established to preserve, spread, and develop the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. The museum showcases the history and value of Korean orthography, Korean’s most-valued cultural asset, through exhibitions, activities, and education. Occupying over 11,322 ㎡, the museum has one basement level and three ground levels, along with an outdoor grass field and rest area perfect for cultural events, exhibits, and education.

The museum is comprised of the Hangeul library on the first floor, a permanent exhibition hall, ㅎ Café, and cultural product shop on the second floor, and a planned exhibition hall and Hangeul playground for children and foreigners on the third floor.

Namsan Octagonal Pavilion (남산 팔각정)

5.8Km 2021-06-19

105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3783-5900

Originally known as Unamjeong Pavilion, the pavilion was built in 1959 to commemorate Rhee Syngman. It was demolished by the 4.19 movement in 1960 and was rebuilt on November 11, 1968. This pavilion now sits atop Namsan Mountain, with views covering the entirety of Seoul below. As it is a prime spot to view the first sunrise of the year, the annual sunrise festival takes place every New Year's Day.

Seoul Gyeongdong Market (서울 경동시장)

5.8Km 2024-12-03

3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

As the nation began to recover from the aftermath of the Korean War, farmers from the northern Gyeonggi-do region and Ganwon-do gathered around the old Seongdong Station (renamed ‘Hansol Donguibogam’) to sell their produce and wares. The farmers’ impromptu gathering on the fallow farmland to make their transactions soon led to the birth of a new marketplace. With the recent remodeling of the market, including the long-neglected Gyeongdong Theater, the place feels totally renewed and full of energy. Thanks to the renovation and diverse food stalls, the place is always bustling and filled with people.

Starbucks Gyeongdong Market (스타벅스 경동1960)

5.8Km 2024-12-27

3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

Restored Gyeongdong Market space and the 5th community store for a win-win relationship with local economy

This 5th Starbucks Community Store is housed in a restored theater in Gyeongdong Market. The store has a win-win agreement with local merchants. Starbucks created a multiple cultural space in collaboration with LG Electronics such as LG Gold Star Radio Refresh Center. Every week, local artists and college students present culture and art performances on the stage that recreated the theatre concept. To offer a special experience suitable to an old theater, Starbucks developed the Retro Theater-like CND. For differentiated customer experiences, the store sells store-baked crafted food and exclusive merchandise.

Korea House (한국의집)

5.8Km 2025-10-23

10, Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building.

It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese.

In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.

Heunginjimun Gate - Dongdaemun Gate (흥인지문)

5.8Km 2025-10-23

288, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-1842

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed essential government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year in 1396, remodeled during the reign of King Danjong in 1453, and was newly built in 1869 during the sixth year of King Gojong’s reign in 1869.

The gate features a hipped roof with five front and two side compartments on a two-storied building. The thin and weak bracket system supports the eaves and is excessively decorated, reflecting the construction features of the late Joseon period. Also, outside of the fortress is the half-circle-shaped Ongseong, a small wall, to protect the gate.

One of the unique factors of Heunginjimun Gate is that it is the only gate among Seoul’s eight to have Ongseong, further exhibiting the style of construction used during the late Joseon period.

World Pansori Festival (월드판소리페스티벌)

5.9Km 2025-07-30

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-904-2835

World Pansori Festival is an international music festival that aims to promote pansori, the traditional Korean epic chant, and its values. The festival consists of a variety of performances and concert programs based on its yearly theme. In addition, the festival also has interactive activities for the attendees, such as a free pansori lesson and arts-and-crafts, to make pansori and traditional Korean music more accessible to the public.

Soul (소울) - Area information - Korea travel information