Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

8.7Km 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.

Danggogae Catholic Martyrs' Shrine (당고개순교성지)

8.7Km 2020-03-18

139-26, Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-711-0933

Danggogae Catholic Martyrs' Shrine is located on the small hill just five minutes away from Yongsan Eletronics Market. 10 Catholics were martyred on this hill during the Gihae Persecution in 1839 including Choi Gyeong-hwan (Francis)'s wife Lee Seong-rye (Maria).

Nine of the 10 martyrs are now recognized as saints. Lee Seong-rye, the mother of Father Thomas Choi Yang-eop (Korea's second ordained priest), has not yet been canonized although she did suffer martyrdom. The reason was that the mother briefly put aside her faith because of the pressures of raising five children after she had her oldest son, Thomas. However, the difficulty of combining these two interests was eventually overcome and she died a martyr.

Aside from serving as a memorial site, Danggogae Catholic Martyrs' Shrine also offers a commanding view of Seoul. Nearby tourist attractions include Saenamteo Catholic Holy Place of the Martyrs, which is a Catholic church with Korean architecture, and Yongsan Family Park.

Dal Café (달 카페)

8.8Km 2024-03-18

94-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-7355

Dal Café is a café located in Bukchon Hanok Village, housed within a traditional Korean hanok. "Dal" means "moon" in Korean. The café is designed with lighting fixtures that give the impression of the moon hanging on the wall, making it a perfect spot for photography. The signature menu item here is the traditional Korean shaved ice with topping served in a traditional pot.

Kumho Art Hall (금호아트홀)

8.8Km 2021-05-28

76, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6303-1977

Kumho Art Hall was built in 2000 exclusively for classical music concerts, with 390 seats, the perfect structure for chamber concerts. All seats are recital hall chairs and the wide spacing between rows of chairs helps the audience to have a pleasant time. Upon entering the theater, all cell phones will turn off automatically. This helps all visitors to enjoy the concert without being interrupted by ringing cell phones. The interior is cozy and luxurious, and the stage is made of maple.

Beodeul Maru - Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (한국문화재재단 버들마루)

8.8Km 2024-10-15

37, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

8.8Km 2023-08-11

5, Chilpae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

The Seosomun Gate area, which is located outside Seosomun Gate, was used as a persecution site in the 19th century before it turned into the local park of today. Many Catholics were suppressed and martyred here, making the area a holy site for Korean Catholics. Seosomun Gate was a gateway to Chilpae Market located near Namdaemun Gate. It was always busy with passerbys and the persecution site was established outside the gate to set an example of crime punishment to all the witnesses.

On May 15, 1999, a memorial tower was raised at the center of the park in honor of the martyrs. In 2013, Seoul's Jung-gu district also founded Seosumun Holy Shrine History Museum with a memorial exhibition hall in their honor.

Cheongsujeong (청수정)

8.8Km 2024-03-18

91 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Cheongsujeong is a traditional Korean restaurant specializing in mussel dishes near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Mussel rice is a traditional dish from Ulleungdo Island. The signature menu is the honghapbap jeongsik (mussel rice set menu), which includes mussel-infused rice served with soybean paste jjigae, various side dishes such as salads, acorn jelly, kimchi, grilled fish, and more. Additionally, they offer dishes like bulgogi deopbap (stir-fried bulgogi with rice), jeyukbokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and ojingeo bokkeum (stir-fried squid).

Ewha Centennial Hall (이화여고100주년기념관)

8.8Km 2024-02-20

26 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Ewha Centennial Hall is a multimedia education center located next to Ewha Girls' High School. Spanning underground and five above-ground floors, it features a gallery, a cafe, music rooms, individual practice rooms, and audio-visual rooms. The Hwaham Hall on the first and second floors is utilized for performances such as musicals and concerts, as well as educational events.

Davich Optical - Bangbae Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (다비치안경 방배)

8.8Km 2024-04-23

4, Bangbae-ro 20-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

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CAFÉ TERRACE (카페테라스)

8.8Km 2021-03-26

102-2, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-8250

It is a café that serves delicious waffles. This cafe is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is waffle.

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문) - Area information - Korea travel information