Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

6.7Km 2024-11-27

196 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Itaewon was the first special tourist zone in Seoul, designated in 1997. It is a multicultural place where over 20,000 foreigners live and is widely recognized by international visitors.

The name Itaewon started to spread worldwide in the 1980s when Korea hosted the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as many international conferences. Since then, Itaewon has become a popular travel destination. Clothes and accessories with unique designs, and leather products in particular are famous. This is a go-to place for both shopping and entertainment. The street is crowded with shops selling clothes and bags, as well as hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities and travel agencies. With about 2,000 shops and stores lining every street, visitors can experience a multicultural atmosphere. Also famous in the district is Antique Furniture Street where more than 100 shops selling furniture and antiques stretch from Hamilton Hotel toward Bogwang-ro.

Travelers can taste authentic cuisine and experience culture from around the globe on World Food Street where there are 40 restaurants operated by foreigners. Since the late 1990s, an increase in the number of tourists from Southeast Asia and the Middle East has transformed the streets from being US Army-oriented into culturally diverse. Various performances and events are held in the area. In particular, Itaewon Global Village Festival, held every October, is a famous festival. Tourists can pay in US dollars, Japanese yen, or another currency freely. In addition, visitors can use various languages like English, Japanese, and Chinese with the sellers.

G-Cosmo - Itaewon Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (지코스모 이태원)

6.7Km 2024-04-23

195, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

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EW Folder - Sangbong Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (EW 폴더 상봉)

6.7Km 2024-04-18

Sangbong Duo Turris, 131, Sangbong-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul

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Olive Young - Sangbong Duoturris Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 상봉듀오트리스)

6.7Km 2024-04-18

131, Sangbong-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul

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Olive Young - Yangjae Star Class Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 양재스타클래스)

6.7Km 2024-04-18

2615, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

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Kervan Turkish Restaurant (케르반레스토랑)

6.8Km 2025-03-15

192 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Kervan is a Turkish restaurant located in Itaewon, offering authentic kebab, pidé, and Turkish desserts. It faithfully recreates the Turkish culture and food through its interior, decorated with traditional tiles, and dishes prepared by a chef from Türkiye. Main menus include Chicken steak, Rich pidé, and Chicken shish kebab.

Top50 Glasses [Tax Refund Shop] (으뜸50안경)

6.8Km 2024-06-27

1F, Bldg 6, 205 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

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Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley (서울 동대문 닭한마리 골목)

6.8Km 2024-03-04

37-7, Jongno 5(o)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2236-9135

Located near the Dongdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley gets its name from the restaurants serving dak hanmari (whole chicken soup) that line the alley. Dak hanmari (whole chicken soup), literally “one whole chicken” in Korean, is a dish where a whole chicken is boiled in a soup and served with the alley’s special sauce. After the diners eat the meat, the broth is used to make kalguksu (noodle soup). Because the area is home to large-scale apparel and fashion material markets of the Dongdaemun Market, the district is always lively and bustling.

Express Bus Terminal Clothing Wholesale Shopping Center (고속터미널 의류도매상가)

6.8Km 2024-02-15

194 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

Express Bus Terminal Clothing Wholesale Shopping Center is a one-stop destination offering a variety of products, including women's clothing, men's clothing, children's clothing, and accessories. The 10th floor features a wholesale market for marriage articles and clothings, while clothing stores are concentrated on the 6th to 8th floors. Specialized markets for marriage articles, such as bedding and silk goods, can be found on the 2nd and 4th floors. The 5th floor houses a dining area, theaters, bowling alleys, golf practice ranges, and more. Some establishments manufacture their own clothes, offering prices comparable to Dongdaemun Market and Namdaemun Market.

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari (진옥화할매원조닭한마리)

6.8Km 2024-03-04

18 Jong-ro 40ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2275-9666

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari is a renowned restaurant located in the alley of whole chicken soup near Dongdaemun Market, operating since 1978. Its specialty is dakhanmari (whole chicken soup), a whole chicken boiled in savory and rich broth. Adding finely chopped green onions enhances its refreshing flavor. The chewy rice cakes dipped in the seasoned sauce are also delightful. Additionally, it's customary to enjoy the remaining broth by mixing it with seasoning sauce and noodles, creating a delicious kalguksu (noodle soup).

Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구) - Area information - Korea travel information