Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

9.5Km 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.

Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town (신당동떡볶이골목)

9.5Km 2022-10-25

10-18, Dasan-ro 33-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2236-9135

Sindang-dongTteokbokki Town started in the late '70s, although the alley did not become famous until the '80s. At that time, each restaurant had its own DJ booth, with the image of the "cool DJ" who played the music becoming a symbol of Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town. In addition, this period also marked the prime time of high school baseball where students would crowd the streets on days when Duksoo Commercial High School and Sunrin Commercial High School (now Sunrin Internet High School) played against one another. Although these high school students have aged, they continue to visit the area, reliving their youth and continuing to indulge in the specialty tteokbokki.

However, some claim the history of this alley began in the 1950s. The owner of Mabongnim Halmeoni Tteokbokki restaurant says tteokbokki was being sold as early as 1953 as the area used to be home to Donga Theater and she sold tteokbokki, corn and potatoes to those visiting the theater. At first, tteokbokki was simply made with gochujang (red chili paste) but as time went by, cooks decided the dish could be more than just a snack. By adding ingredients like eggs, cellophane noodles, fish cakes, instant noodles and more recently squid, prawn and cheese, tteokbokki can be made more delicious and turns this beloved snack into a full meal.

Seoul Folk Flea Market (서울 풍물시장)

9.5Km 2025-04-11

21 Cheonho-daero 4-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2232-3367

The Seoul Folk Flea Market is located around Cheonggyecheon Stream's Hwanghakgyo Bridge and Sinseol-dong Station and is on its way to becoming a famous tourist attraction along with the already famous Cheonggyeocheon Stream. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is one of the major folk flea markets preserving the culture of the traditional Korean marketplace and drawing in visitors with a range of folk items that embody the unique charm of Korea. Folk items include everyday items, souvenirs, traditional goods and even traditional foods, allowing visitors to enjoy shopping and eating all under the same roof.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market originated from the flea market in Hwanghak-dong where many street shops and vendors gathered around Cheonggyecheon Stream before it was restored and modernized into its current state. The market was relocated to the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Formerly Dongdaemun Stadium) while the Cheonggyecheon Stream was undergoing restorations, and was moved back to Cheonggyecheon Stream sometime later. Seoul City aims to market Seoul Folk Flea Market as a new shopping spot at its current location, the former site of Sungin Girls' Middle School on Cheonggyeo 8-ga Street, near Cheonggyeocheon Stream to develop the Korean representative folk flea market-related tourism industry.

The main items of the Seoul Folk Flea Market include a diverse range of folk items, traditional crafts, local specialties and fashion items. You may also enjoy a range of foods and snacks including traditional Korean food and fusion cuisine from all over the world. What is special about the market is that you can find rare goods and authentic traditional items that cannot be found at other markets. The market atmosphere is a mix of old, revered traditions and modern aspects, providing visitors with a great shopping experience. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is truly a traditional flea market well worth visiting.

Choi Hyeok Korean Medicine Clinic (최혁한의원)

9.5Km 2025-10-23

(1st Floor), 52 Yangnyeongdong-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

Choi Hyeok Korean Medicine Clinic is particularly popular among Japanese visitors. Words about our affordable prices, friendly services, and dedication of the chief and the staff have spread in Japan, which has attracted over 2,000 Japanese visitors to the clinic annually. We offer an extensive array of services, including skin care, wrinkle removal, bloodletting acupuncture, weight-loss herbal medicine (hanyak), lipolysis acupuncture, gongjindan, kyungokgo, and “Magic Powder.” We accept appointments for wrinkle therapy on Sundays. We deliver hanyak to patients’ hotels if they are not too far away. We also ship to patients’ homes in Japan. You are always welcome to contact us on Line or Instagram.

Kervan Turkish Restaurant (케르반레스토랑)

9.5Km 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.

Seoul Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Museum (서울약령시 한의약박물관)

9.5Km 2023-04-06

26, Yangnyeongjungang-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-969-9241

Seoul Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Museum opened in September 2006 on the grounds of Bojewon, a medical institution for the poor that was in operation during the Joseon dynasty. The museum was established with the goal of preserving and developing Korea’s herb medicine culture. In October 2017, the museum moved to the second floor of the Seoul K-Medi Center. The center provides both information and hands-on programs.

Grand Hyatt Seoul (그랜드 하얏트 서울)

9.5Km 2025-10-23

322, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-797-1234

The Grand Hyatt Seoul is an international business hotel located 10 minutes away from the center of the city and 20 minutes away from Yeouido and Gangnam, boasting a view of the Hangang River to the south and the scenery of Namsan Mountain to the north. It is also located only 70 minutes and 50 minutes away from Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport respecitvely, making the hotel a convenient option for international travelers.

Grand Hyatt Seoul has twelve restaurants and bars that serve authentic meals and develop menus that lead the culinery trend. The hotel is also equipped with conference rooms, sports facilities, and spa services.

Seoul K-Medi Center (서울한방진흥센터)

9.5Km 2025-10-23

26 Yangnyeongjungang-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

Seoul Yangnyeongsi Market is an herbal medicine specialty market that distributes 70% of the herbal medicines traded in Korea and is a Korean medicine-themed town with over a thousand businesses related to oriental medicine, including oriental medicine clinics and herbal medicine stores. The Seoul K-Medi Center, located in this center of Korean herbal medicine culture, is an oriental medicine complex cultural facility that promotes the excellence and safety of traditional Korean medicine through various exhibitions, education, and experiences. The building is unique in that it harmonizes the simplicity of modern architecture with Korean elegance. Visitors can enjoy various experiences in many different facilities in the center, including the Herb Medicine Museum, where one can expand their understanding of Korean medicine by examining over 300 types of medicinal herbs and their effects; the Herb Medicine Experience Room, where visitors can experience herbal medicine natural face packs and herbal heat packs; and Yakseon Food Experience Center, where visitors can learn about healthy recipes using medicinal herbs and make healthy foods.

Seoul Folk Flea Market - Traditional Arts & Crafts Studio (서울풍물시장 전통문화체험관)

9.6Km 2021-08-12

21, Cheonho-daero 4-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2232-3368

The Traditional Arts & Crafts Studio in Seoul Folk Flea Market was created to give both locals and international visitors a chance to experience the traditional arts of Korea first-hand. For international visitors, programs serve as a brief introduction to some of the finer points of Korean art. For many Koreans, the studio’s programs are ways to relive childhood memories or experience traditional culture as a family.

Itaewon Antiques Street (이태원 앤틱 가구 거리)

9.6Km 2025-04-11

109-1 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Itaewon Antiques Street was formed around the late 1960s, when a group of antique dealerships from Asia, Europe, and North America settled in the district. This 1km-long street is home to antique dealers offering antique sofa, chairs, and tables. Some shops also offer antique decorations, accessories, and clothing. It is a famous shopping district with its own unique ambience from that of Seoul. During spring and autumn, Itaewon Antique Festival takes place, allowing visitors to shop and enjoy cultural performances.

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