Namsan Arts Center (남산예술센터) - Area information - Korea travel information

Namsan Arts Center (남산예술센터)

Namsan Arts Center (남산예술센터)

4.6Km    2021-08-26

138, Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-758-2150

Namsan Arts Center, reopened as a creative space in Seoul in September 2009. It redefined the colors and characteristics of the theater, aiming for a modern theater production center centered on creative premieres, a contemporary performance venue where visitors can feel the pulse of the times, and a theater capable of various experiments.
Namsan Arts Center Drama Center is the first modern folk theater in Korea and the oldest performance hall in which the original architectural form has been preserved. Under the concept of "Contemporary & New Wave," the center continues to produce domestic original plays, and through active exchanges with excellent overseas theaters, build a repertoire of high-quality works that can read domestic and overseas trends, and present contemporary cultural diversity.

Seoul International Writers' Festival (서울국제작가축제)

Seoul International Writers' Festival (서울국제작가축제)

4.6Km    2025-07-30

26 Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-8826-5207

Seoul International Writers' Festival was founded in 2006 with aims to lay a foundation for connecting Korean literature and international literature. This year's theme is "() Meets the Eye," inviting attendees to explore the beauty of literature that is much more than meets the eye.

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

4.6Km    2025-11-11

Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Songhyeon Green Plaza, located between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jongno, is a space for culture and rest. The site was formerly used as housing for Shiksan Bank during Japanese rule. After Korea’s liberation, it served as a residence for the US Embassy and military personnel. Later in 1997, it was returned to the Korean government but remained unused for years. In 2022, the ownership was transferred to the Korean House and Land Corporation and then to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which redeveloped it into a green plaza and opened it to the public. Upon entering the plaza, visitors are greeted by a spacious lawn adorned with flowers during the blooming season. The plaza is connected to the nearby tourist attractions through shortcuts cutting through it, including Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gwanghwamun Plaza, Insa-dong, and Bukchon Hanok Village.  

Cheongun Literature Library (청운문학도서관)

4.6Km    2023-08-16

40 , Jahamun-ro 36-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Cheongun Literature Library is located at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain and can be reached by following the mountain's walking trail starting from Changuimun Gate along the fortress wall. This public hanok library is designed in consideration of the sloped topography and the natural scenery of Inwangsan Mountain. The library consists of two floors: an underground floor and a ground floor. While the ground floor is designed as a traditional hanok, the underground floor is made of concrete to support the hanok building and the spacious outdoor yard. By implementing the natural slope in the library's design, the underground southern entrance is exposed, allowing sunlight to enter. The underground floor features a wide collection of books while the ground floor serves as a place for reading. The natural environment surrounding the library adds to the hanok building's traditional and peaceful charms.

Sonjung Bossam (손정보쌈)

Sonjung Bossam (손정보쌈)

4.6Km    2025-07-25

24 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Sonjung Bossam offers dishes with a modern touch by reinterpreting traditional meals. Passed down for three generations, this restaurant values sincerity and careful attention in food making in order to serve every customer a heartwarming meal. Sonjung Bossam's signature dish Premium Gabri Bossam takes only the rarest pork cut, the blade-end fatback called "gabri" in Korean, and boils the meat using the restaurant's secret recipe for tender, juicy meat. The restaurant also serves their own special version of spicy stir-fried fish roe and intestines and haemultang (spicy seafood stew), boasting a generous amount of various seafood and rich broth. All meals are prepared wholeheartedly as if they are being served to a family.

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

4.6Km    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.

Nanji Hangang Park MTB Course Site (난지한강공원 MTB코스장)

Nanji Hangang Park MTB Course Site (난지한강공원 MTB코스장)

4.7Km    2022-10-26

162, Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3780-0611

Situated in Nanji Hangang Park, the MTB Course Site is perfect for MTB lovers as well as beginners who wish to enter the world of extreme biking with safety. The MTB Course Site is the nation's first MTB course site, established on a flatland, reproducing perfectly realistic mountain ridges and slopes.

Nanji Hangang Park (난지한강공원)

Nanji Hangang Park (난지한강공원)

4.7Km    2025-01-07

162 Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Nanji Hangang Park, situated north of the Hangang River near World Cup Park, provides a riverside space for leisure and recreation. The park offers Campgrounds, Water Leisure Sports Facilities, Bike Lane, Waterside Plaza, Mirror Fountain, Riverside Pool, a convenience store, and an information center. The Mirror Fountain emits a rainbow-like light with each water spray. The campgrounds are popular for their proximity to the city and affordable fees. Visitors can enjoy activities such as motorboating, water skiing, and wakeboarding on the Hangang River.

Nodeul Island (노들섬)

4.7Km    2024-11-01

445 Yangnyeong-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Nodeul Island seems like an island floating in the middle of the Hangang River. The island was opened to the public in 2012 as a recreational area while preserving most of its original form. In 2019, the island was equipped with more facilities to serve as a cultural entertainment spot to the public. 

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) (서울공예박물관)

4.7Km    2025-06-19

4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA), the first public museum of craft art in Korea, opened its doors in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, in July 2021 after renovating five buildings of the former Pungmoon Girls’ High School. SeMoCA studies and shares not only works, but also information, records, people, and environment related to craft art with the goal of becoming a dynamic platform for experiencing the technical, practical, artistic, and cultural values of craft.
 SeMoCA holds a collection that comprises various crafts and craft materials covering multiple fields and eras from the traditional to the present. SeMoCA also holds exhibitions that feature the history of craft from traditional to contemporary art as well as local and children’s crafts, along with programs that utilize the museum’s craft installations, craft archives, craft library, and craft resource management system.
The site of the museum has deep historical roots as it is also the Andong Secondary Palace Site, where a detached palace was constructed as a royal residence for King Sejong’s son Prince Yeongeung, and served as a venue for royal celebrations, such as the wedding of King Sunjong. The site is also at the center of Jongno-gu, where Joseon-era master artisans (“gyeonggongjang”) of the royal palace produced and delivered craft works.