Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원) - Area information - Korea travel information

Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

2.4Km    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.

National Meteorological Museum of Korea (국립기상박물관)

National Meteorological Museum of Korea (국립기상박물관)

2.4Km    2024-03-26

52 Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

A museum where one can look at Korea's meteorological observation history and technological development through exhibitions. The museum has the world's first rain gauge, invented in 1441, in the early Joseon dynasty. The museum operates approximately 350 meteorological observatories across Korea and focuses on promoting the uniqueness and excellence of Korea's meteorological science. There are permanent collections and special exhibitions. The permanent collections focus on the history of meteorological science in Korea. At the same time, the special exhibitions take a closer look at the history and information about meteorological science and natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes) that occurred in various regions of Korea. There are experience programs related to meteorological science, such as making a rain gauge or learning about rain gauges.

Korea Etiquette Institute (한국예절문화원)

Korea Etiquette Institute (한국예절문화원)

2.4Km    2022-07-08

43 , Gajaeul-ro 4-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Korea Etiquette Institue is dedicated to observing, researching, developing and passing down Korea's etiquette. Education programs are also available.

Seoul Gyeonggyojang House (서울 경교장)

Seoul Gyeonggyojang House (서울 경교장)

2.4Km    2021-09-15

29, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Gyeonggyojang House, a designated Historic Site, was the location of the provisional government and the place where Baekbeom Kim Koo passed away. Seoul reproduced the historical site, Gyeonggyojang House, to use the area as an educational site. Also, the house exhibits the history of the provisional government in order to see the history more clearly.

Restoration work included the demolition of the interior that was changed when the building was turned into a hospital facility and embassy after Kim Koo passed away in 1949. During the work, the remaining parts were maintained with the utmost care. Reconstructed parts were based on the building's floor plan written in Chosun and Architecture (8th edition in 1938). Visitors can see various contents related to the Korean Provisional Government history through relics, video, and information searching corners.

Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산)

Inwangsan Mountain (인왕산)

2.5Km    2024-03-04

San 2-1, Muak-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Inwangsan Mountain is a rocky mountain located to the northwestern side of Seoul. It stands 338m tall.  The Seoul City Wall is built along its ridge, connecting to the Baegak Mountain Trail. From the summit, one can see the three mountains of Naksan Mountain, Namsan Mountain, and the Bugaksan Mountain surrounding the historical center of Hanyang, the historical name for Seoul in Joseon period, with the Gyeongbokgung Palace at the center. There are five hiking trails, all taking about two hours to complete. It takes about three hours if you want to visit all the peaks of the mountain.

Seoul Hyochang Park (서울 효창공원)

2.5Km    2024-07-09

177-18 Hyochangwon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Hyochang Park covers 122,245 square meters spanning across Hyochang-dong and Cheongpa 2-dong. It is a historic landmark that once contained several royal tombs, and was known at that time as Hyochangwon. The cemeteries that were originally located in Hyochangwon belonged to Crown Prince Munhyo, King Jeongjo’s first son who died at the age of five; Royal Noble Consort Uibin of the Seong Clan, King Jeongjo’s royal concubine and Crown Prince Munhyo’s mother; Royal Noble Consort Sugui of the Park Clan, King Sunjo’s royal concubine; and her daughter Princess Yeongon. The royal tombs were moved to Seooreung Tombs in the waning months of the Japanese colonial period. The Japanese empire began the development of Hyochangwon into a park in 1924, and the Japanese governor-general officially assigned the site as a park in 1940.

Presently, several of Korea’s greatest leaders are buried in Hyochang Park. The remains mostly belong to independence activists including Yoon Bong-gil, Lee Bong-chang, and Baek Jeong-gi, whose graves are collectively known as Samuisa Tomb. A statue of Lee Bong-chang has been built in the graveyard. Among the other patriotic martyrs who are interred in the park are Kim Gu and some of the key figures of the provisional government such as Lee Dong-nyeong, Cha I-seok, and Cho Seong-hwan. An ancestral shrine named Uiyeolsa has been built along the main gate and holds the portraits of the deceased independence activists.

Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (강북삼성병원)

2.5Km    2025-10-23

29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Established in 1968, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital has over 50 years of history and is taking a new leap forward with a vision for its centennial year.
Through partnerships with renowned institutions, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States and the BBDC in Canada, the hospital delivers advanced medical services while leading the public health arena. It is also committed to systematic research and the development of ICT-integrated digital healthcare, which will be the foundation for future medicine. With an excellent infrastructure that includes clinics and specialized centers (e.g., the Diabetes Center, Breast and Thyroid Cancer Center, Digestive Cancer Center, Musculoskeletal Disease Center, and Prostate Center), Kangbuk Samsung Hospital provides top-quality medical services focused on providing patients with satisfactory treatments. 

Seodaemun Culture & Sports Center Swimming Pool (서대문 문화체육회관 실내수영장)

2.5Km    2024-03-20

39 Baekryeonsa-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Seodaemun Culture & Sports Center Swimming Pool, covering 973 square meters, features a total of seven lanes with both adult and children's pools. The facility provides regular swimming lessons, survival swimming lessons, aqua aerobics, and more. The water quality is maintained using a natural salt electrolysis system. For free swimming, visitors can purchase tickets from the kiosk on the second floor, receive wristbands from the information desk, and enjoy the facility at an affordable cost.

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

2.6Km    2024-06-19

2-1 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong-gil Road is one of Seoul's most famous walking paths, stretching from the intersection in front of Jeongdong Church to Saemunan-gil Road. The street holds importance in Korea's modern history, with the surroundings serving as a living museum of this. During the Joseon dynasty, the area developed into a residental space for distant members of the royal family, with a palace and royal tombs in the area. In 1999, the pedestrian walking area was expanded by turning the two-way road into a one-way road. Since then, the road has earned many awards and honors.

Seoullo 7017 (서울로 7017)

Seoullo 7017 (서울로 7017)

2.6Km    2025-10-24

405, Hangang-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Originally opened in 1970, Seoullo 7017 was an elevated road that crossed over the Seoul Station railway, but when it became dilapidated and unusable for traffic, it was converted into a park in 2017. It is about 17 metres above the ground and offers a panoramic view of the Seoul Station Railway and the city of Seoul. It is directly connected to Seoul Station.