Insa-dong (인사동) - Area information - Korea travel information

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

1.1Km    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.

Nwijo (뉘조)

Nwijo (뉘조)

1.1Km    2024-03-06

27 Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9311

Nwijo is a Korean table d'hote restaurant located in Insa-dong where you can enjoy course meals made from hundreds of wild herbs. Starting with pumpkin porridge and water kimchi, basic dishes such as wild herb salads, pancakes, kimchi with boiled pork slices, and mixed roots are served along with set menu and wild herb enzymes as a standard part of the meal.

Tonymoly - Euljiro 3(sam)-ga Station Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (토니모리 을지로3가역점)

1.1Km    2024-06-27

B3-14, 131, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Busan Agujjim Gulbossam (부산아구찜굴보쌈)

Busan Agujjim Gulbossam (부산아구찜굴보쌈)

1.1Km    2024-10-15

서울특별시 종로구 돈화문로 35
+82-2-764-2373

This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno, Seoul. The best menu at this restaurant is spicy braised monkfish. Stewed monkfish is a spicy seafood dish made of fish and vegetables.

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

1.1Km    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.

High - Anguk Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (하이엔드코리아 안국)

1.1Km    2024-04-17

1F, 62-5, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Korean National Police Heritage Museum (경찰박물관)

Korean National Police Heritage Museum (경찰박물관)

1.1Km    2021-12-21

41, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3150-3681

The police museum opened on October 14, 2005 to give a better understanding of the job of the police and to offer a formal education to children who wish to become police officers in the future. The history hall of the museum is designed for visitors to learn about the history of Korean police at a glance, exhibiting information on the police force from the Joseon dynasty up until current times.

Visitors to the museum can pretend to be police officers by touching actual equipment and learning about an officer's daily tasks. Visitors can also get in patrol cars, wear a police uniform, experience shooting a gun through a simulation, and learn self-defense martial arts and arrest techniques. Visitors can also go to the museum jail.

Tteulan Teahouse (뜰안)

Tteulan Teahouse (뜰안)

1.1Km    2024-12-10

Tteulan Teahouse is a cafe that really allows one to feel the tradition and flair of Korea. Tteulan has two entrances: one facing the wide alley and the other facing the smaller one. The smaller entrance is decorated like a garden, so it feels as if one is stepping into a land of fairy-tales. The café has a floor seating tables with traditional items like gadari soban (a table with legs that curve like a dog's legs), and jogakbo (a textile woven from several pieces of scrap cloth), all of which add to the traditional Korean aesthetic. The menu features ssanghwacha (medicinal herb tea known to help the immune system), a favorite among middle-aged and elderly Koreans; omija tea (omija is a tart berry that grows in East Asia known to be good for lung and bronchial health and boosts immunity); citrus tea (usually made with yuzu which is rich in vitamin C and said to help mitigate fatigue); and pour-over coffee. Traditional desserts include mugwort rice cake (rice cake with mugwort added for herbal flavor, best enjoyed with malt syrup), pumpkin rice cake, and roasted grain powder (a nutritious beverage made with a variety of powdered grain). It can be hard to find seating in the afternoon, so visitors are advised to avoid these hours if they seek to enjoy their drink in peace.

Ikseon-dong Hanok Street (익선동 한옥거리)

Ikseon-dong Hanok Street (익선동 한옥거리)

1.2Km    2025-10-27

Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Ikseon-dong is a place where the harmony of alleys and hanok houses exudes beautiful charm and is a must-visit spot for tourists of all ages and genders. It is also an area that connects the younger and older generations.

Happy Jewerly [Tax Refund Shop] (해피쥬얼리)

1.2Km    2024-06-27

1F, #21, 26, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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