Alleys of Changsin-dong (창신동골목길)

2.5Km 2025-11-05

38, Jibong-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

K-movie <PARASITE> - A town full of nostalgia
On the day Kitaek's family returned home, the torrential rain flowed ferociously in streams. The alleys of Changsin-dong, with its narrow and steep stairs, were a good backdrop for visually representing the condition of the Kitaek’s family, who were about to fall. Changsin-dong is a warm and charming neighborhood where traces of the 70s and 80s can be felt.

Kansong Art Museum (간송미술관(서울 보화각))

2.5Km 2025-06-30

102-11 Seongbuk-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Kansong Art Museum was the first private art museum in Korea, opened as Bohwagak in 1938 by Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil. The name was changed to the current Kansong Art Museum in 1966. Bohwagak was designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage No. 768 on December 30, 2019. Jeon Hyeong-pil dedicated his life to preserving and researching Korea’s representative relics that were devaluated and purposefully obliterated during the Japanese colonial era, as well as to acknowledging their cultural excellence and beauty. The museum houses 11 national treasures and 24 treasures.

National Theater of Korea (국립극장)

2.6Km 2024-03-06

59, Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

The National Theater of Korea opened in 1950 as the first national theater in Asia. It is the only production theater that takes traditional arts to recreate them as contemporary art. It offers various types of theaters, such as Haeoreum Grand Theater, Daloreum Theater (middle-size), Immersive Studio ByeolByeol (small-size), and Haneul Round Theater with a circular stage structure. In addition, the Museum of Performing Arts, Cultural Plaza, and other convenience stores and coffe shops offer pleasure and relax to its visitors.

Seungjin Toy (승진완구)

2.6Km 2025-01-06

30, Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seungjin Toy is a toy store that carries almost every kind of toy imaginable from stuffed animals to character dolls and much more. What makes this store even more attractive to many customers is that their merchandise is, on average, 30% cheaper than that of their competitors.

Dongdaemun Stationery Store Street (동대문 문구완구거리)

2.6Km 2024-03-15

21-1, Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Dongdaemun Stationery Store Street houses nearly 120 stores selling stationery products like notebooks, crayons, pencils, backpacks, as well as other products like children’s gifts, decorations, and party products. Products can be found at prices nearly 30 to 40% lower than the consumer products, which can be lowered even further when buying in bulk. Products past the season may see the prices drop by more than half.

Sooyeon Sanbang (수연산방)

2.6Km 2025-10-23

8 Seongbuk-ro 26-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Sooyeon Sanbang is a traditional tea house located in Seongbuk-dong. It was originally built during the Japanese colonial period and was the hanok of the literary figure Lee Taejun. Today, it is operated as a tea house by the writer's granddaughter. The name Sooyeon Sanbang means "a house where literati gather in the mountains." Visitors can enjoy traditional teas such as daechucha (jujube tea) and ssanghwacha (medicinal herb tea), along with snacks like injeolmi (bean-powder-coated rice cake).

Choi Sunu House (최순우 옛집)

2.6Km 2021-12-21

9, Seongbuk-ro 15-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

The Choi Sunu House is the old residence of Hyegok Choi Sunu (1916-1984), who lived in this house from 1976 until the day he passed away. The house is designated as Korea’s Registered Cultural Property. Choi Sunu was a leading art historian who served as the director of the National Museum of Korea. He devoted his life to rediscovering the beauty of Korean art and made many academic accomplishments in the areas of Korean ceramics, traditional woodcraft, and the history of painting.
The house has been open to the public as the Hyegok Choi Sunu Memorial Hall since 2004. The memorial hall displays Choi Sunu’s relics as a permanent exhibition and holds special exhibitions in the fall as well as cultural programs every spring and fall.

Cheongun Literature Library (청운문학도서관)

2.6Km 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.

Dongnimmun Gate (독립문)

2.7Km 2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Dongnimmun stands at the location originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet. In 1898, to announce the independence from Japan, Dongnimun was constructed with the fund collected by the citizens. The traces of the past still remain on Dongnimmun with two pillars in front of Dongnimmun being the remains of Yeongeunmun.

The Arc de Triomphe in France can be recalled in comparison to Dongnimmun. Dongnimmun was built using granite with a passageway x_height of 14.28 meters. On the top it is written ‘Dongnimmun’ in Korean with the national flag drawn on each side. On the inner-left side there are stone stairs leading to the attic. The national flower Mugunghwa are planted around Dongnimmun. Now it is surrounded by roads and it is eye-catching to view when passing by.

Seodaemun Prison History Museum (서대문형무소역사관)

2.7Km 2024-12-02

251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Seodaemun Prison was built under the Japanese administration to imprison independence movement activists. It first opened on October 21, 1908 under the name Gyeongseong Prison. Eventually, so many activists were imprisoned that the building had to be expanded. At that time, the name changed to Seodaemun Prison on September 3, 1912. Eighty years later, the prison was turned into Seodaemun Independence Park on August 15, 1992 to commemorate the Korean patriots who were tortured in prison, giving their lives for freedom. Of the many buildings, only seven were preserved for their historical significance, among which three prison buildings and the execution site were designated as a Historic Site. In 1998, the park underwent another transformation into today's Seodaemun Prison History Hall to educate the public on the importance of Korea's independence and the sacrifices of those who fought to achieve it.

Alleys of Changsin-dong (창신동골목길) - Area information - Korea travel information