Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문) - Area information - Korea travel information

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

3.7Km    2024-12-04

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate consists of three arched gates; the center gate was used by the king, while the other two were used by the crown prince and royal officials. The tall granite walls of the gate serve as a platform for the wooden gate tower that watches over the city. The gate has a sign with its name written at the top center of the gate tower.

Gwanghwamun Gate went through several damages and restorations over the course of history. It was first severely damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and was not restored until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864. Under the Japanese administration, the gate was demolished and relocated to the north of the palace's eastern gate, followed by series of damages during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1968, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated back to the south of the palace and was rebuilt using concrete; however, the gate’s position was shifted a few meters away from its original location. In 2006, a major reconstruction project took place to restore Gwanghwamun Gate to its original state and location, disassembling the structure completely and replacing concrete with granite and wood. After three years and eight months of construction, Gwanghwamun Gate was fully restored to its original form and was open to the public on August 15, 2010.

Samcheong Sujaebi (삼청동수제비)

Samcheong Sujaebi (삼청동수제비)

3.7Km    2024-03-04

101-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-2965

Samcheong Sujaebi is a handmade sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup) specialty restaurant located in Samcheong-dong. Sujebi is a dish made by tearing hand-pulled dough into pieces and boiling it in anchovy broth, among other broths. The signature menu features sujebi with sliced pumpkin, clams, and potatoes, all boiled together and served in a pot. Another specialty is the potato pancake made exclusively from 100% potatoes. Nearby attractions include Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung] (국립현대미술관 덕수궁)

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung] (국립현대미술관 덕수궁)

3.7Km    2023-06-23

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2022-0600

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung] was originally built as an annex to the National Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum specializes in seeking out and researching modern art, exhibiting and preserving it, supporting and developing educational programs, and furthering publications and international exchanges. Located within Deoksugung Palace, the center maintains a unique traditional atmosphere. The museum planned and showcased a total of 38 unique exhibitions from 1998 to 2005. Besides the exhibitions, the center has various performances such as music and mime, as well as lectures or seminars on artists' works.

Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association ((사)대한의료관광진흥협회)

3.7Km    2025-10-23

(#601) 29-3 Saemunan-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association aims to attract over 100,000 medical tourists within three years by establishing a structured system for attracting medical tourists, training specialized personnel, and supporting both domestic and international medical tourism. With the increasing number of foreign visitors coming to Korea for various purposes beyond tourism, such as international conferences, business, and exhibitions, there is a growing need for specialized services.

Plans is a company that can meet all these diverse customer needs. ceremonial arrangements, tours, and events often proceed irregularly due to changes in weather, group size, and transportation. To address these variables, Plans, the plural form of "Plan," represents a company that is always prepared from start to finish. It is a leading VIP travel agency in Korea, tailored to meet the needs of its clients.

Waterworks Museum (수도박물관)

Waterworks Museum (수도박물관)

3.7Km    2025-01-17

27, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3146-5936

The Ttukseom Water Purification Plant (Waterworks Museum and Slow Sand Filtration Basin) was completed in August 1908 as the first water purification plant ever built in Korea. In 2008, it celebrated 100 years of history with the opening of the Waterworks Museum, which showcases the history and value of Seoul's public waterworks. The museum was recognized for its modern architectural design and designated Tangible Cultural Asset of Seoul No.72.

Danha(단하)

Danha(단하)

3.7Km    2025-11-05

39-7 Palpan-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

BLACKPINK's “HOW YOU LIKE THAT” music video created a sensation, reaching 100 million views within 32 hours of its release. The most noteworthy part of the music video was the hanbok they wore. Danha, which was in charge of making the costumes, improved the traditional hanbok and completely recreated it as a stage costume, garnering attention from all over the world. Danha is famous for designing hanboks using traditional patterns. The patterns engraved on the clothes in the BLACKPINK music video used the phoenix design pattern of the royal cloth. Danha's hanbok can be purchased through the online shop, and if you want to have it custom-made, you can visit Danha Maison after making a reservation.

Sungnyemun Gate (숭례문)

Sungnyemun Gate (숭례문)

3.7Km    2024-11-27

40 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Sungnyemun Gate is Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, and its unofficial name is Namdaemun Gate. Sungnyemun Gate is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. There’s a column on top of a platform, raising the roof, distinguishing the upper stories and lower stories of the building. Passageways for traffic are located at the east and west ends of the gate. Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun Gate’s tablet has its name written vertically.

On February 10, 2008, Sungnyemun was destroyed by fire. After a 5-year reconstruction work, the gate was re-opened to the public again on May 4, 2013.

Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong, Da-dong and Mugyo-dong Special Tourist Zone (명동 남대문 북창동 다동무교동 관광특구)

Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong, Da-dong and Mugyo-dong Special Tourist Zone (명동 남대문 북창동 다동무교동 관광특구)

3.7Km    2021-12-30

40, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3396-4622

Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong and Da-dong are widely known among international visitors as hot spots for shopping and food.

Myeong-dong is a popular destination for shopping, culture, arts and fashion. Major shopping malls such as Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Myeong-dong Migliore and Samik Fashion Town are located here. Shoppers can find a variety of products here from high-end items to relatively inexpensive clothes. There’s also no shortage of street food, traditional restaurants, coffee shops and fancy cafes.

Namdaemun Market is the biggest traditional market in Korea. Visitors can purchase souvenirs and local produce at an affordable price in the shopping complex crowded with stores and street stalls. The market sells a variety of clothes, kitchenware, toys, accessories, food, flowers and imported goods.

Bukchang-dong and Sogong-dong have high-end accommodations including Lotte Hotel Seoul and Westin Chosun Seoul, duty-free shops, and restaurants serving traditional dishes.

[Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong Special Tourist Zone]
Areas included: Myeong-dong, Bukchang-dong, Mugyo-dong and Da-dong, Seoul
Area size: 872,809 ㎡
Tourist attractions: Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong, Department Stores (Lotte Department and Shinsegae Department Store, etc.), Traditional Market, Duty-free Shop, Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower, etc.

Paraboot - Hannam Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (파라부트 한남)

Paraboot - Hannam Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (파라부트 한남)

3.7Km    2024-04-23

228-1, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

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Samcheong-dong Street (삼청동길)

3.7Km    2025-01-22

107 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

It is said that Samcheong-dong was named from the story about the three "cheong" (Chinese character meaning clean) of the area, namely the mountain, water, and people. Another theory is that the origin of the region's name came from Samcheongjeon Hall where three tablets called "Taecheong," "Sangcheong," and "Okcheong," were set up based on Taoism. Samcheong-dong Street features a mixture of old scenes of hanok buildings with traditional beauty and modern scenes of galleries and cafés, creating a unique atmosphere. Visitors can feel the abundant cultural mood at every corner of the street through the art galleries, museums, antique shops, and quiet pathways.