Gyujanggak Library of Seoul National University (서울대학교 규장각)

7.9Km 2022-07-27

1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Gyujanggak Library was founded in 1776 during the reign of King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon dynasty, at which time it was located within the Changdeokgung Palace grounds. It functioned as the royal library, which housed writings of the previous kings, their relics and books from home and abroad.

Today Seoul National University maintains the items of Gyujanggak in a traditional Korean building which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities necessary for the preservation of cultural heritages. Moreover, Gyujanggak Library of Seoul National University collects and publishes books from a variety of sectors such as politics, economy and society.

Gyujanggak now houses more than 270,000 items including 7 national treasures, 8 treasures, 180,000-plus old books, about 50,000 documents and 18,000 printing blocks. Among them, Joseon Wangjo Sillok (the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a National Treasure), Seungjeongwon Ilgi (the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat, a National Treasure) and Uigwe (the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty) have been designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritages.

Seoul National University (서울대학교)

7.9Km 2023-07-07

1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Founded in 1946, Seoul National University is the most reputable university in Korea based on its long academic history and tradition. It was the first national university in Korea established by merging several institutions of higher education around the Seoul area, including Kyongsong University

Seosomun Historical Park (서소문역사공원)

7.9Km 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.

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

7.9Km 2022-08-11

15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.

Hwanggeum Kongbat (황금콩밭)

7.9Km 2025-10-31

9 Mapo-daero 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hwanggeum Kongbat specializes in bean curd, using 100% Korean-grown soybeans and salt to make their bean curd fresh daily. The restaurant is famous for their method of making a bean curd that is smooth and maintains the nutty yet sweet flavor of the soybeans.

NKDB North Korean Human Rights Exhibition Hall (북한인권전시실)

7.9Km 2025-11-13

393 Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The NKDB North Korean Human Rights Exhibition Hall is a permanent exhibition space dedicated to North Korean human rights. Although it is a small space, it resonates deeply and serves as a "dark tourism" site that records and testifies to the ongoing reality of human rights violations in North Korea. The North Korean Human Rights Information Center (NKDB), which operates this exhibition hall, is the organization that collects and archives the most extensive records of human rights concerning North Korean residents in the world. The testimonies and records presented here represent a living history, a story unfolding in the present, unavailable elsewhere. Through donated North Korean artifacts, including these records, visitors can glimpse the present-day North Korea and encounter artwork by North Korean defectors.

Seoul Plaza (서울광장)

7.9Km 2024-06-19

110 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans gathered together to watch the 2002 World Cup Games. Being located within the center of the city and surrounded by many historic attractions, including Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza has become a representative attraction of Seoul.

Korea Samgyetang (고려삼계탕)

7.9Km 2024-06-19

1 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Located near City Hall Station, Korea Samgyetang specializes in samgyetang. Samgyetang is a traditional healthy dish made by simmering cleaned young chicken in a broth with ginseng, jujube, and glutinous rice. The light and tender texture of the stewed chicken and the ginseng-flavored glutinous rice porridge is excellent. Ogolgye tang (silkie chicken soup) and jeonbok samgye tang (abalone and ginseng chicken soup) are also favorites among patrons. This restaurant was selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul in 2023.

Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문)

7.9Km 2025-01-13

99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Located near City Hall station, Daehanmun Gate is the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, one of the princiapl five palaces of Joseon dynasty. The name "Daehan" means wish for eternal prosperity of the Korean Empire. In front of the gate, the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is held twice daily, along with the reproduction of costumes and style throughout the year.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

8.0Km 2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
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Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Gyujanggak Library of Seoul National University (서울대학교 규장각) - Area information - Korea travel information