Seoul Upcycling Plaza (서울새활용플라자)

7.9Km 2024-01-05

49 Jadongchasijang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Saehwaryong is a Korean term for upcycling, a process of redesigning or recycling discarded resources or materials to give them a new value or purpose. Seoul Upcycling Plaza operates upcycling-related exhibitions, upcycling practice education and experience programs, design studios, upcycling stores, workshops, and more. It is a great place to look around for ideas and inspirations on how to use products for longer periods of time. The plaza demonstrates the first step to creating a resource-recycling society.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

7.9Km 2025-07-14

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

7.9Km 2025-01-17

55 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Seoul Museum of History covers everything about Seoul's history and culture from the prehistoric era to modern times, focusing especially on the Joseon era. The museum aims to raise cultural awareness and build a strong bond within the community by collecting, preserving, researching, and displaying artifacts and materials related to Seoul as well as promoting the city's history and culture to an international audience.

Haepungbuwongun Yun Taekyeong's Jaesil (해풍부원군윤택영댁재실)

8.0Km 2021-11-10

28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Haepungbuwongun Yun Taekyeong's Jaesil is a shrine house built by the father-in-law of King Sunjong of Joseon dynasty in 1906 when his daughter was proclaimed the crowned princess of Joseon and entered Changdeokgung Palace to later become Queen Sunjeong. Red pine trees salvaged from the demolition of Gyeongungung Palace were used to construct the house. It was originally located in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, but was later restored and moved to its present location. The shrine of the house that was destroyed in 1960 was also restored.
Because the house is more of a shrine rather than residential living quarters, it has many unique features. For example, unlike other houses, it has the anchae (women’s quarters) located across from sarangbang (men’s quarters) with daecheong (living room) positioned between them.

Yongmasan Mountain (용마산)

8.0Km 2021-06-18

53, Yongmasan-ro 62-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul

With an altitude of 348 meters, Yongmasan Mountain is the highest peak of Achasan Mountain. The mountain stretches through the ridges of Manguri Park and Junggok-dong, with trails connecting to Achasan Mountain Fortress and the back gate of Children’s Grand Park. Nearby parks include Yongmapokpo Park and Yongmasan Sagajeong Park.

Seoul Upcycling Plaza (서울새활용플라자) - Area information - Korea travel information