Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

8.1Km 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.

Sooyeon Sanbang (수연산방)

8.1Km 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).

Ichon Hangang Park (이촌한강공원)

8.1Km 2025-10-23

62 Ichon-ro 72-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3780-0551

Ichon Hangang Park is built along the Hangang Park in Yongsan. From the park, one can see the Hangang River up close, and one can also find sports facilities like soccer fields, jokgu fields, inline skating rink, water sports facilities, bicycle paths, as well as a nature learning center built around a restored wetland and a lawn. One can follow the Hangangdaegyo Bridge to enter into the Nodeulseom Island, an island in the middle of the river.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - TV series "Sisyphus: The Myth"
This park was featured in the TV series "Sisyphus: The Myth" as the setting where Seo Hae (played by Park Shin-hye) reflected on bittersweet memories with her father. Its expansive grounds make it an ideal spot for leisure activities such as walking, picnicking, and cultural events.

Seoul Hiking Tourism Center - Bugaksan Branch (서울도심등산관광센터(북악산))

8.1Km 2024-03-05

88 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Bugaksan branch of Seoul Hiking Tourism Center is located on Samcheong-dong Culture Street and provides various services to hikers. It provides hiking course guidance and information (available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese) about the mountains of Seoul, including Bukhansan, Bugaksan, and Inwangsan Mountains, as well as promotional materials such as Seoul hiking tourism guidebooks and maps. Also, it operates hiking tour programs with various themes every week for foreigners and offers hiking gear rental services such as hiking boots, hiking attire, trekking poles, gloves, and crampons for foreigners. (Koreans accompanied by foreigners can also rent the gear.) In addition, there is a storage locker and lounge for visitors, so they can pack up and rest before hiking.

Bukchon Museum (북촌생활사박물관)

8.1Km 2022-08-30

90, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-736-3957

The Bukchon Museum displays items that have been collected from Bukchon, a historical village that was once home to the nation’s nobility. The museum was founded to observe urban development that took place in the recent decades through collected and preserved veryday household items that were used by Bukchon residents. Visitors are even allowed to touch items on display to better be able to imagine life in Korea before industrialization.

Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당)

8.1Km 2025-01-17

2406 Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Arts Center is the representative art complex of Korea. It is comprised of the Opera House, Concert Hall, Art Gallery, Calligraphy Museum, Art Material Hall, and an outdoor stage. You can enjoy various performances and exhibitions all in one site.

The Opera House and Concert Hall consist of a total of five performance halls offering an average of 800 performances ever year, whereas the Art Gallery and Calligraphy Museum has seven exhibition halls providing various exhibitions throughout the year. The outdoor stage also provides various genres of performances all year round.

Gwanghwamun Hanokjip (광화문한옥집)

8.1Km 2024-10-15

7, Saemunanro5ga-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul
+82-2-731-2500

A store with rooms reproducing a traditional kitchen. The best menu at this restaurant is napa wraps with pork. This is a Korean cuisine located in Gwanghwamun Gate, Seoul.

Seoul Gwanmunsa Temple (관문사(서울))

8.1Km 2021-06-01

111, Baumoe-ro 7-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3460-5300

Located at the foot of Umyeonsan Mountain in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Gwanmunsa Temple had its ground-breaking ceremony in 1993 and construction was completed in October 1998.

The temple site has a total area of 22,148.76 ㎡ with seven ground levels and four basement levels. The temple was constructed with a mixture of modern and traditional Buddhist architectural designs. Inside the temple, cutting-edge facilities are used for various cultural events, conferences, and sacred ceremonies.

Neighbored by Cheonggyesan Mountain, Umyeonsan Mountain, and Yangjaecheon Stream, the temple is located near many natural spots visitors can enjoy. In particular, Umyeonsan Mountain (alt. 293 m), where Gwanmunsa Temple is located, gets its name for its shape resembling a cow lying down. Designated as a city park and managed by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Umyeonsan Mountain has several valleys with clear spring waters and a dense forest inhabited by diverse animals and plants.

Bukjeong Village (북정마을)

8.1Km 2024-02-15

132-3 Seongbuk-ro 23-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Bukjeong Village, situated along the slopes of Seongbuk-dong, offers a glimpse into Korea's old alleyways. The village expanded as refugees from the Korean War (1950–1953) and people from various regions settled, building houses under the collapsed walls of Hanyang doseong (Seoul City Wall). Presently, the village is home to young artists, and the broad street in front of the village bus stop hosts various community events.

YallaKOREA (얄라코리아)

8.2Km 2025-10-23

#700, The Salvation Army Building, 69 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

YallaKOREA is a medical tourism agency specialized in serving Arab patients, providing medical services since 2016 for those wishing to visit plastic surgery and dermatology clinics in Korea. For patients undergoing surgery, it offers customized services including medical interpretation, private transportation, hotel reservations, airport pick-up and drop-off services, and daily tours. With years of experience and a deep understanding of Arab culture, it ensures safe and convenient medical tourism.

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