Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대) - Area information - Korea travel information

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

9.5Km    2022-08-11

15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

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.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

9.5Km    2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

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.

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

Insa-dong Antique Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

9.5Km    2025-03-16

29 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-732-2235

As of today, there are approximately 70 shops in the Insa-dong area that sell antique arts. Some of the products they sell include antique artworks, porcelains, woodcrafts, and metalwork. Visitors may even find rare and valuable products such as earthenware from the Silla period or white porcelain used in the Joseon dynasty. Each shop is a specialty store, authorized to sell product types that are of their expertise, ranging from antique furniture and traditional artworks to handcrafted items.

Nakseonjae Hall (낙선재)

Nakseonjae Hall (낙선재)

9.5Km    2021-09-30

99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-1822

Located inside Changdeokgung Palace, Nakseonjae Hall is a one-story structure built in ikgong style (bird wing-shaped eaves placed on top of the pillars) with a hip tiled and gable roof. It has 6 kan in the front and 2 kan (traditional unit of measurement of the space between pillars) to the sides. It originally belonged to the nearby Changgyeonggung Palace, but came to be considered a part of Changdeokgung Palace in more recent years.

The hall was constructed in 1846 (12th year of King Heonjong’s reign) and it is collectively called Nakseonjae together with the adjacent Seokbokheon Hall and Sugangjae Hall.

Behind the building is a flower garden made of stacked large stones. The chimney, the flowers, and the oddly shaped stones harmoniously blend into one another to create an outstanding landscape gardening.

BARNARDO & FRANCISCO(버나르도&프란시스코 )

9.5Km    2025-05-22

서울특별시 종로구 동숭길 130-5 (동숭동)

What’s with the Hair(털이 뭐길래!)

9.5Km    2025-06-04

서울특별시 종로구 동숭길 130-5 (동숭동)

Vincent Van Gogh(빈센트 반 고흐)

9.5Km    2025-05-21

서울특별시 종로구 동숭길 148 (혜화동)

Wiliams: Wiliam and Wiliam's Williams(윌리엄과 윌리엄의 윌리엄들)

9.5Km    2025-12-04

서울특별시 종로구 동숭길 148 (혜화동)

Aank Hotel & Spa Jongno Unni Branch (아늑호텔 앤 스파 종로운니점)

Aank Hotel & Spa Jongno Unni Branch (아늑호텔 앤 스파 종로운니점)

9.5Km    2025-04-24

89 Donhwamun-ro 11ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Aank Hotel & Spa Jongno Unni Branch embodies the warmth and charms of Korea. Guests are welcome to unwind with diverse room options to choose from such as the msuic room, signature spa room, desktop 2-PC room, and standard room. It's location in the heart of Seoul makes it a great place for tourists as well as well.

Imun Seolnongtang (이문설농탕)

9.6Km    2025-06-18

38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-6526

Imun Seolnongtang has been serving its hearty seolleongtang for over a hundred years since it first opened in 1907. Even its name has a long history: the word imun comes from Imun-gol, the now-obsolete name of the restaurant’s location, and seolnongtang, an old variation of the word seolleongtang. During the Japanese colonial rule, the restaurant’s regular customers included Gijeong Son, the marathon gold-medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The meal served at this restaurante is reputed to stay consistent from the Japanese colonial period.