Soma Museum of Art (소마미술관) - Area information - Korea travel information

Soma Museum of Art (소마미술관)

Soma Museum of Art (소마미술관)

5.8Km    2023-04-13

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Soma Museum of Art was opened in September 2004 as a cultural space amid the nature of Seoul Olympic Park. The museum displays over 222 sculptures, and offers a variety of cultural and educational programs, including the nation's first drawing center and archive.

Seoul Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification (서울 몽촌토성)

Seoul Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification (서울 몽촌토성)

5.8Km    2024-03-12

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Mongchontoseong Earthen Fortification is an ancient earthen fortress built during the Hanseong period of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje (BC 18-AD 660). It is believed to have been constructed in the 3rd to 4th centuries. Utilizing the natural advantages of the Hangang River, it served defensive purposes with its trench  and log barrier. Excavated relics from the Baekje era are on display at the Seoul Baekje Museum. The site is situated within the Olympic Park in Songpa, Seoul.

Hanyang University Seoul Hospital (한양대학교병원(서울))

5.9Km    2025-10-23

222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Hanyang University Medical Center, established in 1972 with the motto of "Love in Deed and Truth", offers exceptional medical care to patients worldwide. It is equipped with advanced medical equipment and staffed by highly skilled and experienced medical professionals. The hospital has achieved grade 1 in the adequacy evaluation for several diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as major cancers, making it a top medical institution. Its goal is to provide prompt and convenient medical care to both domestic and international patients in a patient-centered approach.

Salgoji Sports Park (살곶이 체육공원)

Salgoji Sports Park (살곶이 체육공원)

5.9Km    2024-03-20

16-18 Sageundong-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Salgoji Sports Park is located along the Joongnangcheon Riverside near Hanyang University. Its name "Salgoji" holds deep historical significance, meaning "the place where an arrow is shot" in Korean. The park features facilities such as an inline skating rink, soccer field, basketball court, and badminton court. There are dedicated bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways around the park. Throughout the year, walking festivals and mini marathons are organized, making it a beloved spot among cyclists. In the summer, an outdoor water playground is operated.

Mongchon Museum of History (몽촌역사관)

Mongchon Museum of History (몽촌역사관)

5.9Km    2021-08-13

424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

The Mongchon Museum of History, located within Olympic Park, displays artifacts from the excavations of Mongchontoseong Fortress, such as earthen fortifications as well as other artifacts of the Baekje Kingdom period, offering a glimpse into Baekje culture. A model of a Baekje dugout hut site reveals ancient dwelling patterns. Also, the facility displays a perfectly preserved model of ancient houses and tombs, giving visitors the feel of traveling back to prehistoric ages.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (반포대교 달빛무지개분수)

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (반포대교 달빛무지개분수)

6.0Km    2025-10-23

647 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul

The Rainbow Fountain plunges 20 meters into the water on both side of Banpo Bridge over the Hangang River. When the sun goes down, 200 lights illuminate the fountain as it sends out dancing, rainbow-colored jets of water in the air in synchronization with music. The fountain boasts spectacular views from the hills, the Hangang River observation deck, and the moon-shaped Moonlight Square. Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain operates every day from April to October, four to six times a day for 20 minutes.

Namu Hotel (나무호텔)

Namu Hotel (나무호텔)

6.0Km    2024-06-04

9 Achasan-ro 76ga-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

Namu Hotel, which received the Institute of Architects Award, is a hotel with a distictive design. Rather than having the main entrance on a main road, the hotel must be entered through the alley. Each room has its own unique style in terms of structure and furniture arrangement. Most rooms also feature a blacony that allows guests to be one with nature while also being protected from outside forces. Enjoy a soak in the outdoor bathtub to relax.

Achasan Mountain (아차산)

Achasan Mountain (아차산)

6.1Km    2024-03-07

Acheon-dong, Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do

Achasan Mountain is a 295m-high mountain that stretches across Seoul and the city of Guri. Its proximity to the city makes it an accessible destination for hiking in Seoul. The hiking trails are maintained quite well, so even beginners can enjoy hiking in the mountain. From the summit of Achasan Mountain, one can enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul and the Hangang River. In fall, the mountain is famous for its fall colors as well.

Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street (문정동 로데오거리)

Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street (문정동 로데오거리)

6.1Km    2025-03-29

10, Dongnam-ro 4-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is a large shopping district containing over 200 brand-name discount stores. The street is T-shaped, with a 1-kilometer-long main street connected to a 400-meter-long alley, and the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center located at the center. For shoppers’ convenience, there is a public parking lot (if visitors purchase goods at Rodeo Street, they can park here for free) and a parking lot for foreign tourists only (free of charge). Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is one of Korea’s major shopping streets with customers ranging from teenagers to adults, since discount stores stocking sports wear, casual wear, shoes, men’s and ladies’ suits, and golf wear are all located on this street. Moreover, this is a great place to find deals on famous brands, at prices lower than at a department store. On some items you can get discounts of up to 70-80%.

Since most of the goods are stock from previous seasons, it might be better to purchase the more classic styles rather than the trendy fashions. In some cases, the goods might have been slightly crumpled or stained during the transfer from warehouse storage, but taking them to the dry-cleaners should fix most problems. However you should be careful when looking at the sewing quality, and check for missing buttons.

One more thing to bear in mind is the shopping season. Even discount stores have periods when stock runs low. The best time to shop is immediately after the stores in Rodeo Street restock their merchandise. This is done at about the same time as department stores. There is also an enormous variety of goods to choose from during the Rodeo Festivals in May and September. The purchased goods are exchangeable but non-refundable, so check the quality of the products carefully before purchasing.

In addition, Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street has a wide selection of restaurants and entertainment facilities. There are a number of pizza places, coffee shops, and food courts, as well as internet cafes and game rooms in the alleys behind the stores. Visitors can also relax in the surrounding parks. There’s a park with a 600-year-old zelkova tree right behind the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center. Munjeong Rodeo Street is not just a shopping district; it’s a cultural area. The ‘Munjeong-dong Cultural Festival’ takes place every year in May, and the ‘Munjeong-dong Rodeo Festival’ takes place in May every other year. During these festivals, visitors can watch traditional Korean performances, traditional wedding ceremonies, international fashion parades, hip-hop dancing, and more. A charity sale is held on weekends and national holidays on the open-air stage of the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center, and merchandise is sold for even bigger discounts.

Blue Square (블루스퀘어)

Blue Square (블루스퀘어)

6.2Km    2024-03-05

294, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Blue Square is a multipurpose performance venue located in Hannam-dong. It includes Shinhan Card Hall, a performance hall dedicated to musicals with 1,776 seats, and Mastercard Hall, a multipurpose performance hall with 1,400 seats. Blue Square also includes the Book Park, which has a collection of nearly 75,000 books, and a café with a terrace that looks toward the Namsan Mountain. Many visitors come to the Blue Square to see its collection of popular musicals and other performances.