Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

  • Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

Explanation

Itaewon was the first special tourist zone in Seoul, designated in 1997. It is a multicultural place where over 20,000 foreigners live and is widely recognized by international visitors.

The name Itaewon started to spread worldwide in the 1980s when Korea hosted the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as many international conferences. Since then, Itaewon has become a popular travel destination. Clothes and accessories with unique designs, and leather products in particular are famous. This is a go-to place for both shopping and entertainment. The street is crowded with shops selling clothes and bags, as well as hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities and travel agencies. With about 2,000 shops and stores lining every street, visitors can experience a multicultural atmosphere. Also famous in the district is Antique Furniture Street where more than 100 shops selling furniture and antiques stretch from Hamilton Hotel toward Bogwang-ro.

Travelers can taste authentic cuisine and experience culture from around the globe on World Food Street where there are 40 restaurants operated by foreigners. Since the late 1990s, an increase in the number of tourists from Southeast Asia and the Middle East has transformed the streets from being US Army-oriented into culturally diverse. Various performances and events are held in the area. In particular, Itaewon Global Village Festival, held every October, is a famous festival. Tourists can pay in US dollars, Japanese yen, or another currency freely. In addition, visitors can use various languages like English, Japanese, and Chinese with the sellers.


Inquiry

+82-2-797-7319


Homepage

www.itaewon.or.kr


Information Use

Contact and Information : • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-797-7319,
+82-2-3785-0942

Parking facilities : Available (6 parking lots in the area)


More information

Restrooms
Restrooms available in 22 buildings, including hotels and shopping malls.

Available Facilities
Tourist information center, stores exclusively for foreigners, foreign restaurants, currency exchange, shopping mall, tourist restaurants, entertainment facilities, tourist hotels, etc.

Interpretation Services Offered
Tourist information centers offer travel maps in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Travel information is posted on the website in English, Japanese and Chinese.

Location

196, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Arario Sculpture Plaza (아라리오 조각광장)

Arario Sculpture Plaza (아라리오 조각광장)

2024-09-04

43 Mannam-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

The Arario Sculpture Plaza is visited by over 70,000 people a day, being located outside the Arario Gallery Cheonan, between Cheonan Bus Terminal and Shinsegae Department Store. The plaza is decorated minimally, with just stone benches to enjoy the 30 works of art installed.

Gangcheonseom Island (강천섬)

Gangcheonseom Island (강천섬)

2024-08-29

Gangcheon-ri, Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Gancheonseom Island, located within the Namhangang River, is famous for its beautiful nature, featuring blooming magnolias in spring and golden ginkgo tree foliage in fall. While not originally an island, the land here was often separated due to flooding during the rainy season in the past. To manage this, a channel was dug where flooding often happened. The island centers on a large grassy field, with various natural walking trails around this, as well as the Yeoju Healing Center. The field is a popular picnic spot for locals, although cooking and camping are prohibited. 

Somangjinsan Lantern Theme Park (소망진산 유등테마공원)

Somangjinsan Lantern Theme Park (소망진산 유등테마공원)

2024-08-28

Manggyeong-dong, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Somangjinsan Lantern Theme Park was created to display the history and culture of the Namgang River and Jinjuseong Fortress through lanterns, the focal point of the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. The rooftop rest area offers amazing views of the Namgang River, as well as a variety of Rose of Sharon species, the national flower of Korea.

Jinyangho Park (진양호 공원 (진양호 전망대, 동물원))

Jinyangho Park (진양호 공원 (진양호 전망대, 동물원))

2024-08-28

96-6 Namgang-ro 1beon-gil, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Jinyangho Park is situated around Jinyangho Lake, the only manmade lake in Gyeongsangnam-do. The park is complete with a range of facilities and amenities, including a zoo that is home to tigers, lions, bears, eagles, giraffes, and many more animals. Another popular attraction within the park is the observatory, a modern three-story building that offers views of the surrounding landscape. The park has been used as a filming site, and is a common date location for locals.

Yeoju Godalsa Temple Site (여주 고달사지)

Yeoju Godalsa Temple Site (여주 고달사지)

2024-08-22

Sanggyo-ri, Bungnae-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Godalsa Temple Site, at the foot of Hyemoksan Mountain, shows the remnants of a temple that was built in AD 764. The temple rose to prominence in the Goryeo period, but was destroyed at some point, although the timing and reason is unknown. While the temple grounds are no longer at their peak of glory, they do still hold a national treasure, four treasures, and one tangible cultural heritage, making it an important site. 

Dragon Statue and Tiger Statue in Cheonnae-ri, Geumsan (금산 천내리 용호석)

Dragon Statue and Tiger Statue in Cheonnae-ri, Geumsan (금산 천내리 용호석)

2024-08-21

Cheonnae-ri, Jewon-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

The Dragon Statue and Tiger Statue in Cheonnae-ri, Geumsan are located about 100 meters apart next to a stream. The two stone statues show intricate carvings of a dragon complete with horns and antlers, and a tiger standing up on his hind legs respectively. The statues are believed to have been made during the late Goryeo period.

Old House of Chang Ucchin (장욱진고택)

2024-09-19

119-8 Mabuk-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

The Old House of Chang Ucchin was the home of the famous Korean artist, one of the first to paint in the Western style in Korea. Chang created many works of art while living here from 1986 until his death. The house was registered as a National Cultural Heritage in 2008, and features a traditional house built over 120 years ago, as well as a Western-style building added on later, based on his 1953 painting "Scene with a Car." Visitors can see the red brick walls, black roof, and main entrance flanked by windows just like in the painting. The small hanok building is built in a square shape, with an anchae (inner room) and sarangchang (guestroom/study). The annex building is now used as a traditional tea house and gift shop.

Yeoju Dojasesang (여주도자세상)

2024-08-29

7 Silleuksa-gil, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Yeoju Dojasesang is a multicomplex operated by the Korea Ceramic Foundation that introduces ceramic designs through displays as well as sales in the nation's largest ceramic shopping mall. Another attractive feature of Yeoju Dojasesang is the craft studio, where artisians and visitors alike can create beautiful and unique works.

Sibipokpo Falls (이폭포(12폭포))

2024-08-29

Guseok-ri, Nami-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Sibipokpo Falls is a series of 12 ("sibi" in Korean) waterfalls in a valley of Seongchisan Mountain in Geumsan. Visitors can see the falls of various sizes by walking on the hiking trail as it winds its way through the forest along the stream. The path is accessible from the parking lot by Seongchisan Rest Area. Nearby attractions include Simcheon Wellbeing Recreational Forest and Yongdamho Lake.

Gangju Pond (강주연못)

2024-08-28

Yeha-ri, Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Gangju Pond is the orgin of the current Jinjuseong Fortress. It is unknown when the pond was first built, but the trees that grow around the pond are 500-600 years old, attesting to its history. During summer, the pond is filled with lotus blossoms, and it is a popular picnic location for students. The area around the pond was designated as an ecolocial park in 2004, creating a space for locals to relax and learn about the environment.