Heunginjimun, designated Treasure No. 1, was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed important government facilities. Heunginjimun was the large gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress. Likewise, the name of Dongdaemun comes from the fact that ‘Dong’ means east and ‘Dae’ means large.

Opened in 2002, Gahoe Museum has on exhibit, folk paintings and amulets reflecting the lifestyle and wishes of the Korean people from ancient times. Inside the Hanok gallery, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditions of Korea. You will find old paintings of the common people, paintings of religious beliefs, and roof tiles in the shape of human beings or goblins. You will also find folding screens made of amulets and see the wisdom of people in the old days to overcome difficult times through a variety of amulets. Guided tours of exhibits are available from Tuesday through Friday in English and Japanese.After viewing, you can participate in regular hands-on programs inside the gallery. For a small fee, you can choose a program of your liking that runs from 10am to 5pm. The programs can accommodate up to 20 to 25 people. There are many participants on weekends so before visiting, call in advance for availability (+82-2-741-0466, Korean and Japanese). Instructions are given only in Korean, so foreigners are advised to come with a local guide.

Songpa Naru Park is a citizens’ park in Seoul. It has two lakes with Songpa-daero Boulevard running in between them, and a jogging course and walking trails along the lakes. Originally, a branch of Hangang River ran through the site, forming one large lake, but in 1971 when land was reclaimed from the river, two lakes were formed. The total size of the two lakes is 217,850㎡, and they hold about 737 tons of water. The depth of the lakes is 4-5 meters. The park now serves as a great place for Seoul citizens to relax.

Established in December 1984, Seoul Nori Madang (서울놀이마당) offers diverse traditional performances on an outdoor stage to promote Korean folk plays and culture among the public. Performances are regularly held every weekend; it hosts over 120 performances every year and each performance attracts over 1,300 visitors. Within Seoul Nori Madang is Songpa Folk Preservation Association (+82-2-412-8665), which offers seminars on folk plays—Songpa Sandae Nori (a mask play) and Songpa Baekjung Nori (a play performed on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month)—for students at no charge.

Yeouido Hangang Park turns into an outdoor swimming pool in summer and then transforms into a sledding hill in winter. The Yeouido Hangang Park Sledding Hill features small and large slopes for all visitors to fully enjoy the winter.

Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden opened its doors on February 18th, 1997 in Hannam-dong, where the residential complex for foreigners once stood before it was demolished in 1994. Covering an area of around 59m2, it is divided into 13 themed gardens with a total 117,132 plants from 269 species. Among this diversity, 60,912 plants from 129 species are tree types and 56,220 plants from 140 species are grass types. The 13 themed gardens include a garden of herbal medicine, apricot trees, wildflowers, royal azaleas, shrubs, commercial plants and a garden for the blind.

Seoul Plaza was established in 2004, and is centrally located by Seoul City Hall. The plaza is shaped like an egg and the full moon. Seoul Plaza hosts a wide array of cultural events including concerts and exhibitions for residents and visitors. The plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter, and is a popular winter attraction in the city. The facility houses one rink for beginners and one for advanced skaters, and also hosts various events during its operating hours. There are also convenience facilities like skate rental, and outdoor break room, outdoor standing area and rest area for ice skaters. Ice skaters at the rink must wear gloves, and the plaza also offers a training program to teach interested individuals how to skate in a fun and accessible way. To learn how to skate, visit the homepage to register for a training session in advance.

Cheongpung Land is a theme park created in 2002 near Cheongpunghoban Lake (Chungjuho Lake) in Cheongpung-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. The theme park houses three major extreme amusement facilities: a 62-meter Bungee Jump, Korea’s first-ever Ejection Seat, and ‘Big Swing,’ an experience in zero gravity. The facility also boasts the grand sight of water fountains shooting up to 162m into the air as well as a wide-open view of the surrounding landscape. One of the biggest tourist attraction in the area, the park is adjacent to other popular tour sites such as the filming location of the KBS historical drama ‘Taejo Wangeon,’ Mt. Geumsusan, and the National Park of Woraksan Mountain.

Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park in central Seoul is the first ecological park in Korea. It houses a wide variety of flora and fauna, including kestrels (Nature Monument No.323), herons, minnows, etc. There is a 6㎞-long promenade that lies across the park, and information signs explaining various flower and plant species throughout the park.

Opened in 2017, the ice theme park Freezing Island is a novel Seoul tourist attraction. The indoor theme park has over 250 ice sculptures and fun activities to enjoy! Freezing Island has 3 exhibition halls spread over 2 floors and it is Korea's largest ice theme park. Freezing Island is like seeing a bit of the North Pole right in Seoul. Great for visitors of all ages, the theme park is a fun outing for families, couples, and solo travelers. Don't forget to take a ride on the ice slide at Freezing Park!