Travel/Culture List

Santorini Seoul is a multipurpose cultural complex comprised of a museum, gallery, performance hall, shop, and a café. The cultural complex, located in the basement floor of Homi Atelier (a famous art supply store for professional artists), is around 700 pyeong (more than 2000 meters squared) in size. The facility can be categorized into three main parts: an open-run museum exclusively for trick art; three galleries / performance hall; and an art museum displaying cat-related pieces. The trick art museum features paintings that are extremely realistic and seem as if they are in 3D. By posing next to the painting in a certain way, you can take a picture and look like you’re part of the painting! In the gallery section, artwork by well known artists is on display and is changed every few months. The complex stays open every night until 10:00pm and is a popular date spot for office workers.

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!  

Insa Art Space was established by the government to support artists who are experiencing financial difficulties. Opened on May 26th, 2000, the total exhibit maintenance fee is provided by the government. It is recognized as one of the more successful national art support policies. Mostly experimental and progressive artwork are exhibited here to activate the art. Curators research the present state of the art circles. Also various open exhibit projects are held to find new talented artists. The newly chosen artists for the events can exhibit their work here free of charge for two weeks. These events are held to help poor artists who cannot start their careers. You can visit without doubting the sincerity of the exhibited artwork. The displayed works are valued for their quality only. Annually 2~3 internal exhibitions and international exhibitions are held, and symposiums and “dialogues with artists” are also often held. Currently there is one curator and two assistant curators. Insa Art Space is a great place for travelers who want to have long day tours. Most galleries close between 5pm and 6pm, but Insa Art Space is open till 7pm or 8pm. It is also located in the traditional Korean street, Insadong, so there are plenty of things to do and see while visiting this gallery.

At Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, traditional buildings, relics, ruins, and cutting edge modern cultural facilities come together harmoniously. Seoul Fortress, Igansumun Water Gate, Dongdaemun History Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial Hall, an event hall, and Design gallery can all be found at the park. Also, the remains of the old Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium can still be seen, including two stadium light towers used for night games and a giant torch. During the construction work of the park, remains and relics were unearthed, including Igansumun Water Gate and Chiseong (the first defense facility found) of Seoul Fortress, 44 buildings sites from as early as the Joseon Dynasty including Hadogamteo Site (military training ground), and 1,000 relics including Joseon Baekja (white porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty) and Buncheong Sagi (grayish blue powdered ceramics) from the early Joseon Dynasty through the Japanese colonial rule period. The excavated relics and remains will be restored and exhibited around the park.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) has a meaning of Dream, Design, and Play. It holds various exhibitions, fashion shows, forums, conferences, and other domestic and international events. Registration for touring the architecture is available on-site and other event schedules and kid program information are available on the website.

Some Sevit (also known as Sebitseom), is a floating Island located near the southernmost part of Banpo Bridge, the nation’s first-ever artificial island that floats on the surface of Hangang River. The Island is comprised of three flower-themed islet - solvit, chavit and gavit, each with different functions. The first islet, 'some gavit' takes the form of a flower in full bloom. It is a multi-functional cultural facility which can be used as a venue for performances, international conferences, exhibitions and so forth. The second islet, 'some chavit' looks like a flower bud. A range of cultural experience and event zones including Beat Square, Youth Woods and 3D restaurants will be located here. The third islet, 'some solvit' takes the form of a seed. The islet has water sports facilities and outdoor garden from which you may enjoy the picturesque scenery of Hangang River. Around the floating Island are LED lights that feature a fantastic night view under the theme of ‘gleaming light in the mist.' The floating Island, a prospective venue for a range of artistic performances and exhibitions, is a landmark attraction at Hangang River, along with Jamsu Bridge Pedestrian Square and Banpo Rainbow Fountain.

Panmunjeom is located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), 50 km north of Seoul and 10 km east from the city of Gaeseong, a city which now belongs to North Korea. This area is most notably known for the peace talks that were held here on October 25, 1951 and on July 27, 1953 when the Armistice Agreement was signed. It is now beyond the jurisdiction of both the North and South. The conference center in Panmunjeom is surrounded by the Joint Security Area (JSA) and measures 800 meters in diameter. It is the only portion of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where North and South Korean forces stand face-to-face. It was used as a filming location of the movie "JSA (Joint Security Area)." It was also the site of military negotiations between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC). It has now become one of the most visited tourist sites of the DMZ.

Seoul Sky is located on floors 117-123 of Lotte World Tower, the nation's tallest and the world's fifth tallest building. The observatory offers a panoramic view of the entire capital city, beautiful both day and night. In addition to the outstanding view, visitors can enjoy a small snack or coffee from the dessert cafe while sitting in the lounge or on the sky terrace. While waiting for the elevator up, visitors can enjoy art in the exhibition zone in basement levels 1-2. The exhibition includes artwork displaying the history, culture, and pride of Korea's foundation and success over the centuries. Visitors can also purchase Seoul Sky merchandice from the gift shop to remember their trip or give as a souvenir. The observation deck has two story-high glass windows for an uninterrupted view. The Sky Deck, located at 478m, hold the Guinness World Record as the highest glass-floored observatory in the world. On days when visibility is limited, visitors can still enjoy a clear sky through the Sky Theater. The 120th floor holds the Sky Terrace, open to the elements. Visitors looking for refreshments can enjoy the one-of-a-kind menu served at the dessert cafe Sky Friends Cafe on level 119, or refreshing wine sold at the premium lounge on floor 123. This cozy spaces is the highest lounge in Seoul and is perfect for taking in the view in a relaxing ambiance. To get to Seoul Sky, you will have to take the Sky Shuttle, a double-deck elevator that reaches a speed of 600m per minute. In no time at all, you'll be at the top of the world!

Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (Traditional Theater), located in Namsangol Hanok Village, is a performance hall dedicated to Gugak Performance. The 330-seat hall’s acoustics, lighting, and stage facilities are all specifically designed to enhance the sound and experience of Gugak. It is the only performance hall in Korea where patrons can enjoy the pure, natural sound of Gugak without the use of any electro-acoustic technology.The Performing Gugakdang runs a range of hands-on experience programs including lectures on Gukak instruments & traditional arts and cultural activities for teens. With the combination of performances and interactive programs, the Seoul Namsan Gugakdang aims to increasingly give the citizens of Seoul the chance to personally experience and appreciate the beauty and joy of Gugak, Korean traditional music.

Woljeongsa Temple is located in the forest of the valley east of Mt. Odaesan, and it is composed of 60 temples and 8 monasteries made into one large temple. Woljeongsa Temple was established by Monk Ja Jang (590~658). At Woljeongsa Temple there is the Seongbo Museum where you can view the Buddhist culture of the Goryeo Dynasty (918∼1392), the nine-story octagonal pagoda, also called as the Sari-Pagoda (relic pagoda), and the Stone Seated Buddha figure. Also there is the Jeokmyeolbogung where Buddha's bones are said to be preserved, and the large sermon hall Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion. Usually in a Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion the Vairocana figure is enshrined, but it is interesting that the Sakyamuni figure is enshrined at Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion at Woljeong temple. Woljeongsa Temple of today was restored after the Korean war in 1950 when the Chilbulbojeon, Yeongsanjeon, Gwaneungjeon, Jinyeonggak and 17 other buildings were burned. Many cultural assets and historic data were lost at this time. The Silla Dongjong, which was excavated from the Seonrimwon site in Yangyang-gun, was also lost. The Budo site (relic site) and sagoji (historic document storage) is nearby Woljeongsa Temple. The Budo site is a 15-minute walk from the Woljeongsa Temple to its location at the Sangwonsa Temple, just before crossing the Banya Bridge. Here there are 22 pagodas that hold the remains of the monks who had lived here. Sagoji is an hour’s walk from Woljeongsa Temple towards Sangwonsa near Yeonggamsa Temple.