Seoul(Dobong-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Between Dobongsan and Suraksan mountains (northern Seoul), a special botanical garden has opened its doors to the public: Seoul Iris Garden (aka Seoul Botanical Garden). The garden (measuring 52,417㎡) boasts a wide array of irises, one of the world’s top flowers, and consists of 12 different themed zones including ‘Iris Garden,’ ‘Medicinal Plant Garden,’ and ‘Wetland Park.’At the Iris Garden, 130 species of irises (300,000 individual plants) are on display on a plot of land measuring 15,000㎡. Species include yellow iris, iris setosa, iris pallasii, and iris domestica, each boasting its own brilliant colors and delicate shape.The Medicinal Plant Garden is home to 70 different species (130,000 plants) of medicinal plants, allowing visitors to view the largest selection of medicinal herbs in the country.Wetland Park presents 70,000 wetland plants and houses an observatory deck from which visitors may view and learn about the diverse aquatic plants.Cheoni Observatory within the garden provides visitors with a place take in the beautiful scenery. The nearby forest lounge is a rest area for visitors as well as a center of operations for the park’s ecological education programs.Irises are in bloom from May to June of every year, but are even a sight to behold during the rest of the warmer months, given the delicate shape of their leaves.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

The Daelim Museum, founded by the Daelim Group, was first established in Daejeon in 1996 and later moved to Jongno, Seoul in 2002. The art gallery studies, analyzes, and presents modern art through the lens of photography and holds exhibitions centered around photo media.The museum is located in the residential area of Tongui-dong, near the time-honored Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum, which was designed by French architect, Vincent Cornu, and built by the Daelim Corporation, opened its door to the public in late May, 2002.On the first floor, there is a garden, parking lot, reception desk, storage area, and conference room. On the second and third floor are offices and a 180-pyeong (approx. 595m²) exhibition hall consisting of small and large rooms, a long gallery, and a special high-ceilinged exhibition space. On the fourth floor, there is a seminar room that can seat up to 120 guests and a balcony with a beautiful view. From the balcony of the seminar room, you may enjoy a wide open view of Inwangsan Mt. and Bukhansan Mt. The stained glass panels (designed to reflect the beauty of Korean traditional cloth) and the scenic lounges on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building add to the overall charm.Above all else, the museum was designed with consideration of the photos, which are very sensitive to humidity, light, and temperature.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The Museum of Korean Art consists of the temple museums in Wonseo-dong and Changsin-dong, in Jongro-gu in Seoul. They are specialized Buddhist art museums with about 6,000 relics related to Buddhism including statues, paintings, ceramics, and folk crafts. Some of them are national cultural assets: Treasure No. 1204 is Uigyeomdeungpilsuwolgwaneumdo and Treasure No. 1210 is Cheongnyangsangwaebultaeng. The museum in Changsin-dong has on exhibit the Daeungjeon Sinjungdo, a cultural asset of Seoul City. The museum was established to promote not only Buddhist art but also other genres and traditional art forms.


Seoul(Seocho-gu) , Jamsil(Lotte World)

Jamwon Hangang Park is located on the southern side of the river stretching from Yeongdong Bridge to Dongho, Hannam and Banpo Bridge. The total length is 5.4 km adjacent to Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu where the hottest places in Gangnam area such as Apgujeong-dong, Sinsa-dong and Jamwon-dong are located.The riverside area of the park has sports facilities including athletic tracks, soccer field, volleyball court, swimming pool, tennis court and a gym. Plus, there is a perfect bike land along the river side where you may enjoy the beautiful secenery of Hangang River while biking.Moreover, there are natural experience field for silkworms, flowers and butterflies. In the summer, people often visit here to enjoy exciting summer water sports like swimming, windsurfing, motorboat riding and more.


Seoul(Dobong-gu)

Dobongsan Mountain, located northeast of Bukhansan National Park, is known for the magnificent rock formations of the Manjangbong, Seoninbong, Jubong, Obong and Uiam Peaks. The Seoninbong Peak has 37 hiking courses, including the famous Bakjwi (Bat) CourseThe mountain is also home to Cheonchuksa Temple, the oldest temple in the region, and several other temples including Mangwolsa and Hoeryongsa, as well as a number of beautiful valleys called Donong, Songchu, Obong and Yeongeocheon. Furthermore, it is easily accessible by public transportation.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

LG Arts Center is an multi-purpose venue for music, dance, plays, musicals, and other kinds of performances. It can seat up to 1,100 people, and its modern stage facilities can accommodate any kind of performance with first-class support. Its cutting-edge sound system is world class and its main source of pride. On the B1 floor there are specialty restaurants, and on each floor there are snack bars where you can have drinks and snacks. In the restaurant section you can try Korean, Chinese, Southeast Asian and other international delicacies. There is also a coffee shop where you can relax. The bars on each floor have resting spots scattered around, where you can rest and converse between performances. You can choose your own seats when getting tickets. You can especially notice the meticulousness of the art center’s design when you look at the women’s washroom. There are 42 washrooms in total, which work out to be one room for every 13 people. Compare that to the average of 50~60 people per washroom for other places and you can see the clear difference. You can see the care put into the center when you enter the theater as well. The front and back seats are wide apart and placed diagonally from each other. The back seats are also placed higher than the front ones so one’s view is not blocked by people sitting in front. If you have valuables or large bags, do not worry. The article deposit can take care of items for 500 people.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The original name of the Mingadaheon (Min’s club) was Minikduga (Minikdu’s home), but the place was renamed and remodeled into a fusion restaurant in 2001.Minikduga is designed by Gilryong Park (1898∼1943), the pioneer of Korean- modern architecture in 1930. This house, which is located in Gyeongun-dong, is a historical building that helps to understand the changes in Korean architecture.The exterior of the building looks like a traditional Korean house while on the inside it is decorated in a totally modern style. The house is decorated with Victorian furniture and a fireplace.Mingadaheon offers six kinds of Korean style-food and fusion food for lunch and dinner. There are three kinds of green tea from Boseong-gun. There are eight kinds of handmade rice cakes, Korean tea and Korean cookies are served with the set menu. There are 200 kinds of wine available to choose from.


Seoul(Eunpyeong-gu)

Bukhansan Mountain was officially designated as a national park in 1983. The Bukhansan National Park covers both Bukhansan and Dobongsan Mountains, and spans the total area of 80.699㎢. At the top of Bukhansan Mountain are Baegundae Terrace (836.5m), Insubong Peak (810.5m) and Mangyeongdae Terrace (799.5m), which gave the mountain the nickname "Samgaksan" or the "three-horned mountain". The mountain had other names: Sambongsan (mountain with three peaks), Hwasan (flower mountain), and Buaak (mountain shaped like a person giving a baby a piggyback ride). The current name, Bukhansan, was given as the Bukhansanseong Fortress was built under King Sukjong of Joseon Dynasty. 


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Buam-dong is a neighborhood in central Seoul that was once occupied mostly by artists and writers. Today, modern galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants stand side by side with old mills and barber shops on the narrow alleyways, making Buam-dong a sophisticated yet classically charming destination.


Seoul(Seongbuk-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Of the 4 Great Gates (Sukjeongmun, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and Seodaemun), established by the Emperor of 1396, Sukjeongmun is called the north gate.Located to the north of Seoul, this gate, with Gyeongbokgung Palace in the center and Changaemun (Jahamun) to the right, make up the wings of the north gate. Due to the possible danger of the area being damaged from all the pedestrians, the Emperor of 1413 planted pine trees and prohibited passing this area. Henceforth, Sukjeongmun became a scenic walkway until the North Korean Communist infiltration of 1968, which prohibited the passing of all civilians.The reopening of Sukjeongmun in April of 2006 has led to the opening of Bukak Mountain in April of 2007 and is in the process of dividing it into 3 courses. Bukak Mountain has been kept well-preserved due to a long period of restriction in this area, and if you climb the mountain, you will be able to see all of Seoul in one breath.