Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The signature markings of the Presidential Residence of Cheong Wa Dae are its blue tiles. It is the first thing that catches one's attention upon entering the premises. The blue tiles and the smooth roof blend beautifully with Mt. Bugaksan in the backdrop. The unique buildings of Cheong Wa Dae are comprised of the Main Office, Yeongbingwan (Guest House), Chunchugwan (Spring and Autumn Pavilion), Nokjiwon (Green grass), the Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) Valley, and the Seven Palaces. It is interesting to see that these buildings all have distinctive shapes. They are unique and beautifully designed, built in the Korean traditional style. The blue tiles and the smooth curve shape of the main office roofs are elegantly built. Approximately 150 thousand tiles compose the roof of the Blue House. Each were baked individually which make them strong enough to be used for hundreds of years. If you turn to the right you will see Chunchugwan. The roof of Chunchugwan was made of earthen tiles. This is where the president's press conferences are held. On the left side of the main office, there is the Yeongbingwan. It was designed to hold large conferences and official events for foreign guests. You can walk along Nokjiwon and the Mugunghwa Valley. At Nokjiwon a succession of presidents planted trees on memorial occasions. There is one famous tree which is 310 years old. The Mugunghwa Valley has colorful flowers, a fountain, and a phoenix statue, which makes it perfect for taking pictures. It is best to visit here between July and October when the Mugunghwa flowers bloom. A walk around the paths just outside the Blue House grounds is a pleasure as the surroundings are peaceful and beautiful. The paths follow Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Blue House and to Samcheong-dong Park. The walk from the East Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Blue House is the most beautiful part. With the road in the middle, there is the Gyeongbokgung Palace stone wall on the left and galleries and old buildings on the right. The stone wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace is scattered with beautiful old trees that will comfort you. Across the street are Hyundai Gallery, Geumho Gallery and other famous galleries and stylish cafes. Of the many nice cafes and restaurants, there is "The Restaurant." Its interior is modern and one side of the building is a glass wall where you can enjoy viewing the scenery and the stonewall alley while dining. After you pass this area, and before you reach the Blue House, turn to the right and you will reach Samcheong-dong Park. There are also many famous restaurants and galleries in the area.


Seoul(Seocho-gu)

Express Bus Terminal Wholesale Flower Market is located on the third floor of the Gyeongbuseon area in Express Bus Terminal, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul-si. This flower market handles 30-40% of all shipping of flower supplies throughout the nation like the name sugguests. 40% of all flowers sold are delivered to retail dealers and florists in the Seoul area and the other 50-60% is sold to middlemen living in other big cities such as Gangneung, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, etc. Only 5% of the whole supply amount is purchased by general customers. In addition, the market houses flower-related stores including shops selling items for flower arrangement, and other specialty stores for gardening. The prices of the market vary by the conditions and types of the flowers available so it differs every day. General buyers can get flowers at about a 30-50% cheaper price than at a retail flower shop.


Seoul(Seodaemun-gu) , Sinchon・Ewha Womans University

The Hyundai Department Store Sinchon Branch stands at the center of the young and vibrant Sinchon area. Several universities are clustered around this area so the products displayed cater to a younger crowd. For added convenience, the Sinchon Subway Station, Line 2 is also directly connected to the department store.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Hyochang Park covers 122,245 square meters spanning across Hyochang-dong and Cheongpa 2-dong. It is a historic landmark that once contained several royal tombs, and was known at that time as Hyochangwon. The cemeteries that were originally located in Hyochangwon belonged to Crown Prince Munhyo (King Jeongjo’s first son, who died only at the age of five), Royal Noble Consort Uibin of the Seong Clan (King Jeongjo’s royal concubine and Crown Prince Munhyo’s mother), Royal Noble Consort Sugui of the Park Clan (King Sunjo’s royal concubine), and her daughter Princess Yeongon. The royal tombs were moved to Seooreung Tombs in the waning months of the Japanese colonial period. The Japanese empire began the development of Hyochangwon into a park in 1924, and the Japanese governor-general officially assigned the site as a park in 1940.Presently, several of Korea’s greatest leaders are buried in Hyochang Park. The remains mostly belong to independence activists including Yoon Bong-gil, Lee Bong-chang, and Baek Jeong-gi, whose graves are collectively known as “Samuisa-myo” (graves of the three martyrs). A statue of Lee Bong-chang has been built in the graveyard. Among the other patriotic martyrs who are interred in the park are Kim Gu and some of the key figures of provisional government such as Lee Dong-nyeong, Cha I-seok, and Cho Seong-hwan. An ancestral shrine named Uiyeolsa has been built along the main gate and holds the portraits of the deceased independence activists.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

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!  


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

Nicole Jung, Amber Liu and Jo Kwon do not venture into a grocery store to have their daily cereal fix. Instead, they head themselves to Midnight in Seoul, Korea’s very first cereal café. The decor of the café, complete with electric pink walls and neatly stacked cereal boxes, has been featured on the social media accounts of many celebs. Initially opened by actor and singer Yoon Kye-sang and his artist friends, Midnight in Seoul recently changed ownership. K-pop fans will be familiar with the new owner of Midnight in Seoul- the singer Jo Kwon from the K-pop group 2AM. As for the menu items, over 40 different types of cereals and a wide variety of toppings including nuts, fruits, marshmallows and wine gums (what are wine gums? Is that the correct term?) are available. Choosing a cereal can be tricky but the friendly wait-staff is always ready to provide menu recommendations.  


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

The Korean Embroidery Museum, which was founded in 1976, is privately funded by Heo Dong-Hwa, and is a place where you can view the artistry of women from the Joseon Period. Embroidery is a picture drawn on leather or cloth using needle and thread. Displayed in this museum are about 1000 works of embroidery by women from the Joseon Period (1392-1910). You can see Buddhist embroideries, cloth wrappers, various cloths, and pleated sheets featuring traditional Korean patterns and colors. Starting with the '500 Years of Traditional Korean Embroidery' exhibition at the National Museum of Korea, the Korean Embroidery Museum has had 20 different exhibitions in many prestigious museums in Japan, the U.S, and other countries, that have garnered much praise. It has been at the forefront of running exhibits outside the country and of letting the world learn about the beauty of traditional Korean embroidery. It also publishes books about traditional embroidering methods. The museum is highly recommended for all who want to experience the beauty of traditional Korean embroidery.


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

Hotel Giant features 60 guestrooms, and several entertainment facilities. As it is located in Samseong-dong, guests can easily access some of the trendiest spots in Seoul like Gangnam and Apgujeong, as well as Asia's largest underground mall, COEX.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Hadongkwan is a 70-year-old restaurant in Myeong-dong, Jongno-gu. This restaurant first opened in the 1930s, and serves only two items: Gomtang and Suyuk. And there are only two side dishes: kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and kimchi. Unlike other restaurants, Hadongkwan serves its soup in a brass pot. The broth of the soup seems thin but the taste is delicious and thick. The soup is made of 100% natural ingredients and free of artificial additives.


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.