Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The Hotel Kota is located right next to the Dongdaemun Subway Station Exit 6. Guests can appreciate the beautiful view of Dongdaemun Gate from the interior of the hotel and enjoy safe and comfortable 24/7 shopping at the Dongdaemun Shopping Town. As the hotel is adjacent to Jongno, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream, DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Myeong-dong, and other landmarks of Seoul, it is popular among all kinds of guests including family groups, business travelers and foreign tourists. Situated in a convenient transportation hub, the hotel offers guests the ideal opportunity to enjoy exciting experiences in Dondaemun, the heart of Seoul.


Seoul(Guro-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

9th Avenue is a fashion shopping mall with a myriad of things to enjoy—from Hallyu fashion, to cultural performances, to a variety of foods and beverages.The mall is located right next to Guro Subway Station and is connected to the CGV Multiplex Cinema and the AK Plaza (previously known as the Aekyung Department Store), which allows visitors a one-stop shopping spot.On the first floor of the basement of 9th Avenue, shoppers can find stores owned and run by Korean Hallyu celebrities.'Hallyu Theme Center,' which opened in November 2009, is an especially popular area of the mall, drawing attention not just from locals but from international tourists as well.


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

Shim’s Tapas, opened in 2006, introduced Spanish tapas to Korea, attracting many young and trend-conscious people in the Hongdae area and foreign residents of Seoul. Shim's Tapas serves Spanish cuisine cooked with natural ingredients and spices. The bread, including baguettes, rye bread, and olive bread, are baked in the restaurant kitchen. Along with 30 different kinds of tapas, other items that are available include rice dishes, spaghetti, pizza, wine, beer, cocktails, and coffee.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Niwa is an authentic Japanese izakaya, serving alcoholic beverages and food. In order to stay true to tradition, Niwa works in cooperation with an izakaya chain in Hiroshima, Japan, creating a cooking system that realizes genuine Japanese tastes. Customers are able to experience Japan at Niwa, without even visiting the country. The restaurant is constantly working to develop new, delicious menu items.


5.0/1
Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

CJ E&M invests $21 million into their upcoming K-pop project 'Boys24'   The company CJ E&M has just announced the launch of their jumbo-sized K-pop project 'Boys24'. They have invested 25 billion won (nearly $21 million U.S.) into this project, so it really is jumbo-sized to say the least. This will be a new K-pop performance project where 24 specially selected male trainees, after passing an audition and receiving training, will hold live performances for 365 days straight at their permanently established concert venue. 'Liveworks Company', which Shinhwa's Hyesung and Minwoo are in, will take part in management. 'Boys24' will begin their K-pop performances in August at the Popcorn Hall in the Mesa Building in Myeongdong, Seoul. There will be a variety of performances as the showcase performances are said to be joined with 'Cirque de Soleil'. There will be K-pop, musicals, acrobatics and more joined together for all kinds of content, which is predicted to attract foreign tourists. And before the performances begin in August, there will be a broadcast revealing the audition program, featuring the selection process, training and performance preparations. The company explains that this isn't a debut of a new idol group, but a new kind of Hallyu performance.       ​


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Ganga is an Indian spelling of “Ganges,” a river that flows through Northern India. Dishes at Ganga are prepared by a chef from India with over 20 years of experience. The restaurant has enjoyed ever-increasing popularity among Korean diners and is usually packed with people every day of the week.Some of the most popular food items include marinated tandoori chicken, tandoor-baked naan, fresh tomatoes with cream, and chicken makhani made of tender chicken, cheese, and curry. If you’re new to Indian cuisine and aren’t used to such strong flavors, curry dishes like palak paneer, chicken makhani, beef dopiaza, as well as tandoori chicken, and tandoori prawn are a flavorful, yet mild way to step into the world of Indian cuisine. Curry dishes are especially good when eaten with 'naan,' traditional Indian bread.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located in Dongsung-dong, Daehakro (College Street), The Lock Museum displays an impressive array of locks. The owner of the museum, Mr. Choi Hong-gyu worked as a hardware shop employee most of his life and ran his own store, Choi Family Hardware in Gangnam. He invested all of his fortune to make The Lock Museum. Opened in November 2003, The Lock Museum boasts locks, keys, and key holders from around the world. The museum aims to collect, preserve, and study Korean locks and to promote their benefits and design worldwide.The Lock Museum is an important spot in which visitors are exposed to new perspectives on locks. It offers visitors the opportunity to understand the cultural and aesthetic meaning of them. Centered on visitors, the museum will continue to be a facilitator of cultural communication between visitors and locks. 


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

Located on the outskirts of Mt. Bugak, this park was the first officially-designated park in Korea (1940). The name Samcheong (literally "three blue") refers to the three highest ideals in Taoism that men can attain. Surrounded by cherry blossoms planted long ago, the park becomes crowded with tourists every April when the trees are in full bloom. The park offers many amenities: badminton and tennis courts, a playground, a snack bar, and a multi-purpose rest area.Major hiking trails winding through Samcheong Park connect the park to the Mt Bugak Seoul Fortress Wall Hiking Trail, a mineral spring spot in Seongbuk-dong, and Waryong. While hiking, visitors can encounter Malbawi, an excellent spot chosen by City of Seoul where they can overlook Seoul at a glance. Malbawi Historic Site Visit Program, run by Jongno-go Office (Seoul), provides children and adults with the opportunity to learn about natural ecology in Samcheong Park and the history of Seoul Fortress Wall from designated guides. Through well-developed roads around Samcheong-dong, visitors can easily move from Samcheong-dong to Seongbuk-dong. Currently, Samcheong Tunnel near the park connects the two localities.


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Hongik-University-Area

NANTA is a top non-verbal cooking performance show about four chefs who must prepare a wedding banquet in just one hour. The plot is depicted through various genres of performances, including percussion that uses kitchen utensils to make beats based on traditional rhythms of samulnori (traditional percussion quartet). The entire show has no spoken dialogue, yet plenty of comedy and romance, too. Meanwhile, since its debut in October 1997, NANTA (also known as Cookin') has earned international acclaim, being staged on Broadway and at other famous venues worldwide.


Seoul(Dongdaemun-gu) , Dongdaemun

Thick and rich broth makes a good impression here. Boiled chicken with ginseng (Samgyetang) gives a soft and tender taste with glutinous rice, chestnuts, ginseng and Chinese dates. The rich flavor of ginseng liquor, fried chicken gizzard, cubed white radishes, cabbage kimchi, and garlic with Korean hot pepper paste makes this dish even better. *Best Korean Restauranta as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government