5.0/2
Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Dongdaemun

         


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

In an alley near the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, the Italian restaurant The Hanok Smith Likes can be found. The restaurant is famous for serving homemade Italian cuisine in traditional Korean house in Samcheong-dong.The Smith in the restaurant’s name refers to a blacksmith as well as Mr. Smith which is a common name like Cheolsu in Korea. The restaurant decided to pick the name Smith with the second meaning in mind. So, the concept is that Mr. Smith who is a virtual person cooks his favorite dishes in a hanok. One of the interesting aspects about this restaurant is that they serve hwadeok pizza (brick oven pizza) and pastas which are not the Korean dishes one might expect given the hanok exterior. They also serve salads, risotto, steak and wine at the restaurant. Particularly, the nighttime atmosphere of the restaurant offers a more serene and cozy experience thanks to the traditional hanok architecture.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Dongdaemun

Jangchung Gymnasium is Korea’s first domed gymnasium and opened Februrary 1st, 1963. The gym holds diverse athletic events such as basketball, volleyball and handball competitions as well as boxing, wrestling, weight-lifting and ssireum (Korean traditional wrestling). The gym also presents other cultural performances and events including international competitions, concerts and madangnori. The Jangchung Fitness Club, is also located within the facility and offers monthly memberships.


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

Tomorrow With You is a K-drama about Yoo So-joon (played by Lee Je-hoon), a CEO of a real estate company, who travels through time via subway. While traveling back and forth in time, Yoo realizes that his future is gloomy. In order to change his fate for the better, he decides to marry Song Ma-rin (played by Shin Min-a), a perky photographer. Café Comma located in Donggyo-dong is one of the locations featured in the K-drama, where Song nervously waited for Yoo. Run by famed publisher Munhak Dongne, the café offers grand-scale bookshelves containing more than 5,000 books. It is comprised of two floors: the 1st floor featuring large glass windows and the second floor providing a cozy, attic-like atmosphere. Café Comma opens at 7:30 daily. From 7:40 until 11:00 on weekdays, all drinks are offered at half the regular price.  


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

Boasting over 600 years of history, The Bukchon Cultural Center is situated inside the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village, a narrow series of roads between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo.The Bukchon Cultural Center immerses visitors in a traditional Korean atmosphere as it is centered between two of Seoul’s main royal palaces. A traditional experience hall and hanok-style restaurant were recently built inside the complex, presenting a more enjoyable experience for all visitors.The Bukchon Cultural Center is a traditional Korean-style building called Hanok Gaok and not only provides a genuine traditional Korean atmosphere, but also offers cultural programs that educate visitors on Korea’s history and traditions. Classes are also available with lectures lead by specialists covering a host of topics, and special extended lecture programs that last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Registration can be made over the phone after selecting the lecture of your choice. However, be aware that all classes are conducted in Korean only, so you may need to bring a guide or someone who will be able to translate for you. 


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

The Seoul Color Park spans over 9,000㎡ of land next to Hangang River under the Mapo Bridge. It features a large wave-shaped sculpture, as well as bar code graphics and benches painted with 10 different colors that have been designed as the Colors of Seoul. In the 'Seoul Color' scheme, dark gray represents the traditional 'giwa' roof tiles, red represents the 'dancheong' pattern used in traditional wooden buildings, green represents Namsan Mountain, and orange represents flowers. Other colors include light gray, beige, blue, yellow, brown and white.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located in Gahoe-dong (Jongno-gu), Myeongin Museum is the only museum in Seoul that specializes in masks, including traditional Korean masks and masks from around the world. Visitors can find the "Myeongin Collection" on the first floor and a large exhibition hall on the first basement level. The museum is home to over 500 rare masks collected by its director over the course of 30 years from Korea and countries around the world. Masks at the museum reflect the unique cultures of countries from all over Africa, Oceania, Latin America, India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Japan, and East Asia. In addition to these fascinating masks, the Myeongin Collection further offers visitors a look into culture with a number of Buddhist sculptures, Buddhist paintings, Buddhist crafts, ceramics, modern art, and western paintings. 


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Dongdaemun

The restaurant only uses fresh young chickens, which are about 35 days old, and minimal seasoning to allow diners to fully enjoy the tenderness of the meat. Dip your chicken in the special marinade sauce and couple it with a helping of Kalguksu (a noodle dish) for a perfect meal combination.


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

The Plateau (formerly Rodin Gallery) is a cultural relaxation site where you can appreciate the works of Rodin, including ‘The Gates of Hell’ and ‘The Burghers of Calais.’ The Glass Pavilion, a permanent exhibition hall, is entirely decorated in semi-transparent glass to allow viewers to appreciate Rodin’s famous pieces under natural light. These glass walls and the ceiling slanted in the direction of ‘The Gates of Hell’ were inspired by Rodin’s masterpiece 'Cathedral.' The building itself aspires to vitalize the artistic spirit of Rodin.At the planning gallery halls you can see other art pieces aside from Rodin’s. These are pieces by contemporary artists both foreign and domestic, who left great works in art history.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Mr. Kebab is a chain of restaurants featuring authentic kebabs; the first store opened in Itaewon, an area frequented by internationals. The owner of Mr. Kebab has lived in Korea for more than 12 years, but is originally from Turkey. In order to achieve the same great taste as the original Turkish kebab, he hired a chef from Turkey to specially make everything used in the restaurant including the yogurt and bread. The restaurant uses fresh, locally produced vegetables and chicken and Australian beef and lamb. Vegetables are delivered fresh daily and homemade bread adds an extra bit of flavor to the already succulent kebabs.