Seoul(Seodaemun-gu)

.


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

Dongnimmun stands at a spot originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet him. It's in 1897, to announce that our independence to Japan, Russia which had influence and threatened China, Korea for a long time.The expense for the construction was collected as a fund by Korean citizens. The traces of the past still remain on Dongnimmun. The two pillars in front of Dongnimmun are the remains of Yeongeunmun.The Arc de Triomphe in France can be recalled in comparison to Dongnimmun. Dongnimmun was built up with a granite wall, and there is a passageway with a x_height of 14.28 meters. On the top it is written ‘Dongnimmun’ in Korean with the national flag drawn on each side. On the inner-left side there are stone stairs leading to the attic. The national flower Mugunghwa are planted around Dongnimmun. Now it is surrounded by roads and it is eye-catching to view when passing by.


Seoul(Dongdaemun-gu)

The Traditional Arts & Crafts Studio was created to give both locals and international visitors a chance to experience the traditional arts of Korea firsthand. For international visitors, programs serve as a brief introduction to some of the finer points of Korean art. For many Koreans, the studio’s programs are ways to relive childhood memories or experience traditional culture as a family.


Seoul(Gangbuk-gu) , Daehangno・Seongbukdong

Dream Forest, previously known as ‘Odong Geullin Park’, is located at Bun-dong, Gangbuk-gu Seoul.Renovated and reopened on October 2009, Dream Forest is the fourth largest park after World Cup Park(2.76million ㎡), Olympic Park(1.45million ㎡), and Seoul Forest(1.20million ㎡) and the first large-scale green park created in Gangbuk area.Major attractions of the park include Wolyeongji Pond, Grass Square, Wolgwang Waterfall, Aewoljeong Pavilion, and Chilbokji (confluence of 7 different artificial waterfalls), Event Garden, Children’s Gallery, Wild Grass Garden, Deer Ranch, Exploring Path, Forest Rest, and a water park. Recently, the Changnyeongwigungjaesa estate (registered cultural heritage No. 40) has been restored with other traditional landscape architectures such as a pond, pavilion and waterfall created nearby to double the genuine beauty of Korean traditional park.On the slanted hill side where used to be sleigh slopes are now turned into a complex cultural space with Northern-Seoul Art Center that houses fantastic-looking observatory, performance hall, book café, and gallery; and a restaurant; jumping fountain; and children’s playground. Dream Forest Observatory where a drama ‘IRIS’ was filmed, provides a fantastic view of Bukhansan Mt., Dobongsan Mt. and Suraksan Mt. to the north while N-tower and Hangang River to the south. Just outside the park that is surrounded by apartment buildings and roads are a cultural exhibition lounge, forest workout space, badminton court and walking path for the residents. 


Seoul(Dongdaemun-gu) , Dongdaemun

Located in Jeongnong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Cheongnyangni Station runs on the Gyeongwon Line and between Wangsimni Station and Hoegi Station. It is the first and last station of on the Jungang Line.It began operating as a regular station on October 15, 1911 and changed its name to Donggyeongseong Station in 1938. The name was later changed to Cheongnyangni Station in 1942. The station belongs to the Metropolitan Dongbu branch of Korail and it operates the Mugunghwa Line and the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, and also handles ticket sales.


Seoul(Gangseo-gu)

Located in the center of Seoul, InterCity Seoul has 355 residential rooms of various types including studios and duplexes ranging in size from about 43m2 to 66m2. All rooms are equipped with cooking and washing amenities to provide long-term guests with optimal service. The hotel is near Gimpo International Airport and is just five minutes’ walk from Balsan Station on Subway Line 5. Nearby tourist attractions include Seonyudo Park (25 minutes by car), 63 Square (25 minutes by car), and Yeouido Park (30 minutes by car).


Seoul(Gangseo-gu) , The Western Part of the Seoul

The Heojun Museum first opened on March 23, 2005 in honor of academic accomplishments and charitable deeds of the renowned medical scientist, Heojun of the middle century Joseon Dynasty.The museum is composed of the Heojun Memorial Hall, a Herb and Medicine Room, a Medical Supply Room, an Experience Hall, and two floors of a Naeuiwon (government-run medicinal office during the Joseon Dynasty) and an oriental medicine clinic. In addition, there is Heojun Park and Heogabawi Rock, which are situated beside the museum. Apart from things related to Heojun, various exhibits, especially high-tech displays such as models, media and touch-screens are also available and on display.At the Experience Hall, you will come closer to understanding oriental medicine by getting a first-hand experience of what it is like to be an Oriental doctor. Furthermore, the reappearance of Joseon Dynasty’s Naeuiwon and oriental medicine clinic are exquisitely shown. There is also the resting area on the roof which is connected to the herbal medicine park, and offers a wonderful view to experience this vivid scene.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu)

PMC Production is a cultural venture capital company that plans and produces musicals and films. Among its recent productions is Nanta, an incredibly popular nonverbal performance. PMC Kids Hall is a large (3,000㎡) theater and cultural space for children that is located only a minute away from Samseong Station.


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

Located in Bukchon, surrounded by Bugaksan Mountain between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace, Rakkojae Seoul is one of the first hanok accommodations opened in the area, and it is a popular tourist spot for the unique beauty of its hanok buildings and delicious restaurants as well as ancient palaces and Insa-dong street. Entering the alleyway along the wall of Jaedong Elementary School, an extraordinary-looking hanok structure with the name plaque ‘Rakkojae’, meaning “a place where one can enjoy the traditions of times past and rest one’s soul”, is found. Rakkojae Seoul is a boutique hanok hotel that was built by renovating an old noble family’s house with a history of 130 years by Human Cultural Asset-Master Carpenter Chung Young-jin. With the quiet and still atmosphere, the hanok hotel has a ‘ㅁ’-shaped hanok structure with various charms including black roof tiles, a red clay wall, a tall gate, a yard with a pond, sotdae (pole), an iron pot and jars, a pavilion, and a garden planted with bamboo and pine trees along the walls. Rakkojae aims to promote the true beauty of the traditional Korean house and provide the best quality services. At the hotel, eating is a matter of the highest priority. Based on Korean style food, guests can choose between standard and high quality Korean table d’hote, which requires an advance reservation. The music performance of gayageum (Korean zither with twelve strings), pansori (epic chant), geomungo (Korean zither with six strings), or daegeum (large bamboo transverse flute) takes place on the floor of the pavilion. It also offers various hands-on programs including a tea ceremony, making Kimchi, and a royal court traditional Korean clothes experience. The room temperature of the Jjimjilbang (Korean dry sauna), the most popular experience among guests, reaches up to 60°C through a furnace. In addition, each room is equipped with a bathtub made of Hinoki cypress. There is an interesting background story about how the owner started running the hanok hotel. Mr. Ahn, who worked for an engineering company in the U.S.A. and came back to Korea after about ten years, originally ran the Korean restaurant. As he was charmed by the hanok structure of the restaurant and wanted to introduce it to his foreign friends, he led trips to ancient hanok buildings from 1994. Then, he heard about the plan to demolish the building of Jindan Academic Society in 2000, and Ahn bought it to establish Rakkojae. With the motivation of promoting the true beauty of Korea to the world, the boutique hanok hotel ‘Rakkojae’ was designed with sophisticated decorations and objects such as old furniture, paintings, elegant ceramics and tea sets.


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

Located inside Gongdeok Market, Jokbal Alley is an alley filled with Jokbal stalls and stores. It was first created 30 years ago as more and more people gathered to eat Jokbal and Sundaetguk (Korean Blood Sausage Soup). Many of the stores found in Jokbal Alley has been around for more than 30 years.