Seoul(Gwangjin-gu) , The Eastern Part of the Seoul

Opened in 1981, the Universal Arts Center is a performing art theater that has been contributing to the development of Korean performing arts for the last 30 years.The 4-story grand theater has a classical exterior and seats up to 1,200 people. Past performances include musicals such as ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Nonsense,’ and the opera, ‘Yi Sun Shin.' The Paeksang Arts Awards, a supermodel competition, and international conferences have been held at the center as well.The Universal Arts Center is supporting ‘Art Korea’ to promote East-West cultural exchange. It is recognized as a Korean Culture and Arts Center and a Center for International Cultural Exchange.


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

Limbyungjoo Sandong Kalguksu offers hand-made noodle dish cooked with fresh ingredients.      


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Over the Rainbow is a popular eyewear shop among young people. It boasts colorful items matching well with ever-chaging seasonal clothing. New items appear every two months. Thanks to its fast services from eye exams to fitting services, Over the Rainbow has attracted many loyal international tourists.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located in Hyoje-dong in Jongno, Jipbul-gui Hwangso Gopchang (짚불구이황소곱창) specializes in straw-fire grilled bull intestines. Oriental herb powders are used to get rid of the smell of the intestines as well as burn away the fat. The use of straw in the fire further reduces the characteristic odor of the meat. Among the specialty restaurants serving the dish, this particular restaurant is quite famous, thanks in part to its appearance on several TV programs.


5.0/1
Seoul() , Hongik-University-Area

               


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located close to Dongdaemun Gate and Cheonggyecheon Plaza, Haruyeonga is a great restaurant for a hearty meal after sightseeing or shopping in the surrounding area.Haruyeonga specializes in meat and typical Korean dinning options, including bibimbap with marinated pork, spicy ribs and doenjang stew (bean paste stew) with lean beef brisket. Their stir-fried small octopus is also popular. The Jeju roasted black pork is another must try dish as it is grilled over hardwood charcoal.


Seoul(Seocho-gu)

Hangaram Art Museum, located in the left wing of the Seoul Arts Center, displays a unique exhibition of formative arts. Established in 1990, the museum has a total area of 15,540㎡ and contains 6 exhibition halls (including one for oversized artwork), a storage area, and an art shop. The building features a lighting system that controls the humidity and temperature and is equipped with a luminous ceiling system that captures natural sunlight and feeds it into the museum, allowing visitors to enjoy a brightly lit viewing area. The Art Square in front of the museum houses a wide range of exclusive artwork and serves as a venue for various events such as the Cloz Art Market. Visitors may also enjoy the open-air café right in front of the building or dine at “Yehyang,” a traditional Korean restaurant right down the stairs.


Seoul(Jung-gu)

Wongudan (Hwangudan) Altar refers to an altar complex for the rite of heaven. The rites were first performed in the Goryeo Dynasty by King Seongjong in the first month of 983 (2nd year of his reign), but was repeatedly adopted and abolished, and eventually stopped at the start of the Joseon Dynasty. Then in 1456 (2nd year of King Sejo), the practice was temporarily standardized and the rites were performed at Wongudan (Hwangudan) Altar again in 1457. However, rites were again abolished in 1464 (10th year of King Sejo). It wasn’t until 1897 (34th year of King Gojong) when the Joseon Dynasty was renamed the Korean Empire and King Gojong ascended to emperor, that the rite was revived. Now, Hwangungu Shrine and three stone drums stand at the location of the former altar complex. The three stone drums symbolize the instruments used for the rites. The shrine was completed in 1899, two years after the altar was started in 1897. Today, the Hwangungu Shrine still stands within the hotel grounds of the Westin Chosun Hotel.


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

Home Plus Jamsil Branch can be easily reached via subway lines 2 or 8 and is in close proximity to Special Tourist Zones, Seokchon Lake and the Hangang River dock, thus attracting many foreign tourists. The store also has a POS self payment line where shoppers can make payments easily just by touching the screen and don’t need assistance from a staff member. However, English speaking staff members are available for a more convenient shopping experience.


Seoul(Songpa-gu)

Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is a large shopping district containing over 200 brand-name discount stores. The street is T-shaped, with a 1km-long main street connected to a 400-meter-long alley, and the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center located at the center. For shoppers’ convenience, there is a public parking lot (if visitors purchase goods at Rodeo Street, they can park here for free) and a parking lot for foreign tourists only (free of charge). Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is one of Korea’s major shopping streets with customers ranging from teenagers to adults, since discount stores stocking sports wear, casual wear, shoes, men’s and ladies’ suits, and golf wear are all located on this street. Moreover, this is a great place to find deals on famous brands, at prices lower than at a department store. On some items you can get discounts of up to 70-80%.Shopping TipsSince most of the goods are stock from previous seasons, it might be better to purchase the more classic styles rather than the trendy fashions. In some cases, the goods might have been slightly crumpled or stained during the transfer from warehouse storage, but taking them to the dry-cleaners should fix most problems. However you should be careful when looking at the sewing quality, and check for missing buttons.One more thing to bear in mind is the shopping season. Even discount stores have periods when stock runs low. The best time to shop is immediately after the stores in Rodeo Street restock their merchandise. This is done at about the same time as department stores. There is also an enormous variety of goods to choose from during the Rodeo Festivals in May and September. The purchased goods are exchangeable but non-refundable, so check the quality of the products carefully before you purchase them. In addition, Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street has a wide selection of restaurants and entertainment facilities. There are a number of pizza places, coffee shops, and food courts, as well as internet cafes and game rooms in the alleys behind the stores. Visitors can also relax in the surrounding parks. There’s a park with a 600-year-old zelkova tree right behind the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center. Munjeong Rodeo Street is not just a shopping area; it’s a cultural area. The ‘Munjeong-dong Cultural Festival’ takes place every year in May, and the ‘Munjeong-dong Rodeo Festival’ takes place in May every other year. During these festivals, visitors can watch traditional Korean performances, traditional wedding ceremonies, international fashion parades, hip-hop dancing, and more. A charity sale is held on weekends and national holidays on the open-air stage of the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center, and merchandise is sold for even bigger discounts.