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

BENIKEA Premier Marigold Hotel is located in the heart of Hongdae, a district bustling with young people and a hive of cultural activity, making it the perfect place to stay for both tourists and business travelers who want to experience the vibrant city to its fullest. Take a break from your daily grind to recharge yourself at the hottest place in Mapo-gu. Every little detail of the hotel interior was selected with care to create a comfortable and trendy ambience.


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

Located in Sangam-dong, Digital Media City is a cutting-edge digital media entertainment cluster covering an area of about 570,000㎡.Attractions and facilities at the DMC include the DMC Promotion Room, DMS (Digital Media Street), DMC Artpia, Digital Pavilion, and the Korea Cultural Contents Center (Korean Movie Museum).


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

Anthracite Coffee Roasters is well-known cafe in Hapjeong-dong that brings new meaning to the term industrial chic. Anthracite's building was once a shoe factory and the cafe has maintained any of the factory's industrial elements and added modern decor.  Beer and coffee are among the menu selections offered at Anthracite and one of the most popular coffees is the Butter Fat Trio. The coffee roasts are named after famed authors, so visitors can order a "Natsume Sōseki" or a "Pablo Neruda." Anthracite's pastry chef bakes the cafe's desserts on the premises. Patrons can choose from cakes, financiers, madeleines, and cookies.  


Seoul(Gwangjin-gu)

Seoul Children's Museum is a facility established by the Seoul City government to help enhance the children's creativity and imagination. The museum offers various cultural activities, as well as arts and science programs that are fun for kids and also enjoyable for parents and teachers. There are about 100 interactive items on display from the basement level to the third floor.


Seoul(Mapo-gu)

Hanseam Leather Industrial Arts offers handmade leather accessories. At the shop, visitors can participate in seminars and learn to make various accessories. Seminars are free; visitors need to pay only for the materials they use. Both students and adults are welcome to participate in all seminars.


Busan(Yeonje-gu)

Established in 1986, the Busan Sports Complex features the main stadium, Sajik indoor swimming pool, an indoor gymnasium, Sajik Baseball Ground, and an athletes' training center. The main stadium was the venue for the 2002 Asian Games and several matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The Sajik Baseball Ground is home of the Lotte Giants, and seats up to 28,500 people. The Busan Sports Complex regularly hosts international sporting and cultural events, while providing excellent facilities for personal as well as group training.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The Choi Gi Soon Dackjongyi Doll Institute makes and displays Dackjongyi dolls (traditional Korean dolls). The dolls are made of special paper created from mulberry trees. Naturally, they ooze a unique scent that comforts visitors. This cozy gallery displays traditional Korean dolls from the past to the present. Visitors can watch and attend a craft class. The dolls can be leased for exhibition, purchased, or customized upon request. 


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

With 24 granite pillars, a splendid blue dome, and white exterior, the National Assembly Building is a beautiful piece of architecture. The historic building came to life in 1975 after six years of construction. The pillars and the dome symbolize the various opinions of the public emerging as one. The building is a favorite among tourists as it is located next to the Hangang River. The Hangang River sits behind the building as a beautiful backdrop.The National Assembly Building contains the Visitor Center, a walking area, and benches alongside the Hangang River. The easiest way to visit the National Assembly Building is by applying at the Visitor Center. One can tour various parts of the National Assembly Building as well as the main conferencing area. The application process lasts roughly twenty minutes. The drawback is that it does not offer a foreign language service. Those who are interested in seeing Korean politics in action may also see sessions as they proceed. However, those not particularly interested in Korean politics will be more than satisfied with the regular tour.


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.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

The old building of the Seoul train station was designed by Tsukamoto Yasushi, a professor of Tokyo University. Construction of the station started in June, 1922 and was completed in September, 1925. Due to its unique domed roof and large size, the station attracted much attention in its early years.After Korea regained its independence from under Japanese colonial rule, the station’s name was changed from ‘Gyeongseong Station’ to ‘Seoul Station’. During the Korean War, the station was partially destroyed but later restored. After Korea began industrializing after the war, the South annex and West annex were constructed to handle the increasing transportation volume.In 2004 when the privately-funded new station was constructed, the old station closed down, but after reconstruction in 2011 opened as a multicultural space called ‘Culture Station Seoul 284’. The main section (Jungang Hall) is for performances, exhibitions, events, and cafés, while the 2nd floor houses a hall that serves as a venue for cultural performances, exhibitions, academic seminars, business meetings, and more.