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

Samcheongdong-gil Road stretches from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Samcheong Tunnel. Just past Samcheong Tunnel, at the end of the walkway, you’ll find Samcheong Park—a park famous for its thick forest and scenic views. Samcheongdong-gil goes through the middle of the city, but is a peaceful, quaint area. The street is lined with cafes, museums, antique shops and a number of famous art galleries. Since each art gallery building along Samcheongdong-gil has its own unique architectural design, taking a walk and appreciating the buildings is a journey in itself. Many galleries have their own cafes, restaurants, or craft shops, allowing visitors to enjoy art, shopping, and lunch all under one roof.


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

Seoul World Cup Stadium is shaped like a traditional Korean kite, and if seen from above, it looks as if a rectangular shield is being flown like a kite. The shape of the stadium represents flight towards victory, and it combines the hopes of the World Cup games and spirit and traditional culture of the Korean people. The very first impression the stadium gives is that it is very large. It provides over 60,000 seats, and in fact, in terms of area and facility, it is the best in Asia. There are also large screens on either side of the stadium for people wanting close-up view of the games. Near the stadium there are a variety of parks, ideal for leisurely walks. There are also five theme parks around the stadium – Peace Park, Nanjicheon Park, and Noeul Park among them. Thick groves of trees, modern street lights, and magnificent fountains make the parks ideal walking areas in the morning and evening. In the evenings, many in-line skaters come and hang out as well. The stadium is open from 9 to 5 pm, and many interpreters are always on duty. After the successful completion of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, the Seoul World Cup Stadium has been leading the campaign to promote soccer culture, and is also a frontrunner in hosting various cultural events. Located within the facilities are also places to shop and enjoy cultural activities- providing all visitors with much to see and do. In Seoul, it is rising as a popular tourist spot. [Nearby Attractions]CGV Sangam 10 Cineplex A 10-screen Cineplex located within the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the CGV Sangam 10 is the first movie theatre to be located inside the sports stadium. With 10 screens and over 1,800 seats, all theatres are equipped with 3-way Dolby Surround Sound. Discount Shopping Mall ‘Homever’ Of all the ‘Homever’ stores in Korea, the one inside the Seoul World Cup Stadium is the largest. The basement floor is for parking, the 1st floor is for groceries, and the 2nd floor holds a mix of necessities, electronics, and clothing as well as a food court. -Tel: +82-2-300-7000 (Korean/English) -Parking Facilities: about 900 vehicles -Hours: 10:00-24:00 -Closed: New Year, Lunar New Year, Harvest Moon Festival-Note: The information provided may differ from what's currently available. Please check the details from the official website or by calling.


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

Situated in Yeouido, the heart of politics, media, banking and finance, Yeouido Hangang Park is easily accessible via public transportation. As one of the most popular parks along Hangang River, the park attracts many visitors, residents, and office workers. The park offers exciting events year-round: the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring, the World Fireworks Festival in the fall, as well as concerts, and marathons. Well-preserved natural areas such as Bamseom and Yeouido Saetgang Tributary provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about nature and ecology. In addition, thanks to the Hangang Renaissance Project, the park is full of new attractions: the Water Light Square, Waterside Fountains, the Waterside Stage, Festival Land, the Piano Waterway, Waterfalls of Light, the Yacht Marina, and more. Facilities for the Handicapped: Free wheelchair rental services


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

3F The Market (Jeoja) Street of the Lotte World Folk Museum is located on the third floor of the Lotte World Shopping Mall. Traditional restaurants are located on the Market Street, giving visitors the chance to taste many unique, traditional delicacies. Traditional art shops are located here as well, where visitors can watch skilled craftsmen making handicrafts. There is also a Performance Hall (Nanjang) providing a variety of exciting performances of traditional songs and dances for visitors to enjoy. 2F Sejong Bookstore, the largest bookstore in Gangnam is located on the second floor. The second floor also holds a stationery store and the ‘Gymboree’ (http://www.gymboree.co.kr/) store which provides an area where children can enjoy music and art. Also located on the second floor is the ‘Foreign Furniture Street’, offering popular brands of furniture and decorative wares from all over the world such as pottery, jewelry and clocks. Boutiques, as well as Hanbok (traditional Korean dress) shops can also be found on this floor. 1F The fashion area sits on the first floor, and is composed of sports & casual wear, fashion accessories and other fashion merchandise for the youth, including discounts on men's suits, and A/V and sports equipment. Popular restaurants on the first floor include a Korean restaurant called ‘Our Story’ and western restaurants such as ‘TGI Friday’s’ and ‘Time to Time.' B1 For shopping and entertainment, the ‘International Market Street’ is the place to be. Here, you can find both inexpensive and high-quality goods ranging from clothes and accessories to miscellaneous goods. There are also five movie theaters located at the ‘Young Plaza’, along with the latest fashion trends. The International Market Street offers a wide selection of restaurants to suit different tastes, such as Korean, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants. Furthermore, fresh groceries can be purchased for low prices at the ‘Traditional Market’. Moreover, an entertainment attraction called the SBS Theme Studio holds many broadcasting events and internet game competitions including the KIGL (Korea Internet Game League). An ice rink is also located in the area, along with the Lotte World Adventure and a great selection of cafes for visitors to enjoy. B3 A food court including restaurants such as Sizzler and Marché are located on B3. Don’t forget to take advantage of the various entertainment and sports facilities such as a bowling alley, shooting range, and arcades.


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

The Hyundai Department Store, located in the COEX, is 10-stories tall and stands in the middle of Teheran-ro, the largest business and financial district in Korea. With the opening of the COEX Mall along with the ASEM Tower, the Teheran-ro region has become one of the top, first-class business centers in Korea. Located in this widely known business district, the Hyundai Department Store COEX Branch, is a special place for shoppers and offers a wide variety of items to please Korean customers and foreign tourists alike. There are also many entertainment facilities in the COEX Mall such as the COEX Aquarium, Megabox Theater, and family restaurants like Bennigans, Sizzler, and TGIF, making this area a popular place for shoppers, families and couples.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

The Grand Hyatt Hotel's beautiful ice skating rink has been featured in a number of Korean TV commercials and dramas. It’s particularly popular with couples as the rink’s gorgeous lights, night view of the city, and smooth music make it very romantic. The Grand Hyatt Hotel holds several events: * Mondays - 50% off couple admissions and skate rentals * Tuesdays - Free skate rentals from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. * Wednesdays - Free polaroid picture and a rose for couples * Thursdays - Free ice skating all day long * Fridays - Proposal event (other additional fees may apply)


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, exhibits traditional and modern works of art by Korean and international artists. The museum itself is just as fascinating as the works of art on display, since its three buildings were designed by the internationally renowned architects, Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas. MUSEUM 1 houses traditional Korean works of art, such as calligraphy, paintings, ceramic arts, and metal craftwork, while MUSEUM 2 displays modern and contemporary art by both Korean and foreign artists. On Saturday and Sunday guided tours in English are conducted at 3pm. If you plan to visit during the weekdays and wish to receive an English guided tour, you will need to call at least 2-3 days in advance to make a reservation. Audio guides in English, Japanese, and Chinese are available, which provide detailed information on the works of art. These can be rented at the museum for a small fee. This is one of the places that the "first ladies of the Seoul G20" visited during the G20 Summit in Seoul in November 2010. This attraction represents the beauty of Korea.


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

Founded in 1395 by the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace. Roughly meaning “may the light of enlightenment blanket the world,” the name symbolizes the resounding dedication that the people of the Joseon Dynasty had in creating a new dynasty. Constructed solely out of granite, its center is an entrance that resembles a rainbow, called Hongyemun. Above that is a gate tower. Gwanghwamun holds a painful memory in Korean history. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, in order to dampen the spirits of the Korean citizens, the Japanese governing general destroyed the gate and built his own government building. The present appearance of the gate is that of 1968 when it was rebuilt using concrete, and it’s location is about 10m behind the original spot. Though Gwanghwamun is the most beautiful of the five palace gates, it was not designated by the Korean government as a national treasure because it is made purely of concrete. The government is now in the process of removing the Japanese building and restoring the palace. Gwanghwamun has its name written on a sign on the gate, and it was personally written by then-president Park Jeong-Hui. On either side of the gate you can see the word “Haetae” facing south. Haetae is a mythical unicorn-lion that is said to protect palaces from fire. According to Pungsujirisang, there was a fire around Gwanaksan Mountain, so in order to protect the palace from fire from the mountain, these fire-eating Haetaes were put beside the gate.  


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Sinsadong・Garosu-gil

Sungnyemun Gate is Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, and its unofficial name is Namdaemun Gate. Sungnyemun Gate is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. There’s a column on top of a platform, raising the roof, distinguishing the upper stories and lower stories of the building. A passageway for traffic is located at the east and west ends of the gate. Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun’s tablet has its name written vertically. When the first king of Joseon Dynasty, Lee Seong-Gye (reign 1335-1408), had constructed the capital city, he believed that fire will reach to Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the capital city as Mt. Gwanaksan of Seoul is shaped like fire according to feng-shui principles. Sungnyemun’s name means fire, which is from the harmony of the Five Elements and if written vertically, the Chinese character ‘fire’ looks as if it is providing protection. This was Taejong’s (1367-1422) first son, Yangnyeongdaegun’s (1394-1462) famous writing. On February 10, 2008, Sungnyemun was destroyed by fire. After a 5-year reconstruction work, the gate has been re-opened to the public again as of May 4, 2013.


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

Seoul Plaza was established in 2004, and is centrally located by Seoul City Hall. The plaza is shaped like an egg and the full moon. Seoul Plaza hosts a wide array of cultural events including concerts and exhibitions for residents and visitors. The plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter, and is a popular winter attraction in the city. The facility houses one rink for beginners and one for advanced skaters, and also hosts various events during its operating hours. There are also convenience facilities like skate rental, and outdoor break room, outdoor standing area and rest area for ice skaters. Ice skaters at the rink must wear gloves, and the plaza also offers a training program to teach interested individuals how to skate in a fun and accessible way. To learn how to skate, visit the homepage to register for a training session in advance.