Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Usmania is a Pakistani restaurant located in Itaewon. The restaurant imports all its ingredients from Pakistan (except for its meats and vegetables) in order to make the dishes as authentic as possible. Dishes are cooked in a tandoor, a clay oven used in just about every household in Pakistan.


Seoul(Gwangjin-gu)

Gwangnaru Safety Experience Center was founded with the goal of preventing tragedies and saving the lives of children and youth. Because of fire accidents like "Sirent" in 1999, which occurred in Hwasong city in Gyungi-do, and another fire accident in the bar of Enhyon-dong located in Inchon Gwangyuok city where a lot of children and youth lost their lives, the necessity of establishing a disaster training center for common citizens was urgently felt. To teach people how to remain safe during disasters the Seoul Citizen Training Center was created. Gwangnaru Safety Experience Center is a three-story building of more than 5000 m². The basement floor includes a small theater. The first floor is set up for natural disaster training and consists of an orientation hall, storm simulation training room, earthquake simulation room, computer tests on fire safety knowledge and others. The second floor is a place for artificial catastrophe training. It consists of a smoke escape training room, fire extinguisher training room, first-aid (CPR) training room and practicing place for calling 119 (The emergency number in Korea). The third floor is used for people rescue training and consists of a rescue training room, screening room, training for professionals and video examples of five biggest disasters that have occurred in Seoul. Overall there are about 20 training corners established, so citizens can experience the imitation of a disaster by themselves and learn easily and in an interesting way to cope with a disaster. We believe that if children, youth and common citizens listen to fire fighters and personally experience training, it will help to learn the correct way to face dangerous situation and deal with a disaster.


4.0/1
Seoul(Mapo-gu)

24 Guest House Sinchon was created with the concept of a global guesthouse in downtown with the cultural association of space, sharing and sympathy. With the most wanted Korean style by foreigners, reasonably priced rooms, young staffs who want to be your tour guide with fluent language service, convenient public transportation to the airport, and 24 Guest House’s own all-time events of Social Club and Crowd Funding, 24 Guest House becomes one with citizens of the world. Experience the real Korea alive in Myeongdong the heart of Seoul and Korean Wave.


Gyeonggi-do(Yongin-si) , Yongin

Dae Jang Geum Park in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do is the largest historical drama set in Korea and a hallyu themed park run by Munhwa Broadcasting Company (MBC). Located at 25, Yongcheon drama-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, the theme park was built on a 2,500,000㎡ site. Facilities in the themed park are semi-permanent facilities reflected the architectural style, lifestyle and culture of the past, based on historical records. The facilities are in great harmony with the surrounding natural landscapes, which makes tourists feel as if they have traveled to the past in a time machine. Popular dramas of MBC, such as "The Moon that Embraces the Sun (2012)," which made actor Kim Soo-hyun a super star, and "Gu Family Book (2013)" that starred Lee Seung-gi and Bae Suzy, were filmed at the Dae Jang Geum Park. "Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace; 2004)," a mega-hit drama that was exported to around 100 countries, was first shot in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, but later filmed at the Dae Jang Geum Park. In the park, you will be able to see buildings like Muryangsujeon Hall, Gyujanggak (Royal Library), Donggungjeon Palace (Crown Prince’s Palace), and Hyeminseo (Medical Institution) that appeared in the drama. You can also enjoy various things in 23 tour zones like Jeojatgeori (downtown), Pocheong (Police Bureau) & Oksa (a prison), Injeongjeon Hall, Bopyeongjeon Hall, Yeonmujang (practice ground), and more. Among them, Donggungjeon Palace was the main filming spot for the drama "Dong-Yi (2010)," and Yeonmujang is often used as a filming spot for various battle scenes. Injeongjeon Hall was used for shooting large-scale banquet scenes. For example, the coronation ceremony scene in the drama "Queen Seondeok (2009)" and the final battle scene in "The Moon that Embraces the Sun(2012)" where Hweon (Kim Su-hyun) and Yangmyeong (Jeong Il-woo) fought against traitors were all shot here. Injeongjeon Hall is a popular set for major scenes of many dramas. Dae Jang Geum Park is a well-known filming site for movies and commercials as well as MBC dramas. It also is used by foreign broadcasting networks including NHK to shoot historical scenes about Korea.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located inside Changdeokgung Palace, Nakseonjae Hall is a one-storey structure built in ikgong style (bird wing-shaped eaves placed on top of the pillars) with a hip tiled and gable roof. It has 6 kans in the front and 2 kans to the sides (kan: a traditional unit of measurement referring to the space between two columns; roughly 2-4 meters). It originally belonged to the nearby Changgyeonggung Palace, but came to be considered a part of Changdeokgung Palace in more recent years. The hall was constructed in 1846 (12th year of King Heonjong’s reign) and it is collectively called Nakseonjae together with the adjacent Seokbokheon Hall and Sugangjae Hall. The main gate of these three buildings is known as Jangnakdang, which consists of 12 kans of namhaenggak (south corridor building) at Nakseonjae. Upon entering the gate is an extensive yard leading to Nakseonjae. Of the 6 front kans, a single kan on the far right side protrudes out to the front to create a balcony-like loft. Meanwhile, the main building features an ordinary housing style with square foundation stones and pillars placed on top of a rectangular stone base. The furnace and the surrounding areas beneath the loft are marked by unique mosaic decorations of irregular lines and the kitchen doors feature diverse design patterns. At the back of the building is a flower garden made by stacking large stones. The chimney, the flowers, and the oddly shaped stones harmoniously blend into one another to create an outstanding landscape gardening. The interconnected Seokbokheon Hall also has 6 kans in the front and 2 kans to the sides and it is a part of ansarang (inner reception room). The outer corridors skirting the building lead to Sugangjae Hall, which is 15 kans in size.


4.0/1
Seoul(Gangnam-gu)

The Renaissance Hotels are a subsidiary of the Marriott International Hotel Group. Founded in 1988, Renaissance Seoul Hotel on Teheran-ro Street in the business district of Gangnam is a 5-star hotel that features 493 spacious guestrooms, including 19 luxury suites, and a recreation center equipped with an indoor swimming pool, a golf range, a jogging track, an aerobic room and a fitness center. In addition, the hotel has six fine dining restaurants, which were selected as the best hotel restaurants in Korea by The Korea Times in 2001.


Seoul(Gangbuk-gu)

The Mia branch of the Lotte Department Store (one of the top department store chains in Korea) opened its doors in June 2006 and has since become a representative cultural space of the Gangbuk area. Complete with a community center, a massage parlor (Relax Shop), a family lounge, a café style rest area, and various other convenient facilities, the Lotte Department store is more than just a shopping complex. Among its large selection of goods ranging from electronics to furniture, the food, clothing, and cosmetics sections are especially popular among shoppers.


Daegu(Jung-gu)

The Daegu Gyesan Catholic Church was built by Priest Robert, A.P. (1853-1922), who came to Daegu for missionary work. In 1899, the church building was constructed with wood using a Korean-style design, but was destroyed by fire a few months after construction began. Priest Robert created a new building design and imported stained glass and galvanized iron from France and Hong Kong, since these types of building materials were hard to find in Korea. Construction was finally completed in 1902, three years after the project was first started.The Catholic Church is the only remaining structure in Daegu from the early 1900s. The church is Latin cross-shaped with a nave and transepts on both sides. Such formations are seen both inside and outside the building. This predominantly Romanesque church also features some Gothic architectural elements such as stained-glass windows and pinnacles.Daegu Gyesan Catholic Church played a pivotal role in promoting Catholicism in the Yeongnam area. In 1911, it was separated from the Joseon Catholic parish and became the main Catholic parish in Daegu area, naming Priest Robert as the first chief priest. Statues commemorating the priest stand in the rectory and a memorial hall named ‘Gwandeokjeong’ holds the remains of 65 Catholic martyrs.


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

Designated as Historic Site No. 10, the Seoul City Wall is an 18.627km-long wall surrounding Hanyang (present-day Seoul), formerly the capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). The wall underwent regular repairs during the 500-year Joseon Dynasty. The wall itself yields evidence of the different skills and materials used, thereby giving it a significant historical value. The Seoul City Wall Museum became full operational on July 31, 2014 after conducting partial operation since April. The museum displays historical artifacts relating to the transformation of the city, and has a permanent exhibition hall, special exhibition hall, information center and multi-purpose lecture room.


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

Reflecting its name (literally the ‘House with Threefold Purity’), Samcheonggak is located in one of the most pristine places in the city and has born witness to standout moments in Korean history. It was the venue for the banquet for the Joint Statement (July 4, 2007) between North and South Korean representatives and has served as a forum for a variety of other political and diplomatic functions. The City of Seoul took over Samcheonggak in 2000 and made it available to the public and the building has been under the management of the Sejong Center for the Performance Arts since July 2009, affording visitors many opportunities to experience Korean traditional culture. The Korean Food Restaurant in Ilhwadang (Samcheonggak) features an impressive spread of delicious Korean dishes that have traditionally been enjoyed by royal and aristocratic families, using natural ingredients and pure water from Mt. Bukak. Dawon (Ilhwadang) offers traditional drinks, teas, and wine, and gives visitors dazzling scenery as the backdrop for their dining experience. In addition, Samcheonggak has several spots (Cheongcheondang, Cheonchudang, Yuhajeong, Chuihandang, and Dongbaekheon) for traditional performances, family gatherings, business meetings, workshops and seminars. Programs for Korean and international visitors allow for an exciting chance to experience traditional tea ceremonies, play a bamboo flute and Janggu (double-headed drum), and learn Pansori (traditional dramatic songs), make crafts, and cook Bibimbap.