KOREAN PLACES FOR TOURISM

PLACES FOR TOURIST IN KOREA.

No.1 – Gyeongbokgung Palace

Photo: Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (top) / Geunjeongjeon Hall, the throne room in the Joseon Dynasty (bottom left) / Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (bottom right) Gyeongbokgung Palace was the major legal residence of the Royal Family during the Joseon Dynasty. Carrying a meaning of “a place where the new king can enjoy prosperity of great blessings,” this was the first palace of the Joseon Dynasty. The palace is unique for its vast area and harmony of buildings, and is the only palace to have all four major gates still remaining to this day.

Within the palace grounds, you can see a multitude of restored buildings. Visitors will enjoy looking at the variations among buildings, each serving a unique purpose. Of course, even before entering the palace, tourists enjoy gathering at Gwanghwamun Gate to watch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony; be sure to time your visit to include this cultural performance in your tour.

TIP) Special tour of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (Reserved tour): The beauty of Gyeongbokgung Palace is Gyeonghoeru Pavilion! Used as the venue for royal banquets in the past, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion is now open for special tours with advanced reservation (Tel. +82-2-3700-3904, English, Japanese, Chinese). The tour takes approximately 40 minutes. Please note that the tour does not operate in winter (November-March).

• ☞ Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• ☞ Directions: Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5. Walk approx. 3-5min.
• ☞ Operating hours: Monday, Wednesday-Friday 09:00-18:

No. 2 – Namiseom Island

Photo: Pine Nut Tree Path near the entrance to Namiseom Island (top) / Site of the main characters’ first kiss in the drama “Winter Sonata (2002” (bottom left) / Tourists enjoying Namiseom Island (bottom right) Chuncheon’s Namiseom Island is famous as a filming site for the popular drama “Winter Sonata (2002).” Originally a hill, the island was formed due to the water level rising after Cheongpyeong Dam was built downstream. It can take a few hours to see all the attractions of the island, but they are so magnetic, tourists easily lose themselves in the charms. The island’s major draw is the coexistence between humans and nature, and preservation efforts are visible through the artistic use of recycled materials like glass and plastic bottles for decorations.

TIP) Souvenir photo spots: The best places to visit on Namiseom Island are Metasequoia Lane and Ginkgo Tree Lane. Frequently featured in dramas and movies, these two walking paths are at top of the list for visiting Namiseom Island. Even self-professed horrible photographers can easily take a beautiful souvenir photo here!

• ☞ Address: 1, Namiseom-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
• ☞ Directions (Namiseom Dock): Take a taxi for approx. 5-10 min.
  
• ☞ Operating hours (Namiseom Ferry): 07:30-21:40
• ☞ Admission: Adults 10,000 won / Teenagers (Middle∙High school) 8,000 won / Children (Age 3 – Elementary school) 4,000 won

No. 3 – N Seoul Tower

Photo: Café at the base of the tower (top) / N Seoul Tower lit in green (bottom left) / Cable car (bottom right) Seoul’s landmark attraction is none other than N Seoul Tower, located atop Namsan Mountain in the center of the city. The tower draws in visitors year-round, and is most famous for the view it offers of the cityscape at night. For hallyu fans, the tower is a must-visit attraction, having been featured in dramas like “My Love From the Star (2013)” and “Legend of the Blue Sea (2016).”

The circular tower features not only an observation deck, but also atmospheric cafés and restaurants among other facilities. N Seoul Tower is a great place to spend an enjoyable evening with friends or loved ones, taking in the beautiful nightscape over a cup of coffee.

TIP) The secret of N Seoul Tower’s color: The light on the pillar of N Seoul Tower is not random; the light changes with the concentration of micro dust in the air. A blue light indicates clear air with little dust, green indicates an average amount of dust, while a red light signals an extreme amount of micro dust in the atmosphere.

• ☞ Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• ☞ Directions
  • Public transportation: Chungmuro Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 4), Exit 2 → Take Namsan Circulation Bus No. 02 to N Seoul Tower Bus Stop → Walk approx. 5min. to N Seoul Tower.
  • Namsan Cable Car: Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 3. Take a taxi for approx. 10min.
• ☞ Operating hours (Observatory): Sunday-Friday 10:00-23:00, Saturday 10:00-24:00
• ☞ Admission (Observatory): Adults 10,000 won / Children 8,000 won

No. 4 – Bukchon Hanok Village

Photo: Scenes from streets in Bukchon Hanok Village A representative attraction of Seoul, Bukchon Hanok Village shows the charm of Korea’s traditional buildings. The neighborhood where relatives of the royal family lived, the hanoks here are grand, providing beautiful scenes down every lane. To make the most of your visit, we recommend finding the “Eight Scenic Spots of Bukchon.” These eight locations are each unique but share the similarity of being breathtaking. Your souvenir photos will turn out great with these spots in the background!

TIP) Respectful touring of Bukchon Hanok Village: Unlike Namsangol Hanok Village, Bukchon is a private neighborhood where people actually live. Therefore, it is important to respect the villagers by not shouting or making loud noises. The beauty of the houses can be exciting, but please tour in a polite manner so everyone can enjoy the experience!

• ☞ Address: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• ☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2. Walk approx. 7-10min.
• ☞ Website: bukchon.seoul.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

No. 5 – Lotte World

Photo: Swing Tree ride (top) / Scenery of Magic Island (bottom left) / Parade performance (bottom right) If you are looking for a fun place to spend a whole day, check out Lotte World! This amusement park is open all year round, with dynamic events and performances. Even better, the park is located in downtown Seoul and is easily accessible via public transportation. The park is largely divided into two areas: Adventure located indoors, and the outdoor section of Magic Island. Adventure includes a plethora of attractions, including a carousel, Spanish pirate ship, flume ride and more, while Magic Island has big thrill rides like the Gyro Drop and Gyro Spin.

TIP) Enjoy more with the Magic Pass! The Magic Pass allows for ride reservation, cutting down on the wait-time for attractions, and is only available for one-day ride pass and membership holders. To use the Magic Pass, download the mobile application (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) or look for a “Magic Pass” kiosk at the park. After checking available rides on your app or kiosk, make your reservation! Note that Magic Pass can only be used up to three times per day so make your selection carefully!

• ☞ Address: Lotte World, 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
• ☞ Directions: Jamsil Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 4. Walk approx. 5min.
• ☞ Operating hours: Monday-Thursday 09:30-22:00, Friday-Sunday 09:30-23:00
• ※ Extended operations until 23:00 on weekdays during peak season
• ☞ Admission: Adults 41,000~52,000 won / Teenagers 36,000~45,000 won / Children 32,000~41,000 won / Infants 13,000 won

Korea’s TOP Attractions (No. 6-10)

No. 6 – Myeong-dong

Photo: Brand shops line Myeong-dong (top) / Cosmetic store (bottom left) / Tourists checking out the clothes in a window display (bottom right) The area of Myeong-dong is filled with unique street foods and plenty of things to see! A district of fashion and shopping, many young Koreans and international tourists seek out great deals and the latest trends. Myeong-dong stretches approximately 1km from Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4) to Eulji-ro and Lotte Department Store. The streets are lined with department stores, duty free stores, and various brand shops. Even if shopping isn’t really your thing, you can still enjoy Myeong-dong by trying the street foods and many famous restaurants in the area!

TIP) Cosmetics are a Myeong-dong must!
Myeong-dong has been called “Beauty Road” due to the many cosmetic shops gathered in one area. This dense cluster of shops is great for tourists for two reasons. Not only can you find all the major brands here, but the shops do their best to out-do the others by offering sales, discounts, and plenty of freebies with every purchase!

• ☞ Address: Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
• ☞ Directions: Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 7. Walk approx. 2-3min.

No. 7 – Namdaemun Market

Photo: Namdaemun Market abounds with street foods (top, bottom left) / Socks in colorful designs (bottom right) Namdaemun Market is the largest market in Korea, with a history spanning over 600 years. Located in the eastern section of Jung-gu in Seoul, this vast marketplace has everything from clothing goods in every style to textiles, kitchen supplies, electronics, traditional crafts, specialty products, farming goods, foods of every kind, imported goods and more. Each shop is rather small, limiting the amount of goods available, but the shops are all privately owned meaning customers can benefit from the lower prices of direct purchasing.

TIP) Namdaemun Market Galchi Alley: When visiting Namdaemun Market, a stop at Galchi (beltfish) Alley is a must! This section of the market is lined with restaurants serving galchi jorim (stewed beltfish). Just one bite is enough to get you hooked. The tender fish goes great with refreshingly crisp white radish.Happy journey to all of you.