Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문) – Homepage gwanghwamun.seoul.go.kr – Tel +82-2-3700-3900 Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate…
Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion (북악스카이 팔각정) – Homepage tour.jongno.go.kr Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion exudes a tranquil, serene beauty regardless of the season. The pavilion, which sits on Bugaksan’s 1,652,900 square meter summit at an altitude of 345 meters, was built in a traditional Korean-style and became a popular attraction within the city. There are also…
Nanji Hangang Park (난지한강공원) – Homepage english.seoul.go.kr Nanji Hangang Park, situated north of the Hangang River near World Cup Park, provides a riverside space for leisure and recreation. The park offers Campgrounds, Water Leisure Sports Facilities, Bike Lane, Waterside Plaza, Mirror Fountain, Riverside Pool, a convenience store, and an information center. The Mirror Fountain emits…
Jungmyeongjeon Hall (중명전) – Homepage https://royal.khs.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/menuInfo-dsg.do?grpCode=dsg – Tel +82-2-752-7525 Located near Deoksugung Palace, Jungmyeongjeon Hall is a red-brick modern Western-style building. It was built in 1899 as the imperial library of the Korean Empire. After Deoksugung Palace caught on fire in 1904, the place became the temporary residence of Emperor Gojong. It also witnessed the…
Deoksugung Stone Wall Path (덕수궁 돌담길) – Homepage https://royal.khs.go.kr/ The Deoksugung Stone Wall Path runs along the wall of Deoksugung Palace. It is beautifully lit and landscaped, giving it a romantic atmosphere even at night. There are street performances and flea markets, and the area boasts many famous cafes and restaurants along Jeongdong street. In…
Pungnap-dong Toseong Fortress (서울 풍납동 토성) – Homepage culture.songpa.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) – Tel +82-2-2147-2800 Onjo, the progenitor of Kingdom Baekje, first settled in Wiryeseong Hanam. But exact location is still unknown. One thing for sure, however, is that Pungnaptoseong Fortress, Mongchontoseong Fortress, Bangidong Ancient Tombs of Baekje, Seokchondong Stone Mound Tomb of Early…
Daraenamu Tree in Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁 다래나무) – Homepage www.cdg.go.kr (Korean, English)www.cha.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) – Tel +82-2-3668-2300 Daraenamu Tree in Changdeokgung Palace is estimated to be 600 years old, meaning it had likely been planted before the palace was built. The tree stands 19m in x_height, and has six separate trunks sprawling in…
Hyangnamu Tree in Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁 향나무) – Homepage https://www.heritage.go.krwww.cha.go.kr – Tel +82-2-3668-2300 Hyangnamu or ‘Aromatic Tree’ in Changdeokgung Palace is estimated to be about 700 years old, meaning it had likely been planted before the palace was built. It stands 12m in x_height, measures 5.9m in girth around the roots, and has branches spreading…
Memorial to the Loyal Dead (호국충혼위령비) – Homepage mfis.mpva.go.kr (Korean only) – Tel +82-2-2125-0848 When the fate of the nation was hanging by a thread as the North Korean Army launched an invasion of the South on June 25, 1950, about 1,100 officers and men from the South Korean First Division’s 11th, 12th, and 15th…
Hyosajeong Pavilion (효사정) – Homepage https://www.dongjak.go.kr – Tel +82-2-820-9848 Hyosajeong Pavilion is where Nohan, the second vice premier of the Joseon dynasty during King Sejong and King Sejo’s reign, stayed. After he lost his mother, he built the pavilion to mourn at her grave while still being able to see his father’s grave in Gaeseong…