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…
Deoksugung Palace’s Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문) – Homepage https://royal.khs.go.kr/ – Tel +82-2-771-9951 Located near City Hall station, Daehanmun Gate is the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, one of the princiapl five palaces of Joseon dynasty. The name “Daehan” means wish for eternal prosperity of the Korean Empire. In front of the gate, the Palace Royal…
Changdeokgung Injeongmun Gate (창덕궁 인정문) – Homepage https://royal.khs.go.kr/ – Tel +82-2-3668-2300 Serving as the main gate of Injeongjeon Hall, Injeongmun Gate was established in 1405 (5th year of King Taejo’s reign during the Joseon dynasty). Later on, the gate was destroyed by multiple fires during the Imjin War (Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592), therefore…
Waterworks Museum (수도박물관) – Homepage https://arisu.seoul.go.kr/arisumuseum/ – Tel +82-2-3146-5936 The Ttukseom Water Purification Plant (Waterworks Museum and Slow Sand Filtration Basin) was completed in August 1908 as the first water purification plant ever built in Korea. In 2008, it celebrated 100 years of history with the opening of the Waterworks Museum, which showcases the history…