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Seoul Local Tourism, Top 5 Places Full of Hidden Charm in Seoul South Korea

by Jenise 2023. 7. 14.
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Seoul Local Tourism, Top 5 Places Full of Hidden Charm in Seoul South Korea





Seoul is the capital and a representative megacity of Korea, a city full of various culture, history, shopping, food, attractions and entertainment. There are many famous tourist attractions in Seoul, but among them, there are places where you can feel the color and charm of the locals.

Local tourism is a travel that experiences the daily life and culture of the locals, and learns about the characteristics and values of the region. Through local tourism, you can discover a different side of Seoul and create new experiences and memories.

In this article, we will introduce 5 places for local tourism in Seoul. We will tell you about the features and attractions of each place, and how to get there.


Credit: Nisha’s world/Piterest



1. Jangchungdan-gil

An alley where history and romance coexist

Jangchungdan-gil is a historic alley located in Jung-gu, Seoul, where Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun), the east gate of Hanyangdoseong, the Joseon Dynasty's fortress wall, is located. Heunginjimun is designated as Treasure No. 1 of Korea, and its appearance harmonized with modern buildings is impressive.

In addition to Heunginjimun, Jangchungdan-gil has various attractions such as Namsan Park, Jangchung Gymnasium, Jangchungdan Park, Paper Museum, etc. Jangchungdan Park has a plaza, tennis courts, playgrounds, fountains, etc., and you can also see Supogyo, a bridge that measured the water level of Cheonggyecheon in the Joseon Dynasty.

At the end of Jangchungdan-gil, there are Dongdaemun Market, the mecca of shopping in Korea, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a complex cultural space where you can enjoy shopping and culture.

Jangchungdan-gil is an alley where history and romance coexist, and it is a good place to visit with your lover or family. As you walk along Jangchungdan-gil, you can find many restaurants such as old bakeries, jokbal (pig's feet) restaurants, naengmyeon (cold noodles) restaurants, etc. Especially, jokbal restaurants are famous as 'jokbal alley', where you can taste spicy seasoning and tender jokbal.

Transportation: Jangchungdan-gil is about 10 minutes walk from exit 4 of Euljiro 4-ga Station on subway line 2.


Reference: Seoul History Tour: 5 Places to Visit in Seoul for Koreans & Historical Sites


Credit: Jinse Lee/Pinterest



2. Bukchon Hanok Village

A hanok paradise where tradition and modernity coexist

Bukchon Hanok Village is an area where hanok, traditional Korean houses, are densely located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace.

Bukchon Hanok Village was a high-class residential area of Hanyang, where the nobles, royals, and aristocrats of the Joseon Dynasty lived. Now, it shows a scene where traditional hanok and modern buildings coexist.

There are about 600 hanok left in Bukchon Hanok Village, and some of them have been renovated into hanok cafes, hanok restaurants, hanok galleries, hanok experience centers, etc., providing various services to visitors. Bukchon Hanok Village is a hanok paradise where tradition and modernity coexist, where you can experience and appreciate Korean traditional culture and traditional housing culture.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a good place to walk, and you can see murals, sculptures, signs, etc. that contain history and stories in each alley. The representative attraction of Bukchon Hanok Village is 'Bukchon 8 Scenic Spots'. Bukchon 8 Scenic Spots are eight places that have been selected for their beautiful scenery and attractions in Bukchon, and each place has a special meaning and value.

Bukchon 8 Scenic Spots are as follows.

  • Mt. Bukak seen from the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace
  • Ui-dong alley seen from Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace
  • Injeongmun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace seen from Gye-dong Street
  • Mt. Naksan seen from No. 11 Gahoe-dong
  • Mt. Bukak seen from No. 31 Gahoe-dong
  • Mt. Inwangsan seen from No. 35 Samcheong-dong
  • Mt. Naksan seen from No. 135 Gye-dong
  • Mt. Bukak seen from Samcheong Park


You can enjoy the nature and culture of Bukchon while visiting Bukchon 8 Scenic Spots. Also, you can learn about the history and culture of Bukchon or enjoy small exhibitions or performances at Bukchon Culture Center or Jageun Swimteo Gallery.

Transportation: Bukchon Hanok Village is about 10 minutes walk from exit 3 of Anguk Station on subway line 3.


Reference: Landmark Bukchon Hanok Village


Credit: Instagram.com



3. Seoul Forest

A meeting of nature and culture in the city

Seoul Forest is a large urban park located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, with various facilities and contents such as walking paths, bicycle paths, cultural spaces, ecological parks, etc. Seoul Forest was formerly a metropolitan railway vehicle base and a railway maintenance depot, but it was developed into a park in 2005 as an urban regeneration project.

Seoul Forest is divided into five zones, and each zone has its own characteristic scenery and activities to enjoy.

  • Cultural and Art Park has many facilities related to culture and art such as museums, galleries, performance halls, etc., and also has playgrounds and fountains that children like.
  • Ecological Forest is a place where you can see the natural appearance of forests, ponds, wetlands, etc., and observe various plants and animals.
  • Sports and Culture Park has facilities for enjoying sports such as bicycle rental shops, inline skating rinks, tennis courts, etc., and you can also have a picnic at the lawn plaza.
  • Education and Culture Park has facilities for educational experiences, and also has a hanok experience hall where you can learn about Korean traditional culture.
  • Garden and Art Park has various gardens such as rose garden, fragrance garden, butterfly garden, etc., and you can enjoy different flowers every season.


Seoul Forest is a place where you can experience the meeting of nature and culture in the city, and it is a good place to visit with your family or friends. Seoul Forest also holds various events and programs every month, so check them out in advance and participate.

Transportation: Seoul Forest is about 5 minutes walk from exit 3 of Seoul Forest Station on subway Bundang Line.


Reference: Seoul History Tour: 5 Places to Visit in Seoul for Koreans & Historical Sites


Credit: Instagram.com



4. Itaewon

A global village where diverse cultures and races coexist

Itaewon is an area located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, famous for being a place where many foreigners live and visit. In Itaewon, there are many places where you can encounter food and culture from not only Korea but also various countries in the world, and you can see a scene where diverse races and religions coexist.

In Itaewon, there is Hannam-dong Foreign Cemetery. Hannam-dong Foreign Cemetery was used as a cemetery for UN soldiers and their families who participated in the Korean War from the 1950s to the 1960s. Now, it is designated as a UNESCO World Peace Cemetery and is well maintained. In Hannam-dong Foreign Cemetery, you can see the flags and monuments of the countries that participated in the war, and you can reflect on the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace.

Itaewon is a global village where diverse cultures and races coexist, and a place where you can taste food from various countries in the world. In Itaewon, there are restaurants of various countries such as Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Turkish, Italian, Mexican, etc., and each restaurant boasts its own unique menu and atmosphere.

In Itaewon, you can enjoy various tastes from traditional food to modern fusion food. Especially, Itaewon is a place where you can easily find halal food, which is popular among Muslim travelers.

In Itaewon, there are also many other attractions besides food. In Itaewon, there are religious facilities such as Islamic Cultural Center and Seoul Central Cathedral, where you can learn and respect different religions and cultures. Also, in Itaewon, there are many places where you can enjoy nightlife such as nightclubs, bars, pubs, etc., where you can party with people from different countries.

Itaewon is a global village where diverse cultures and races coexist, and a place where you can feel like traveling around the world. In Itaewon, you can communicate and make friends with people from other countries, or experience and appreciate food and culture from other countries.

Transportation: Itaewon is about 5 minutes walk from Itaewon Station on subway line 6.


Credit: 경희 신/Pinterest



5. Ihwa Mural Village

A bridge where art and life coexist

Ihwa Mural Village is an alley decorated with murals, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Ewha Womans University. Ihwa Mural Village started in 2006 when students of Ewha Womans University College of Art and local residents started painting murals together, and now there are about 60 murals decorating the alley.

Ihwa Mural Village has various themes and styles of murals, and each mural has the name and message of the artist. You can share the artist's sensibility and thoughts while appreciating the murals. Ihwa Mural Village is a bridge where art and life coexist, where you can experience the daily life and culture of the locals, and get artistic inspiration.

In Ihwa Mural Village, there are also many other attractions besides murals. Ewha Womans University campus is the first women's university in Korea, and its appearance of modern buildings and traditional gardens is beautiful. On campus, there are facilities related to culture and art such as Ewha Womans University Museum, Ewha Culture and Art Center, Ewha Art Center, etc., and students' exhibitions and performances are also held frequently. Also, around Ihwa Mural Village, there are various shops such as cafes, restaurants, bookstores, workshops, etc., where you can enjoy shopping and culture.

Ihwa Mural Village is a bridge where art and life coexist, and it is also famous as a good place to take pictures. You can have fun in various ways such as posing with murals, communicating with the artist's message, talking with locals, or drawing your own mural.

Transportation: Ihwa Mural Village is about 10 minutes walk from exit 2 of Ewha Womans University Station on subway line 2.



We have introduced 5 places for local tourism in Seoul. Seoul is a representative city of Korea, where many people visit and live. But there are still many places in Seoul that you don't know or miss easily. Through local tourism in Seoul, discover a different side of Seoul and learn about the characteristics and values of the region. 

Local tourism in Seoul is not just a simple tourism, but a travel that experiences and communicates culture, history, art and life. 

Enjoy a special trip while visiting 5 places for local tourism in Seoul.

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