the route

5.Itaewon and Yeouido

In this itinerary the places included are

• National Museum of Korea: the best museum on Korea
• National Hangeul Museum: the museum that teaches about Hangeul from ㄱ to ㅎ
• The War Memorial of Korea: the musuem about Korean woar
• Gyeongnidan-gil: the exotic and fun street in the eyes of Koreans
• Itaewon: the most international town
• Itaewon Antique Furniture Street: another furniture street
• Yeoido Park: the largest park in Seoul
• Yeouido Hangang Park: the beatuiful riverside park
• 63 Building: the golden landmark
• Noryangjin Fish Market: the largest fish market in Seoul

Why Kimchiman recommends

Get some ideas on Korea at National Museum of Korea. Why don’t you visit the largest park, Yeouido Park next to the Han river?

Places from no.1 to no.2 are all walkable. Three places in no.3 are walkable. Within the same numbered area, taking a taxi will only cost you less than 3,500won. From 63 building you cannot walk there. Remember this and use public transportation like the subway. You can check the subway exits for each attraction in case you want to visit separately

1. National Museum of Korea

Museum featuring over 330,000 relics that represent the cultures of Korea

Subway: exit 2 of Ichon Station, line no.4, sky blue line and Gyeongui Jungang line, aqua blue line

Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383, Republic of Korea

Opening Hours:

• Mon, Tues & Thurs 9:00-18:00
• Wed & Sat 9:00-21:00
• Sun and National Holidays 9:00-19:00
• Closed on Mondays, New Year & Chuseok

Admission:

• Permanent Exhibitions Fee: Free of charge
• Special Exhibitions Fee: Charge, depending on the exhibition

Free Language Guide Service

English

• Tues-Fri 10:00~11:00, 11:00~12:00 & 14:00~15:00
• Sat · Sun 11:00~12:00 & 14:00~15:00

Japanese

• Tues-Fri 10:00~11:00
  (No guide on Dec. 2, 5, 12~13, 23, 27)
• Sat · Sun 11:00~12:00 & 14:00~15:00

Chinese

• Tues-Fri 10:00-11:00
  (No guide on Dec. 1~7, 12, 19, 26)
• Sat 11:00-12:00 (No guide on Dec. 3, 17, 31), 14:00-15:00 (No guide on Dec. 31)
• Sun 11:00-12:00 (No guide on Dec. 25), 14:00-15:00 (No guide on Dec. 4, 11, 25)

French

• The 2nd Saturday of each month 11:00-12:00

Meeting point: Information Desk for The Great Hall of the Permanent Exhibition Hall

Tip: Take a tour of this museum and visit National Hangeul Museum right beside after.

2. National Hangeul Museum

Explore Hangeul at the right place!

Subway: exit 2 of Ichon Station, line no.4, sky blue line and Gyeongui Jungang line, aqua blue line and go straight 400m. It is on your left.

Address: 139, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383, Republic of Korea

Opening Hours:

• Tue-Fri, Sun & Holiday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday & Culture day 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Closed: Monday and Lunar New Year
If Monday is a national holiday, it will be closed on the following Tuesday.

Admission: Free of Charge

Free Language Guide Service:

• English: Wed. 13:00
• Chinese: Thur. 13:00
• Japanese: Fri. 13:00

For reservation for the guided tour call at

• English: 02-2124-6294
• Chinese: 02-2124-6295
• Japanese: 02-2124-6296

Digital Exhibition Guide (Mobile Exhibition Guide Application)

• Search for “National Hangeul Museum” at Play Store or App Store and install the application.
• Scan the QR codes and NFC tags in the exhibitions to gain specific information on the designated objects.

3. War Memorial of Korea

Korea’s only museum that exhibits the entire history of Korean War

Subway: Exit 12 of Samgakji Station, line no.4 and 6, sky blue line and brown line

Address: 29, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04353, Rep. of Korea

Opening Hours:

• 09:00-18:00 (Entrance closed at 17:30)
• Closed every Monday
• If Monday is a national holiday, it will be closed on the following Tuesday.

Admission: Free of Charge 

Free Language Guide Service:

English: 10:00-11:00 & 14:00-15:00

Meeting Point: Information Desk
(This tour guide service may change depending on the museum’s circumstances)

Tip: After these intense and serious museum tours, you can walk to Nosapyeong station, the brown line where you can walk along the pretty street, Gyeongnidan-gil. You can find international cuisine here, which is connected, all the way to Itaewon.

4. Gyeongnidan-gil

Pretty street lined with international restaurants and unique cafes.

Subway: exit 1 of Noksapyeong Station, line no. 6, brown line and go over the overpass and come down the street. There is only one overpass so it is easy to get over there. Or use exit 2 of the same station and use the underpass and get to the other end.

Info: International chefs make the international foods of their home countries. Also, Korean people who have either studied or worked abroad have opened up their own restaurants here.

Things to do: If you want to take a break for a moment from the hustle and bustle of Itaewon, you might as well come here and take some time off.

Tip: Walk over to Itaewon, which will take you 10 minutes. Noksapyeong and Itaewon are right next to each other.

5. Itaewon

The most international town in Korea

Subway: exit 1,2,3 & 4 of Itaewon Station, line no. 6, brown line

Info: You will see the signs in English and other languages and the clerks and staff at shops from other countries. Itaewon is well known for its brunch places, exotic restaurants, and international goods from all over the globe.

Things to do: Do some shopping along the Itaewon Shopping Street and Itaewon Market: clothes, leather goods, accessories, custom-made suits and shirts for men, bags and hand-made shoes. Try some Korean and international food, but remember they double the prices of normal restaurants in Korea.

Tip: You can also explore and Antique Street as the next itinerary. If you are really Korea, don’t come here. 😉

6. Itaewon Antique Furniture Street

The most international town in Korea

Subway: exit 4 & 5 of Itaewon Station, line no. 6, brown line

Info: In the past, a number of these antique furniture shops were owned by non-Koreans who lived in Korea. Now, most shops deal with stuff from China. You can also find European antique furniture.

7. Yeouido Park

The largest park in Seoul City, the Korean version of Central Park

Subway: exit 3 of Yeouido Station, line no. 5, purple line

Things to do: Take a walk, rent out a bike or in-line skates. And you can play basketball. Rest in the midst of woods, trees, and a pond. Go to the convenient store and get some ramyun with Kimchi and beer at a table.

Info: ‘Do’ means an island. Used to be an airport in the past. Yeouido is a financial district with high risers and international companies located. This area is also famous for IFC mall, 63 building and the Han River, not to mention the beautiful park in the heart of Seoul.

Tip: Next, you can walk to the riverbank of the Han River. It takes you 15 minutes from the square park location to this very river on foot.

8. Yeouido Hangang Park

A beautiful park facing the Han River

Subway: exit 1,2,3 & 4 of Yeouinaru Station, line no. 5, purple line

Info: There are a number of music performances and street food markets in the summertime. After mid-April, you should absolutely check this place for cherry blossom festival, including the street right in front of National Assembly Hall. This area in Joseon Dynasty Era has numerous ports around for boats and ferries.

Things to do: Get some ramyun, gimbap, beer and some snack and chill like k-drama actors at a nearby convenience store. And Swag! J Don’t forget to visit the swimming pool in the summertime! 5,000 for adults and 4,000 won for teens. You can rent out a bike.

Hangang Cruise: Get out of exit no. 5 of Yeouinaru Station, line no. 5, purple line. 12,000 won for adults, 10,800 won for teens and 8,400 won for children. Cost vary based on where you get on the ferry. You can travel to Yanghwa, Sincheon, Jamsil, and Ttukseom Pier. You can see such tourist attractions and historic sites as Bamseom Islet, Jeoldusan Park, 63 building, 63 square, Jamsil Station and more. When passing by under Banpo Bridge at night is famous for the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain show.

• Jamsil Pier: exit 7 of Shincheon Station, subway line 2, green line
• Yanghwa Pier: exit 4 of Dangsan Station, subway line 2, green line
• Ttukseom Pier: exit 3 of Ttukseom Park Station, subway line 7, light green line

9. 63 Building

The most representative landmark in Seoul

Subway: exit 4 of Yeouinaru Station, line no. 5, purple line and walk 15 minutes.

Opening Hours: 10: 00-22: 00

Admission:

63 Art

• Adults: 13,000
• Teens: 12,000
• Children and elderly: 11,000

Aqua Planet 63

• Adults: 23,000
• Teens: 21,000
• Children and elderly: 19,000

Info: 63 Building used to be the highest building in Korea, but it gave its pride to lotte building.

Things to do: Get a ticket to 63 building and enjoy: gallery, observatory, a museum, and Aquarium. The night view of Seoul from 63 Art, which is the highest gallery, is amazing. Take a stroll along the Han River.

Tip: The next destination is Noryangjin Fish Market. Don’t ever think even for one moment to walk there. You will be lost because there is no walking path all the way there. Take a bus if you know or walk to Saetgang Station, line no. 9 nearby and take the subway. One stop to go!

10. Norayngjin Fish Market

The biggest fish and seafood market in Seoul

Subway: Exit 2 of Noryangjin Station, line no. 9

Things to do: Look around. Find your seafood and make them cooked at a restaurant. This is how you eat in this fish market. Don’t forget to drink soju with seafood 😉

Warning: You will see fish alive and the smell could be vicious! It depends on how much you dislike sea creatures.