Korea Travel Guide: Neighborhoods, Food & Places | NowHitz · 2

A public hanok library

The library in Jongno-gu holds collections centred on poetry, fiction and essays and runs reading groups and cultural programs for local residents. A hanok is a traditional Korean building; here it is a working public space where visitors can sit and read.

Reused roof tiles

The operator says the roofs combine handmade tiles with roughly 3,000 tiles reused from hanok demolished in the Donuimun New Town area. Materials from another Seoul neighbourhood now cover this public building.

Floor layout

According to the official floor guide, basement level 1 holds the reading room, children’s zone and multipurpose room, while the hanok buildings and pavilion are on level 1. Conventional library interiors connect to timber and tiled-roof spaces above.

The pavilion

A nujeong is a pavilion built for pausing and taking in the scenery. Here, it sits with the hanok buildings beside the paths of Cheongun Park.

The library is used by people who come to read, so long photo sessions and loud conversation are discouraged.

Opening hours

The main library opens Tuesday–Friday, 09:00–21:00, and weekends and public holidays, 09:00–19:00. The hanok reading room and pavilion are open only Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00, so early afternoon suits a hanok visit.

The library closes Mondays, January 1 and the Seollal and Chuseok holidays. All times are KST.

Admission and borrowing

Admission is free. Reading and looking around the building takes 45–60 minutes, or about 90 minutes with the park and nearby Changuimun Gate. Borrowing requires a library card, and the operator lists Seoul residents as eligible for in-person registration.

Getting there

From Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, take bus 1020, 7022 or 7212 to Jahamun Pass–Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum. The operator says the library is under five minutes’ walk along the path to the left of the tiger statue. The address is 40 Jahamun-ro 36-gil.

Parking is very limited, and public transport is recommended. The website is in Korean; on-site interpretation and the size of foreign-language holdings are unverified. Groups, classes and borrowing eligibility: +82-70-4680-4032.

A 170-year family craft

According to the official website, the first generation, Kim Wan-hyeong, began working in gold leaf in 1856, under King Cheoljong of Joseon, at Naesusa, a royal household office. The second, Kim Won-sun, is named in the official record of Empress Myeongseong’s state funeral. After the third generation, Kim Gyeong-yong, the fourth, Kim Deok-hwan, became a recognized holder of the Geumbakjang (gold-leaf imprinting) heritage in 2006 and helped make the national seal in 2008. He was named an honorary holder in 2018 and died in 2019.

The shop is now run by the fifth generation, Kim Gi-ho, recognized as a holder in 2018, with trainee Park Su-yeong. A sixth-generation scholarship trainee, Kim Jin-ho, is also learning the craft, so the website speaks of six generations. Kum Bak Yeon is listed as Seoul Future Heritage.

The craft

Gold-leaf imprinting decorates a surface such as fabric with patterns in gold. At the royal court, the artisans who stamped it were called bugeumjang. Kum Bak Yeon works on silk as well as leather, wooden furniture and hanji paper.

In an interview with the Korea Heritage Service webzine, Kim Gi-ho said designing a new pattern and applying it to a garment takes about a year, and an existing pattern still takes two to three months. The same 2020 article said he was then the only living holder of the craft.

Shopping and commissions

Kum Bak Yeon also sells its pieces through its official Naver Smart Store and on Idus. The official website does not list prices; staff in the shop can quote them.

The workshop takes commissions. Customers share the pattern, material and budget they have in mind, and the workshop proposes a piece after consultation by phone or through the website’s contact form.

Gold-leaf stamping

Visitors receive an explanation of how the work is done. According to the Seoul Hanok Portal, those who book in advance can watch a stamping demonstration and try it. The fee, length and language of the session are not published. Bookings: 02-730-2067 or the website’s contact form.

Getting there and hours

The address is 24-12 Bukchon-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, about 700 m or a 12-minute walk from exit 2 of Anguk Station on Line 3.

According to the official website and the Seoul Tourism Organization, it opens Tuesday to Friday 10:00–17:00 and Saturday 09:00–15:00, closing Sunday and Monday. The Seoul Hanok Portal lists different closing days, so a call before visiting is advisable. All times are Korea Standard Time.

For international visitors

The Seoul Tourism Organization says the shop’s website is available in Korean and English. Enquiries can also go to kumbakyeon@daum.net.

Foreign card payment, tax refunds, overseas shipping and English guidance on site are not confirmed in any official listing. The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Three generations of brassware

Napcheong opened at its current location on 21 October 1986. It is headed by Lee Hyung-man, the second son of master Lee Bong-ju. Lee Bong-ju was recognized as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 77, Yugijang, in 1983 and became an honorary holder in 2013. His eldest son, Lee Hyung-geun, became a holder in 2015.

A 2025 Maeil Shinmun article reported that Lee Bong-ju, at 99, was still working at the family workshop in Mungyeong, joined by his grandson Lee Ji-ho as a trainee. The shop is named after Napcheong in Jeongju, North Pyeongan Province, where bangjja brassware began; the website says people who moved south around the Korean War kept the craft alive.

How bangjja ware is made

Bangjja ware starts as an ingot of 78% copper and 22% tin, which is heated and shaped by hammering. The shop’s pieces come from Napcheong Yugi, the family’s production workshop.

Napcheong Yugi set up a factory in Guro-dong, Seoul, in 1957 and a second in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2001. According to the website, about 50 craftspeople now make bangjja ware in Mungyeong and Anyang, and the workshop exports abroad.

What the shop sells

Napcheong divides its brassware into tableware, musical instruments, ritual vessels, wedding gifts, and household goods and art pieces, from dinner bowls to vessels for ancestral rites and brass instruments. The website does not list prices.

Getting there and hours

The address is 5 Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. According to the shop’s directions, leave Anguk Station (Line 3) by exit 6 and follow Insadong-gil towards Jongno for about 50 m; the shop is behind Sudo Pharmacy on the left. The Seoul Tourism Organization gives the distance from exit 6 as 370 m.

The Seoul Tourism Organization lists the shop as open daily from 10:30 to 18:30, Korea Standard Time. Hours can be confirmed by phone at 02-736-5492.

For international visitors

The website is available in Korean, English and Chinese. There is a separate English-language phone line (+1-778-294-6109), and enquiries can also go to webmaster@napcheong.com.

English assistance in the shop, foreign card payment, tax refunds and overseas shipping are not confirmed in any official listing. Brassware is heavy, so several sets add significant luggage weight.

A foundation-run craft shop

Craft Garden is run by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation. It sells a selection of everyday objects drawing on traditional and contemporary materials and techniques, inside a gallery building that also holds exhibition rooms and a craft-and-design library. Work by many makers can be compared in one place.

Only Here 1 · Start with how you will use it

The selection runs from tableware to everyday and fashion accessories. Each object is labelled with its material and maker.

Only Here 2 · Online price examples under ₩20,000

Online prices checked on October 14, 2026 were ₩12,000 for a pair of Yang Kyung-chul wooden chopsticks and ₩15,000 for Haneulnue’s flower-and-butterfly cotton handkerchief. In-store prices and stock may differ.

The chopsticks are 240 mm long and made from solid wood in South Korea. The product instructions recommend wiping off moisture, drying them thoroughly after use and keeping them out of the dishwasher.

Only Here 3 · Exhibitions upstairs

KCDF Gallery has craft exhibition rooms on floors 2 and 3 and a craft-and-design library on basement level 1, so shop objects and exhibited craft can be seen in one building. Gallery policy generally provides free admission, with exceptions; dates and conditions vary by exhibition.

Best Time · A Tuesday–Sunday afternoon

Craft Garden opens Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–19:00 KST, and closes Mondays, January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok day. The editors suggest 14:00–17:00 for combining the shop with an exhibition.

The facilities page lists standard exhibition hours of 10:00–18:00, with closure days that can vary by exhibition.

How Long · 60–90 minutes, then Ssamzigil

The editors suggest 60–90 minutes for the shop and an exhibition. Ssamzigil, at 44 Insadong-gil, houses small craft shops; its official hours are 10:30–20:30, with closures on Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok day.

Getting There · From Anguk Station exit 6

The shop is on the first floor of KCDF Gallery, 8 Insadong 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, about 380 m from exit 6 of Anguk Station on Line 3, according to Visit Seoul. The gallery has no dedicated parking; KCDF directs drivers to Jongno-gu public car parks.

Shop enquiries: +82-2-733-9041. An English facilities guide is available online, but on-site foreign-language service, foreign-card acceptance, tax refunds and international shipping are unverified.

The temple grounds

Gilsangsa is a Jogye Order Buddhist temple. Roofs, stone walls and trees frame each other differently as the path turns, and the textures of wood and stone in the shade reward a slow look.

The editors suggest a daylight visit with 45–60 minutes for the grounds, plus extra time for tea or food.

From Daewongak to temple

The temple stands on the former site of a restaurant called Daewongak. Land and buildings donated by Kim Yeong-han became a temple, which opened as Gilsangsa in 1997. Its purpose changed within the surviving buildings and landscape, and it remains an active place of Buddhist practice and worship.

Suyeonsanbang

Suyeonsanbang, at 8 Seongbuk-ro 26-gil, is novelist Yi Tae-jun’s former home, now run as a traditional teahouse serving Korean teas such as omija. Same-day opening can be checked on 02-764-1736.

Bakery and art space

Napoleon Bakery, at 7 Seongbuk-ro near Hansung University Station, opened in 1968 and has a bakery downstairs and a cafe upstairs. The Seoul Tourism Organization lists daily hours of 09:00–20:30, with a Chuseok closure.

Seongbuk Art Space, at 23 Seongbuk-ro, opens Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00, closes Mondays and charges no admission. Current exhibitions are posted in the venue’s notices.

Getting there

Gilsangsa is at 68 Seonjam-ro 5-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Official tourism directions describe taking the Seongbuk 02 village bus from exit 6 of Hansung University Station on Line 4 to the Gilsangsa stop, avoiding the uphill walk.

Napoleon Bakery is 40 m from exit 5 of the same station, and Seongbuk Art Space a five-minute walk from exit 5.

Hours and etiquette

The Korea Tourism Organization lists Gilsangsa’s hours as 09:00–18:00, year-round. Enquiries: 02-3672-5945. All times are KST.

Indoor spaces and practice programs have their own conditions, separate from a general visit to the grounds. Visitors should ask before taking close photographs of worship or meditation spaces. Foreign-language programs, booking with overseas phone numbers and foreign-card acceptance at nearby shops are unverified.

A park built from a waterworks

Seonyudo housed a water-treatment plant from 1978 to 2000. Seoul kept traces of the facilities and opened the ecological park in April 2002. The Green Pillar Garden keeps the columns of a clear-water tank whose roof was removed; the Water Purification Garden reuses a chemical sedimentation basin.

The editors suggest 60–90 minutes in daylight, when the old structures are easiest to see, with cafe time extra.

Green Pillar Garden and Seonyugyo

Starting at the Green Pillar Garden or the Water Purification Garden shows the repeated columns and former tanks in sequence. Seonyugyo, the pedestrian bridge to the south, opens views of the Han River beyond the island. Flowering and the operation of water features are not guaranteed.

Hanok cafe near the station

Cafe Picniq’s Seonyudo Hanok branch, at 2-1 Yangpyeong-ro 22-gil, first floor, near Seonyudo Station on Line 9, opened in a renovated hanok in 2018. The Seoul Tourism Organization lists daily hours of 10:00–21:00 and a location 26 m from exit 3. Phone: 0507-1314-5784.

River cafe and cat shop

Cafe Jinjungsung Hangang Coffee House, at 313 Seonyu-ro on the west side of the south end of Yanghwa Bridge, serves coffee and milk tea. Listed hours are 10:00–21:00 daily; phone 02-2633-9507.

In Yangpyeong-dong, Seonyudo Cat sells cat-themed goods at unit 104, building 104, 1 Yangpyeong-ro 22ra-gil. It is closed on Mondays.

Getting there and parking

The park is at 343 Seonyu-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Yeongdeungpo-gu’s official guide gives a 20-minute walk from exit 4 of Seonyudo Station on Line 9; actual time depends on the route and pace.

General vehicles must use Yanghwa Hangang Park parking lot 3. Parking on the island is limited to vehicles displaying a disability permit and carrying the eligible passenger. Park enquiries: 02-2631-9367.

Opening hours

Park admission is free, and the Seoul Tourism Organization lists the grounds as open daily from 06:00 to 24:00. Seonyudo Story Pavilion keeps separate hours of 09:00–18:00, or 09:00–17:00 in winter, and closes on Mondays; the Monday closure applies only to the pavilion.

The Seoul Parks website offers an English PDF map, but English-speaking staff and booking support are a separate matter. Foreign-card acceptance and foreign-language ordering at nearby shops are unverified. All hours are KST.

THE STORY

Hwaseomun, the west gate of Suwon Hwaseong, was completed in 1796. During the 2026 event, which ran September 19 through October 6, the fortress itself served as the screen for media art.

WHY KOREANS LOVE IT

A UNESCO-listed fortress route used for daytime walks took on light and moving images at night. The event let visitors experience the heritage site as part of the city after dark.

ONLY HERE 1

During the event, the main Hwaseomun projection ran three times, at 19:30, 20:30 and 21:30. Visitors could plan a walk around Hwaseomun and the fortress wall around one screening.

ONLY HERE 2

Jangan Park hosted fringe performances, botanical media art, bubble lighting and interactive works, extending the event beyond the main projection at Hwaseomun.

ONLY HERE 3

The event guide linked Hwaseomun with Janganmun, Jangan Park and the fortress walk. Banghwasuryujeong is a separate Suwon Hwaseong site that could be added after the main event zone.

BEST TIME

During the event, visitors could arrive at Hwaseomun for the 19:30 first screening, then walk toward Janganmun and Jangan Park. The final projection was at 21:30, and the event closed at 22:00.

HOW LONG

On the event route, Hwaseomun, Janganmun and Jangan Park took roughly 60–90 minutes, or about two hours when continuing along the fortress to Banghwasuryujeong.

GETTING THERE

Hwaseomun is the starting point. From Suwon Station, transfer to local public transport or take a taxi to Hwaseomun, then walk along the fortress. Travel times are shown on live map apps.

The path rests on water rather than solid ground. As it curves along the shore, the lake underfoot and the long line of railings frame the view as much as the distant hills.

An organ, desks and information panels midway along the route commemorate Yean Elementary School and the village flooded when the dam was built. The lake now covers a place where children once went to school and families lived.

The photos are Korea Tourism Organization file images from 2021. They show the full route, the entrance, the school memorial and the view from the deck, not current water levels or autumn colors.

Entry is free from sunrise to sunset. Access may be restricted in rain or other bad weather.

The address is 14 Seonseong-gil, Dosan-myeon, Andong, and the operator directs drivers to the entrance parking lot. For same-day access, call the water-management office at +82-54-840-3832.

The merchants’ association describes a 215-meter arcade where fresh produce, meat, seafood and household goods are sold alongside prepared food.

Visit Seoul highlights dakgangjeong, fried chicken pieces coated in sauce, and filled, fried croquettes. Portions, ingredients and prices vary by stall, and each shop sets its own hours.

The surrounding lanes of Mangwon-dong mix the market with cafés and homes. The photographs were taken July 30, 2020; storefronts, prices and crowds may differ now.

1. Browse snacks and everyday groceries under one 215-meter arcade. 2. Choose small foods such as dakgangjeong or croquettes to share. 3. Continue into the nearby lanes and café area of Mangnidan-gil.

Best Time

Late morning or afternoon allows an unhurried visit, though queues are not guaranteed to be shorter. Visit Seoul lists general hours of 10:00–21:00 daily; hours and closing days vary by shop.

How Long

Allow 45–60 minutes for the market, or about 90 minutes with a walk through the neighborhood. Queues and meals add time.

Getting There

The association lists the address as 27 Poeun-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about 351 meters, or five minutes on foot, from Exit 2 of Mangwon Station on Line 6. The official directions page links to Kakao and Naver maps.

The national heritage portal dates the fortress to early Joseon. Its stone enclosure and old government compound survive together, and the Korea Tourism Organization gives the wall’s circumference as 1,684 meters.

Around Gongbukru, straight sections of wall meet rounded defensive bastions. Visitors who prefer a shorter outing can keep to the entrance and the interior rather than the full rampart walk.

Inside are government buildings such as Moyangjigwan. Not all are originals: Gochang County says they were rebuilt through a restoration project that began in 1976.

Stone walls climbing a hill, gate architecture and restored administrative buildings sit together within the enclosure.

Best Time

Daylight makes it easier to check uneven surfaces and wall edges. Stone paths can be slippery after rain, and local restrictions may apply. All photographs shown are from 2015 and may not reflect current flowers or foliage.

How Long

Allow 60–90 minutes for an unhurried visit to the entrance and interior. The estimate does not assume a full circuit of the walls.

Getting There

The Korea Tourism Organization lists the address as 1 Moyangseong-ro, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun. The county’s official listing links to a map. Local connections and return transport must be arranged separately.

The garden spans parts of Ulsan’s Jung-gu and Nam-gu. It is large, so a stretch of the Simni Bamboo Grove and the nearby waterside make a more manageable walk than the whole site.

On the wooden boardwalk, bamboo stems fill the view; along the river path, the grove and the water run side by side. Looking straight across the river brings a bridge and low hills into view.

All three photographs were taken November 25, 2022, and may not reflect current foliage or site conditions. A festival on the nearby south-bank grounds this weekend may bring crowds.

1. Look for bamboo nodes and the light between the stems inside the Simni grove. 2. Step out to a wider view beside the water. 3. Start in the Taehwa district of Jung-gu, then use the garden map to extend the walk.

Best Time

Daylight is best for a first visit, when paths and bamboo are clearly visible. The operator lists the illuminated Galaxy Path from sunset to 23:00; whether it is running on a given day has not been confirmed. The photographs all show daytime scenes.

How Long

Allow 60–90 minutes for part of the bamboo grove and a pause by the water. This is neither a measured time nor a circuit of the whole garden. The festival or a trip to the south bank adds time.

Getting There

The visitor-center page lists the address as 5 Saetgangnam-gil, Jung-gu, Ulsan. The guide-program page puts the center about three minutes on foot from the Taehwagang National Garden bus stop.

Bus routes depend on the starting point. Because the garden is large, it helps to pick a destination within it before setting off.

Before You Go

The Ulsan Industrial Festival runs October 8–11, 2026, around the garden’s south-bank grounds. Crowds are possible on October 10–11; follow on-site directions.

Some unpaved sections may close in rain. Official pages list different indoor hours for the visitor center, so calling ahead is advised.

Photographs of Yudalsan show more than the peak: closely packed roofs, streets and layers of buildings fill the ground below. The mountain and the city share one view. At street level the walk passes homes and workplaces; from above, they form the shape of Mokpo.

At 228.3 metres the mountain is not high, but this is not a flat park stroll. Exposed rock, uphill paths and pavilions set the pace. Mokpo’s first listed hiking course runs from the entrance past Dalseongak and Yuseongak to Madangbawi and Ildeungbawi.

Near the entrance, Nojeokbong carries a legend. The Mokpo Cultural Center recounts that Admiral Yi Sun-sin covered the rock with thatch to make it look like a great store of military grain. It is a local story attached to a landmark, not a verified battle record.

Walkers can turn back at a pavilion depending on energy and daylight. The photographs were taken in different years and seasons; their foliage and festival decorations do not reflect current conditions.

Only Here

1. Roofscape beside a ridge. The city and its rocky mountain share one view, and the city looks different at each height.

2. A landmark with a local legend. Nojeokbong’s grain-store story attaches local memory to the rock.

3. Pauses built into the ascent. The route through Dalseongak and Yuseongak alternates rock viewpoints with pavilion rest stops.

Best Time

A clear morning or early afternoon is best. The Korea Tourism Organization lists year-round, 24-hour access, but the route’s rock and steps make it a daytime walk, with enough light left for the descent. On wet surfaces, follow any on-site restrictions.

How Long

Mokpo lists the entrance→Dalseongak→Yuseongak→Madangbawi→Ildeungbawi course as 2 km and about 40 minutes. That figure excludes the return and rest stops. Allow 90–120 minutes including the walk back and pauses at viewpoints; some walkers will need longer. The approach from Mokpo Station is extra.

Getting There

The Yudalsan entrance is within walking distance of Mokpo Station, about 20 minutes according to the city’s visitor guide. Nojeokbong is a convenient starting landmark. Visit Mokpo lists the hiking address as 45 Nojeokbong-gil, Mokpo-si (Cheukhudong). The two map links mark the mountain and Nojeokbong. The summit’s cadastral address is not a trail entrance.

Visit information

Yudalsan admission is free. Inquiries: +82-61-270-8359. Parking charges vary by lot and are posted on site. The route includes steps and rocky sections and is not step-free. Bring water and shoes with a secure grip.