Stroll through the artistic alleys of Seoul's Seochon neighborhood with a one-day tour guide.
charlesku
2 years ago
Located next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seochon is a cultural and artistic gathering place that blends traditional and modern elements in Seoul. Walking around here feels like escaping the hustle and bustle of Seoul and instead experiencing a sense of relaxation and comfort. Compared to Bukchon, I personally prefer Seochon because it is less crowded, making it a more comfortable place to stroll around. Additionally, the opening of the former South Korean presidential residence, Cheong Wa Dae (The Blue House), in May 2022 has turned this area into a popular tourist destination in Seoul! So this time, we have arranged a one-day tour of Seochon for your reference in your Seoul trip π
First stop: The Blue House (recommended stay time: 1 hour 30 minutes)
Starting May 10th, 2022, the former presidential palace of South Korea, known as 'The Blue House,' has finally opened for general public visits under the slogan 'The Blue House, back in the arms of the people.' It used to be extremely difficult to make a reservation to visit the Blue House, and those who have visited South Korea before and have been around the area should know that the security measures here are very strict and it was not possible to get too close to the Blue House. Since the opening of public visits, the Korean people have been flocking to the Blue House, turning it into a popular tourist attraction in Seoul. π
The Blue House is composed of the main building, guesthouse, spring and autumn pavilions, green gardens, endless flower gardens, and seven palaces, all located in the center. Although each building has its own unique features, to highlight the unique characteristics of Korea, each building is constructed in the traditional Korean architectural style. The main building (the one with the blue roof) is the most representative architecture, and the large lawn in front is a popular spot for taking photos with the main building. Currently, many buildings are open for visitors to explore, such as the main building and guesthouse, but more spaces will be opened up for the public in the future. It was not easy for Korea to take this step and open up the Blue House to visitors, as there was much debate and discussion around it. So, when visiting Korea, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Blue House! However, don't forget to make a reservation before coming!
βBlue House μ²μλ
· 1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
β Opening Hours: From Sunday, June 12, 2022 onwards ο½Open Daily, 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM / Closed on Tuesdays
β Official Website (English): https://www.opencheongwadae.kr/eng
β Reservation Website (EN): https://www.opencheongwadae.kr/eng/event-reservation
Second Stop: Blue House Sarangbang (Recommended Stay Time: 40 minutes)
Next to the entrance of the Blue House, there is a building called the Blue House Sarangchae, which is an exhibition hall introducing the Blue House. When I saw the cute mascots of the Korea Tourism Organization at the entrance, I couldn't resist taking a photo! Here, you can review the footsteps of Korea's past presidents and learn about Korean tourist attractions. The first floor is the Korean Tourism Exhibition Hall, where you can not only experience the charm of Korean tourism but also learn about the stories behind the Blue House! But what I want to share and recommend the most is the souvenir shop on the first floor, where there are many peripheral products with the Blue House logo (such as magnets, badges, and bookmarks). However, my friend bought a super special, textured, and representative Korean practical souvenir, which is a traditional flower card! (See picture) But it's not the most traditional pattern, but a textured flower card that has been redesigned. Although we don't know how to play flower cards, it's really beautiful and suitable for giving gifts or keeping as a souvenir! After visiting the Blue House, be sure to come to Sarangchae and take a stroll, because there won't be any souvenir shops inside the Blue House. So if you want to buy related souvenirs of the Blue House, come here!
βBlue House Sarangchae
· 45 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City
β Opening Hours: 09:00~18:00 (Last Entry at 17:30), Closed Every Tuesday
β Official website: http://www.cwdsarangchae.kr
Third Stop: 'ν¨μ λΆμ' (Lunch)
This local Korean restaurant in West Village is very close to the Blue House, it takes about ten minutes to walk there. We specifically made arrangements to come to this restaurant for lunch because it is the snack shop of Go Ah-rin's family in the Korean drama 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One'! Originally, we thought there might be people like us who came to pay homage to the filming location of the Korean drama, but when we walked into the restaurant, we didn't see any young people like us at all. It feels like almost all of the residents in the surrounding community come here to eat. The menu here is all kinds of common Korean cuisine, although it is ordinary Korean cuisine, it is more like home-cooked food that can be eaten at home. We ordered Korean ramen and army stew this time, and because the portions were slightly larger, we really ate until we were full... And the menu here is not more than 10,000 won, so it has great value for money!
β'ν¨μ λΆμ'
· 108-2 Pilundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul β NAVER MAP Store Information: https://naver.me/5pNkIKsJ
Fourth Stop: Folki (Café)
After finishing lunch, we came to a popular local cafe in Seochon. Although the exterior of the cafe doesn't look like a traditional Korean house, the interior is a fusion of modern and traditional design. The overall feeling is comfortable and relaxing with simple wooden tones and white walls. Besides the popular photo spot outside, the inside of the cafe is also a great place for taking photos. However, the prices are quite high, so it's better to come here for the atmosphere rather than just for the food and drinks. We ordered milk tea, lemon soda, and matcha cake. The taste of the drinks and desserts is not unique to this cafe, but we highly recommend coming here for afternoon tea and chatting to experience the local atmosphere of Seochon's high-end cafes. βοΈ Additionally, this cafe opened around April 2020, during the outbreak of the pandemic, so if you come to Seochon next time, be sure to check it out!
βFolki
Folki
· 6 Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
β Business hours: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm
β NAVER MAP store information: https://naver.me/5pNkIKsJ
Fifth Stop: Seochon Hanok Village (Recommended Stay Time: 2 hours)
The name of Seochon comes from the fact that it is a village located on the west side of Gyeongbok Palace. Compared to Bukchon on the other side and the area around Anguk Station on the subway, Seochon has more of a community alley feel. This was my first time in Seochon, and I've only heard from others that there are many small shops and things to discover here. And it's true! Walking on the streets of Seochon, you can discover many amazing cafes, snacks, and many trendy shops to explore. The Daewoo Bookstore (λμ€μμ ) is also located in Seochon. It's a spot where many people come to visit because IU took her album cover photo here. However, if you want to go inside the bookstore, you need to make a purchase to sit inside. Since we didn't particularly want to go inside, we just took some pictures outside.
Additionally, Sae-mun Market in Seochon is a famous traditional market in Seoul. Here, there is a unique way of consumption called 'coin lunch box.' Travelers can exchange Korean won for coins at the service center in Sae-mun Market and receive a lunch box. Then, they can use the coins to purchase snacks they want from the cooperative vendors inside the market. It is a very special cultural experience! I did not have the chance to try it this time, but when I came to Korea before the pandemic, I exchanged 5000 Korean won for a coin lunch box. It was enough to make me very full, and I highly recommend everyone to try the coin lunch box experience at Sae-mun Market~
βSeochon Village
· Area around Hyoja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City (45 Pilundae-ro)
Sixth Stop: 'μν루' (Dinner)
For dinner, we had the famous Chinese cuisine restaurant 'μν루'. I found out about this place from a YouTuber's recommendation and saw that it has been featured in many TV shows and even Korean dramas, including Park Seo-joon's 'She Was Pretty'. However, I don't remember seeing this place in the drama... Their Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste sauce) is the most famous dish here, but because I love fried rice so much, I also ordered that. However, I got really full because the portions they give are huge. The staff inside the restaurant were very friendly and chatted with us when they found out we were from Taiwan. It suddenly felt like being back in my hometown π
β'μν루'
· 65 Jaha-munro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
β Business hours: daily 11:00-21:00
β NAVER MAP Store Information: https://naver.me/xv0LhHBp
Seventh Stop: 'ν΅μΈμ€μμΉ΄ν' (Dessert)
After dinner we were already full, but we couldn't resist the temptation of egg tarts. Dessert is a different stomach! This place is on the same street as Yonghe Building, a popular local pastry shop on the internet. You can smell the strong aroma of egg tarts outside. Although one egg tart is not very cheap (KRW 3500, about TWD 80), you can taste that it is different from the average egg tart! The crust is very crispy and the egg flavor is full. It is also common to see people buying a box as a souvenir~
βTongin Sweet Cafe
· Seoul Jongno-gu Jahamun-ro 7-gil 50
β Business Hours: Mon 11:00am-9:00pm, Tue-Sun 10:30am-9:00pm
β NAVER MAP Store Information: https://naver.me/501ooogX
Stop Eight: Nighttime Viewing of Gyeongbokgung Palace (Recommended Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
Most of you who have visited Seoul have probably seen Gyeongbokgung Palace during the day! But compared to the daytime, I highly recommend Gyeongbokgung Palace at night! The palace has a lot more mystery at night, and the Korean palace architecture looks really beautiful when it's lit up. However, this is a test of everyone's ability to take photos at night with their phones. I used an iPhone 11, which is already a bit outdated, but the results were pretty good, right? π Although the nighttime viewing period is limited to only spring and autumn each year, if you come to Seoul during these two seasons, be sure to check the opening hours of Gyeongbokgung Palace at night. The ticket office for Koreans and foreigners is separate (there is a limited number of visitors for the night tour every day). Foreigners can show their passport when purchasing tickets, and sometimes there may be discounts for foreigners, so please make sure to confirm everything carefully when buying tickets at the ticket office! I have seen the nighttime view twice myself. The first time was in the spring when foreigners didn't have to pay an entrance fee, but this time in the fall, I paid 3,000 won (I still don't understand why). Anyway, I recommend Gyeongbokgung Palace's nighttime view again. Be sure to keep an eye on the latest news about Gyeongbokgung Palace and include it in your itinerary!
Gyeongbokgung Palace 경볡κΆ
· 161 Sajeok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City
· 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
β Opening Hours:
January-February 09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00) / March-May 09:00-18:00 (last entry 17:00)
June to August 09:00am to 06:30pm (last entry 05:30pm) / September to October 09:00am to 06:00pm (last entry 05:00pm)
November to December 09:00am to 05:00pm (last entry 04:00pm), closed on Tuesdays every week!! (very important)
β Official website: http://www.royalpalace.go.kr
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