Falling for the Beauty of Old Seoul

This course walks along Samcheong-dong-gil, where beautiful palaces and antique hanok villages meet a harmony of tradition and modernity, letting you encounter the charm Seoul holds at every turn. Pass by Changdeokgung Palace with its beautiful garden, tour Bukchon Hanok Village, and walk along Samcheong-dong-gil, lined with small museums and atmospheric cafes and restaurants.

Along the way

1. 1
   Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Rear Garden [UNESCO World Heritage Site]

   창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계문화유산]

   Changdeokgung Palace (Historic Site No. 122) was built in 1405 as a secondary palace, next after Gyeongbokgung. Because it stood to the east of the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, it was also called 'Donggwol' (East Palace). Geumcheongyo Bridge was built in 1411, and Donhwamun Gate was erected in 1412; from the reign of King Seongjong, the ninth king of Joseon, onward, many kings resided here, and it came to function as the main palace. MoreLess

   

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2. 2
   Bukchon Hanok Village

   북촌한옥마을

   Bukchon Hanok Village lies between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine, a traditional residential area that has shared 600 years of Seoul's history. Clustered densely between the two great palaces, this area of traditional hanok houses preserves its countless branching alleys just as they were, dramatically showing the landscape of a 600-year-old historic city. Today, some hanok have been converted into traditional culture experience centers or hanok restaurants, offering an indirect feel for the atmosphere of the Joseon era. MoreLess

   

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3. 3
   Samcheong-dong-gil

   삼청동길

   There are two theories about the origin of Samcheong-dong's name: one holds that it was called 'Samcheong' (三清, 'three purities') because the mountains, water, and people's hearts here were all pure and good; the other traces it to Samcheongjeon Hall, which enshrined the three Taoist deities of Taecheong, Sangcheong, and Okcheong. Samcheong-dong Street creates a distinctive atmosphere all its own, harmonizing the traditional beauty of old hanok buildings with the modern beauty of galleries and cafes; quiet walking paths, galleries, museums, and antique shops hide among its alleys, filled with a sense of culture. MoreLess

   

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