Insadong area

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where traditional but precious and age-old goods are displayed. During the Joseon Dynasty, buildings in this area were owned by merchants, civil servants, and government officials. The National Art Department is located here, which explains why today, visitors can find so many galleries and traditional art shops around Insa-dong. Today, Insa-dong is often visited by locals and tourists who want to experience traditional Korean culture. Streets and narrow alleys lined with art galleries, wooden tea houses, restaurants, cafes and small shops selling handicrafts. The main street, Insadong-gil, runs 700 meters from Tapgol Park in the south to the Anguk-dong roundabout.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area, and visitors can see every example of traditional Korean art from paintings to sculptures. 40% of the country's art galleries and antique shops are located in Insadong. 90% of traditional Korean stationery stores find their home here. The most popular galleries are the Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as a center for folk art, the Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many up-and-coming artists, and the Gana Art Center.

Cobbled streets lined with quaint little shops and family-run restaurants form a vast network of alleys that don't follow any map, giving Insadong a unique character. Insa-dong is one of the best places in Seoul to find tea, calligraphy materials, folk crafts, antique furniture, hanbok (traditional clothing), and hanji (traditional paper). Many Korean ceramics, some dating back thousands of years, are bought and sold here.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, Insa-dong's main road is blocked off and becomes a cultural space. Shops set up stalls outside and Korean candy shops and fortune tellers can be easily found; There are also traditional performances and exhibitions. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is a place where they can experience and see Korean traditional culture with their own eyes, and also buy artwork. On the street, visitors can eat traditional Korean taffy and pajeon (green onion pancakes), and soak up all the fun festivals on the street.

Places to visit when coming to Insa-dong:

- Ssamzie-gil (Address: 44, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul): a huge shopping mall that, thanks to its four-story outdoor design, is more like an open-air market than a mall. shopping center. Visitors can explore hundreds of shops, stalls, cafes, workshops and art galleries, and buy everything from fashion accessories to hand-carved wooden statues. The gardens bloom between the floors, and the paths and railings are often decorated with beads, bells, flowers, and lanterns.

- Beautiful Tea Museum (Address: 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul): located in an elegant hanok, it collects and displays all sorts of tea-related items. There are porcelain cups with finely painted details; There are traditional tea sets displayed and sorted with spoons, plates and pots. After visiting the museum, visitors often step into the covered courtyard and enjoy the teahouse serving over 150 types of tea from around the world.

- Knife Gallery (Address: 192-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul): the only one in Seoul, this place displays more than 6,000 knives from around the world, some of which have been used in the past. seen in movies. From Japanese throwing knives to Indian cooking knives, visitors can check out every blade, handle and sheath. Some knives are old or rare enough that they are protected in a layer of tempered glass, but others can be handled with care so that visitors can see and see their sharpness.

- Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art (Address: 57-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul): The building is designed with a curved roof, wooden gates and bamboo stone steps, and an open courtyard. litter the petals on the sidewalk in spring. Once inside, however, the museum is sleek and modern, and hosts everything from art exhibits to gift shops. Visitors will learn a lot about Insa-dong when visiting the museum.

- Talbang Shop (Address: 03146 48 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul): one of the best places in Insadong to buy hahoetal, or traditional Korean masks, and the sellers hand-carve and paint them one by one. Genuine hahoetal masks are a dying art form in Korea, but one owner has kept the magic alive since it first opened in 1982.

- Tapgol Park (Address: 99 Jong-ro, Jongno 2(i)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul): a small but important park located in the larger area of Insa-dong. Its centerpiece is a huge 15th-century pagoda and it's also filled with traditional pavilions and life-sized rock carvings depicting Korea's struggle for independence. . It is still a political site today; Many demonstrations are held in Tapgol Park because of its historical and cultural significance. Tapgol Park can be considered an oasis compared to the rest of the city.