Published Date : Dec 05, 2014 / Edited Date : Feb 13, 2019
Hop on Jongno Bus 11 and explore the heart of old Seoul
Samcheong Park--->Samcheong-dong--->Gyeongbokgung Palace and National Folk Museum--->Gwanghwamun Gate and the old Yukjo Geori--->Bigak--->Seoul City Hall and Wongudan--->Namdaemun Market--->Sungnyemun Gate--->Plateau Museum--->Seoul Station
The little green Jongno 11 bus is more than just a good way to get from Gwanghwamun to Seoul Station. By an accident of transportation planning, it's a veritable sightseeing bus that you through the very heart of old Hanseong, as Seoul was called when it was the royal capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Plenty has changed over the last century, of course, but the coexistence of the old and new is what gives Seoul its characteristic tension and charm.
Palatial Surroundings
Founded in 1940, Samcheong Park is one of Seoul's oldest public parks. It's a pleasantly shady spot with benches, walking paths and other common park amenities. It's also connected to a number of hiking paths, including the Seoul Fortress Wall Hiking Trail. Be sure to drop by the charming Samcheong Forest Library, an old snack shop that has been renovated into a place of reading.
Walk down from Samcheong Park and you'll come to Samcheong-dong, a cozy stretch of boutiques, eateries and cafes that retains much of its laid-back charm despite swarms of tourists on the weekend. Military history buffs will want to see the Beonsachang, an old armory built in 1884 as Korea was attempting to modernize its military. It's on the grounds of the Korea Banking Institute.
Follow Samcheong-dong Road until you reach the eastern wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The history of Seoul's oldest palace is almost a microcosm of Korea's dramatic past: founded in 1395, it was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion of 1592, rebuilt in 1867 but almost completely destroyed again by the Japanese colonial government in the early 20th century. Much of what you see today is a post-war reconstruction, although some of the grander structures like main throne hall and stunning Gyeonghoeru Pavilion date from the 1867 reconstruction. A particularly scenic spot is the Hyangwonji Pond in the northern end of the palace---note how the pavilion harmonizes with the mountainous landscape in the distance.
Gyeongbokgung Palace is also home to two museums of note. The National Folk Museum of Korea is home to 4,000 artifacts detailing the daily life of Koreans past. The National Palace Museum of Korea, meanwhile, holds artifacts from Seoul's royal palaces and is an especially good place to learn about the lives of Korea's royals.
The front gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Gate has had as tumultuous a past as the palace itself. In 1926, the gate was moved to the east side of the palace by the Japanese to make way for the massive Government-General Building (torn down in 1996). It was relocated to its original location, more or less, in 1963, but the restoration used concrete instead of wood. A proper restoration began in 2006 and was completed in 2010.
Connecting Gwanghwamun with the Sejong-ro Intersection is Sejong-ro, a wide boulevard lined by some of the country's most important political, economic, diplomatic and media institutions. This concentration of power has been a feature of the road going back to the Joseon Dynasty, when it was called Yukjogeori ("Six Ministries Road") since it was lined by, as the name would suggest, six royal ministries.
Sejong-ro was originally 16 lanes wide, but in 2009 it was reduced to 10 lanes to make way for Gwanghwamun Plaza, a pedestrian space that stretches down the middle of the road for almost its entire length. The plaza is home to two prominent statues. Now surrounded by water fountains, the statue to Korean war hero Yi Sun-sin has been a Seoul landmark since 1968. To the north is a statue of a seated King Sejong the Great, the lauded 15th century monarch whose long list of accomplishments include the invention of the Korean script, Hangeul. Behind the statue is the entrance to the Story of King Sejong Exhibition Hall, a museum where you can learn about one of the greatest figures in Korean history.
Flanking Gwanghwamun Plaza to the west is the massive Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, one of Korea's leading cultural spaces. To the east, meanwhile, is the Alleh Square Dream Hall, where you can take in jazz performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night for just KRW 1,000 a ticket. Also on the east side is Kyobo Book Centre, Korea's largest and most famous bookstore, with an extensive foreign-language collection. Just in front of Kyobo is the Bigak, a Korean-style pavilion erected in 1902 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of King Gojong's reign.
Gwanghwamun Gate Sejong-ro Road King Sejong Story King Sejong Story
Where You Can Find Anything Under the Sun
Keep moving south and you'll come to Ilmin Art Museum, housed in the historic former headquarters of the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, and Cheonggyecheon Plaza, where the Cheonggyecheon Stream begins. In the old days, when Mt. Namsan marked the southern limit of the royal capital, the Cheonggyecheon was the largest, most important waterway in the city. After the Korean War, shantytowns built by refugees lined its banks and it became an open sewer. Over a period of 20 years beginning in 1958, the stream was covered up with concrete, over which was built an elevated highway. In 2003, however, work began to tear down the highway and restore the stream. The restored waterway was opened to the public in 2005, providing Seoulites with a much-needed urban oasis of green.
From Cheonggyecheon Plaza, keep following the main road south until you reach Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza. The wave-shaped glass structure is the new city hall, while the historic structure to its left is the old city hall, now used as a public library. On the top floor of the library is a museum, cafe and a rooftop garden.
A short walk south of Seoul City Hall brings you to Sungnyemun Gate, the historic southern entrance to Seoul. First erected in 1398, the gate enjoyed a remarkably good run until 2008, when the wooden superstructure was largely destroyed in an arson attack. The gate was reopened in 2013 following a massive restoration project that not only repaired the fire damage but also rebuilt sections of Seoul's old city walls that were demolished by the Japanese colonial authorities in the early 20th century. The beautiful gate, surrounded by glass and steal skyscrapers, is a great representation of Seoul's dynamic harmony between old and new.
Cheonggye Plaza Sungnyemun Gate
Behind the gate is Namdaemun Market, one of Korea's two largest outdoor markets. While there's been a market in the area since 1414, the market really came into its own in the 20th century, and especially after the Korean War. The sprawling market sells pretty much anything under the sun, or as local merchants put it, "We've got everything except nuclear weapons and tanks." And if you look hard enough, you still might find the latter. The market is particularly known for its cheap clothing, ginseng and seaweed (particularly popular with the Japanese and Chinese tourist crowd) and cheap optical wear. It's a great place to eat, too.
The end of the Jongno Bus 11 line is Seoul Station, one of Korea's busiest transportation hubs. It can be good fun to stand on the second floor concourse and watch the waves of people below. Next to the new station is the beautiful old station, easily recognized by its Byzantine dome. Completed in 1925, the station is now a cultural space called Culture Seoul Station 284.
Namdaemun Market Namdaemun Market
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미세먼지 비상저감조치 발령 및 기타 기상악화(폭염, 태풍, 폭우 등)로 인해 도보관광 운영이 어려운 경우 모든 예약은 일괄 취소됩니다. (관광일 전날 기준)
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Reservations for the following month are available from the 15th of the current month.
Please refrain from participating in any tour programs should you be experiencing any symptoms, including fever, coughing, congestion, muscle pain, stuffy nose, and/or sore throat.
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※ Please always check the weather warning on the day of the reservation on the site below.
(https://www.accuweather.com/en/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)
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The course is for tourists with mobility problems (Senior, people with disability, stroller user).
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Seoul Guided Walking Tour Office (02-6925-0777) will contact you to confirm reservation. (At least 5 days~1 month before tour day) Reservation may be canceled when Seoul Guided Walking Tour Office cannot reach you for more than 3 times.
Seoul Guided Walking Tour Office and Seoul culture and tourism guide are not liable for the safety accidents during the Seoul Guided Walking Tour.
All reservations will be canceled in the event of a weather warning being issued. (e.g. heatwave, typhoon, heavy rain, fine dust, etc.) (Cancellation will be processed immediately upon implementation)
※ Please always check the weather warning on the day of the reservation on the site below.
(https://www.accuweather.com/en/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)