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May is a dazzling month of green leaves that seem like a gift that spring flowers have left behind. With the weather growing warmer day after day, we are fully prepared to welcome in the month of May, the peak of the spring season. It's the perfect time to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather out in the streets of Seoul.

Having long been the heart of South Korea and Seoul, Jongno now seems to be turning into a neighborhood that embraces everything, from traditional and contemporary, to even the future. With streets home to long-standing traditions blending naturally with the skyscrapers above and the old streets packed with the younger generation below, Jongno is transforming into quite an alluring area. The area surrounding Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, includes the backdrop of the Bugaksan Mountain to the rear of the building, making for some impressive, beautiful scenery and distinct vibes. In this edition of Seoulite’s Picks, we recommend activities and eateries you can enjoy in Jongno, a neighborhood that is on the verge of rebirth with the opening of the Cheong Wa Dae.

On May 10, the Cheong Wa Dae officially opened concurrently with the inauguration of the 20th president of the Republic of Korea. Those who had heard the news on its opening came around Chunchumun Gate early in the morning, buoyed up in expectations. The opening of Cheong Wa Dae has led to the launching of a new hiking trail in Bugaksan Mountain. The new trail includes the backstreets of Chilgung Palace in the west of Cheong Wa Dae and the Chunchugwan building. The two trails, beginning from the east and west ends of Cheong Wa Dae, eventually come together at the Baegakjeong Pavilion and carry on as a single trail. With the opening of Cheong Wa Dae, Bugaksan Mountain is now fully open, enabling visitors to enjoy the trail that has a well-preserved ecosystem. In addition, with the restoration of the Hanyang, Seoul's former name, the axis covering the areas of Bugaksan Mountain, the Seoul Fortress, Sukjeongmun Gate, Cheong Wa Dae, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the Gwanghwamun Gate, the area is to become a new venue for exploring a new page of Seoul history.

Various cultural events are slated in and around Cheong Wa Dae, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Bugaksan Mountain from May 10-22. Throughout its opening, traditional tightrope acts, historical performances, fusion and traditional music performances, traditional Korean dance parades, and a multitude of other cultural experiences will be available for visitors to enjoy.

On the first day of the opening on May 10, roughly 260,000 citizens visited and enjoyed a special day at the Cheong Wa Dae filled with anticipation. The blue roof tiles of Cheong Wa Dae were something we could only see on the news or through photos, which has now become a thing of the past. People flocked to the main garden in front of the main building of Cheong Wa Dae to see and take pictures of those very tiles. Excited visitors also enjoyed the various events held to celebrate the historic opening.

The green grass of Nokjiwon Garden, where the commemorative trees of former presidents are planted, served as a stage for the fusion music performance, Pureun Bom, Pureun Hyanggi, literally meaning "Plush Green Spring, Plush Green Scent," adding some youthful energy to venue. In the Joseon Dynasty, its military unit, naegeumwi, used to hold a ceremony of appointing warriors to the unit on special national occasions. In celebration of the opening of Cheong Wa Dae, a team of warriors reenacted an impressive sword dance titled, Select The Best Warrior. In addition, the Royal Walk, a walk between the king and queen of Joseon, was also reenacted in the back court of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. In line with the opening of the Cheong Wa Dae, plenty of creative events were held throughout the area for visitors to enjoy.

Starting from May 11, 6,500 visitors can enter the Cheong Wa Dae every two hours, from 7 AM to 7 PM, with as many as 39,000 visitors expected daily. Visitors can enter the Cheong Wa Dae only after winning the opportunity to do so having made an online reservation. A tour at Cheong Wa Dae would be an excellent option for a family excursion in the “family month” of May. The opportunity to enjoy Jongno, Seoul, as a full-course meal is right before our eyes, with the newly opening Cheong Wa Dae as the main dish, and the streets of Jongno as dessert.

Unlike supermarkets, traditional markets have a human face. The same is true for Tongin Market, which is set in the streets of Seochon, near Cheong Wa Dae. Tongin Market dates back to 1941, when South Korea was still under occupation by the Japanese. Initially set up as a public market, Tongin Market preserves the traces of Seoul past intact for visitors to experience. The wrinkles drawn on the smiling faces of the merchants convey the history of each individual.

Tongin Market is a cultural market that started to gain popularity through Tong, a dosirak, or lunchbox, café that came into light. To enjoy food at the café, visitors need to use yeopjeon, old traditional Korean coins that were once used as currency. You’ve probably seen it in historical K-dramas where a patron holds out a brass coin at a shabby tavern and orders a bowl of gukbap, or hot soup with rice. The act of ordering and paying for a meal with yeopjeon, an extremely rare item nowadays, goes beyond simply eating but serves as an opportunity for a cultural experience. The brass coins are available at the market’s Customer Service Center until 3 PM.

Packed with roughly 80 stores, this traditional Korean market offers joy to your eyes and taste buds. Visitors can savor various foods, including the famous gireum tteokbokki, or stir-fried tteokbokki, and dak-kkochi, or chicken skewers, and look around prop stores that sell items from days passed. Why not enjoy some good-tasting traditional food and experience some authentic K-culture after touring the Cheong Wa Dae?

Diverse attractions are found in the Gangbuk and Gangnam regions, and even within Gangbuk, each neighborhood exhibits a different charm to it. With that said, Seochon and Bukchon are very different, and so is Insadong. Many think that the area is only about traditional culture, but Insadong is an exciting neighborhood where the old meets the new.

AnyoungInsadong is a collection of all the above. With AnyoungInsadong, the neighborhood has been topped with trendiness, transforming its impression of “old” and “traditional” concepts. The six-story building has something for everyone, ranging from eateries, trendy shops, fun experiences, and exhibitions. If you are a fan of K-Pop, make sure you stop by the YG Place, where you can find goods on YG Entertainment K-Pop artists. Come and enjoy Seoul's old and new faces at Insadong, where the glowing lights add another layer of something special to the neighborhood at night.

Having earned recognition as a Michelin restaurant for five consecutive years since 2018, Kkot, Ba-be Pi-da, literally meaning “Flowers Bloom on Rice,” is one of the only two Michelin Green Star restaurants in Korea. As a Korean restaurant with a menu mostly comprised of environment-friendly or organic ingredients, it is also a good pick for vegans since it also serves a course meal for vegetarians.

Their signature menu item is the Bojagi Bibimbap, which has been developed with bojagi, a traditional Korean wrapping cloth, in mind. Once removing the bojagi, which has been represented with sliced fried eggs, seasoned vegetables are neatly in place as if a flower is in full bloom, giving the dish a quaint aesthetic pleasure. Everything from the interior and tableware to the foods at Flowers Bloom on Rice plays its role in staging a look and feel of Korean culture as it is. You may end up waiting in line when walking in, so make sure you make a reservation in advance.

Hobbies utilizing yarns, including knitting, embroidery, macramé, and hand-weaving have always topped the list of popular hobbies. Tufting is another hobby that is gaining popularity as well. Tufting is a weaving technique where multiple strands of yarn are embroidered with a tufting gun. One of the reasons people get into this emerging hobby is because the final outcome is complete representation of one’s personality.

The colorful yarns adds to the anticipation of creation before even getting to work, and the shooting of the tufting gun offers a pleasant sensation. During a 2-3 hour one-day class, you will be able to make a small doormat. You can tuft a rug of your own with a smiley face or in the shape of your pet. Online reservations for the one-day tufting classes are available at Naver Smart Store.

After some time zeroing in on tufting, you will find yourself stress-free, and the final outcome created by your very hands will reward you with a sense of joyous satisfaction. If you are looking for a hobby to spice up the monotony of everyday life, have some fun putting your hands to work at the art of creationat Ri-eul Mi-eul.