Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

9.6Km 2019-08-01

30, Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-4696

Jirisan is one of the representative Korean restaurants in Insa-dong, an area known for its traditional culture. One of the trademarks of this restaurant, besides its amazingly delectable bean and tofu dishes, is a wooden sign that welcome guests into a neat and cozy interior.

Each day, fresh beans are ground at the restaurant to prepare dishes such as soybean paste, soft tofu, and bean-curd tofu stew. Bean-curds are prepared by using seawater, which gives the tofu a unique flavor. The fresh and clean taste of the tofu is one of the many reasons that choosey tofu aficionados flock to the restaurant.

Not just limited to tofu, Jirisan presents customers with a full-range of side dishes such as kimchi, japchae (glass noodles with sautéed vegetables), cucumber kimchi, seasoned seaweed, braised lotus roots, roasted yellow corbinas (a type of fish), leafy greens, bean-curd stew, and more. The restaurant gives visitors a chance to experience a hearty traditional Korean-style meal, but has thoughtfully toned down its seasonings to appeal to a wider audience (particularly those not used to spicy foods).

One of the recommended menu items is the Jirisan set meal, which offers diners the chance to sample foods that are popular in the Jirisan region. Adventurous diners may want to try the sea urchin soup or dried Pollack soup.

The restaurant, originally a traditional Korean house, has been modified over the years to better suit the needs of its customers. The walls surrounding the structure were removed and a glass ceiling was installed to allow guests to enjoy the natural light of the sun as they sample some of the area’s best traditional Korean cuisine.

Yeojingop (여진곱)

9.6Km 2021-03-19

430, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-762-5157

A gopchang (intestine) restaurant located near Nakwon Music Mall. The best menu at this restaurant is beef small intestine hot pot/pork small intestine hot pot. This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno, Seoul.

Best Western Premier Hotel Kukdo (베스트웨스턴 프리미어 호텔국도)

9.6Km 2020-04-04

164, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6466-1234

The Best Western Premier Kukdo (opened on March 1, 2007) was the first Best Western in Korea. Since then, the Best Western chain has expanded to include 15 different facilities (a total of 1,900 guestrooms) located all around the country.

Best Western Premier Kukdo offers subsidiary facilities such as a fusion restaurant, sky lounge, fitness center, and business center. Each of the 295 guestrooms has a bidet and high speed internet. Double rooms have a shower booth, while twin rooms have a bathtub.

From the sky lounge (21F) guests can get a great view of Bukhansan Mountain, Cheongwadae, Dongdaemun shopping center, and Myeongdong, not to mention a bird’s-eye view of Seoul nightscape. The hotel also offers VIP rooms that can accommodate up to 20 people and a number of other conveniences that makes this an ideal choice for those traveling for business. Myeongdong and Dongdaemun are only a 10-20 minutes away on foot.

Davich Optical - Sinsa Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (다비치안경 신사)

9.6Km 2024-04-18

109, Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

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Jangchungdan Park (장충단공원)

9.6Km 2020-03-18

261, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jangchungdan Park is located on the northeastern foot of Namsan Mountain. On August 20th, 1895, Empress Myeongseong was killed by Japanese soldiers in Gyeongbokgung Palace and many Korean soldiers such as Yi Gyeong-jik and Hong Gye-hun died while trying to hold back the intruders. In memory of these soldiers, Emperor Gojong built the Jangchungdan Shrine in November 1900 at the current site of the Shilla Hotel guesthouse. The shrine was lost during the Korean War and the area was renovated into a park in 1919.

On September 22, 1984, Jangchungdan Park was designated the 374th neighborhood park of Korea and part of the park was merged with Namsan Park. The remaining area retained the name “Jangchungdan Park” and is still home to cultural assets such as the Jangchungdan Memorial Stone, Supyogyo, Seungjeongjeon, Gwanseongmyo, and Waryongmyo. The park is considered a landmark of patriotism since it contains the 1919 Independence Movement of Korea Memorial Stone and other monuments dedicated to people such as Han Yong-un, Yu Gwan-sun, and Gim Yong-hwan who fought for the independence of Korea.

Horangii (호랑이)

9.6Km 2023-12-22

157 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Horangii Coffee, located in Euljiro, Seoul, boasts a retro yet hip atmosphere. Furniture and picture frames with traces of time gone by and impressive props with the concept of a tiger come together to create a distinct atmosphere unique to this place. There are tables both inside and outside the cafe, but due to its small size, it is always crowded with customers. The signature menu items here are Horangii Latte and Fruit Sando. Horangii Latte has an impressive savory yet sweet flavor. Fruit Sando, made with whole fresh seasonal fruits, combines with soft whipped cream for a unique taste.

Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District (종로3가 귀금속 전문상가)

9.6Km 2021-06-10

Jongno3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul-si
+82-2-1330

There is an enormous selection of wholesalers and retail jewelry stores in this district, spread throughout Jongno 3(sam)-ga and 4(sa)-ga. The glittering showcases here are especially popular amongst couples and foreign tourists looking to find fine jewelry at affordable prices. Stores in the jewelry district have a selection of designs that are extraordinarily diverse and prices that are 30 to 40% lower than at other jewelry outlets in Korea.

- A fabulous selection at wholesale prices
The Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District is located in Jongno, with shops flooding the alleyways all along the main street and stretching for a length of one kilometer. The area holds a total of over 1,000 jewelry stores, some 300 design and manufacturing stores, and 20 licensed evaluators.

The Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District originated in Yeji-dong of Jongno 4(sa)-ga, then expanded to include Bongik-dong near the Danseongsa Theater at Jongno 3(sam)-ga.
As the district grew, retail jewelry stores both large and small populated both sides of the main street from Jonggak to Jongno 5(oh)-ga.
Most of the stores in Yeji-dong deal in watches and gemstones, giving the area the name Watch Alley. The back alleys of Bongik-dong and Yeji-dong are mostly filled with wholesalers whose clients consist of brokers and jewelers from around the country. Retail sales are possible at these shops, but some of them might hesitate to deal in small quantities.
The larger stores along Jong-ro literally glitter with dozens of flashy showcases presenting a great selection of jewelry and other precious metals. Prices are already discounted to begin with, but you may be able to bargain even further.

Stores in this district are affiliated with setting factories, so if you have a special design in mind, you can probably get it custom ordered. Thus, if you go in with a brand name jewelry brochure, they will most likely be able to make a similar looking item or even customize it to your preferences.
In addition to its grand variety of diamonds, rubies, domestic amethysts, and almost any precious stone you can imagine, gold is also available in 14k, 18k and 24k yellow or white, as well as in platinum. Watches are often discounted at 50-60% off the retail price, and of course this is the very best place to buy fancy wedding jewelry at amazingly low prices.
We suggest, however, that you take your time and look around, because prices, not to mention their inventory, will vary significantly from shop to shop.
As soon as a new brochure is published by an international brand such as Cartier, TIFFANY or BVLGARI, near-identical designs appear in these stores almost immediately.
Furthermore, this area has recently become the home of accessories for famous Korean entertainers. Companies in the district will consult with coordinators, then design and manufacture items, and lend them to stars for them to wear. When entertainers wear this jewelry on television, the coverage serves to promote these designs. Examples of designs that have attracted a lot of attention previously, include Lee Seung-yeon’s earrings, Jeon Ji-hyeon’s necklace, Moon Hee-jun’s necklace, Lee Yeong-ae’s earrings, and much more.

Nowadays, many foreign tourists, especially Japanese tourists, make the trip to the Jongno 3(sam)-ga Jewelry District, as prices here are much cheaper than in their home countries.
The Jewelry District is conveniently located at the center of Seoul’s major palaces and near the downtown areas. Of these, the closest tourist areas include Myeong-dong, downtown Jong-ro, Dongdaemun Market, and Namdaeumun Market.