Jongmyodaeje (Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite of Joseon) (종묘대제)

13.8Km 2022-10-05

157, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-3210-4806, +82-2-6011-1067

Jongmyodaeje, Korea’s Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite, is a traditional ritual that has been recognized with many important designations. It is a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 56 (Jongmyo Jerye), and Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 (Jongmyo Jeryeak). The ritual is held yearly on the first Sunday of May. It begins with eogahaengnyeol, the fabulous royal parade dating from the Joseon dynasy, which is truly a sight to behold as it moves through the modern city.

Jongmyodaeje originated as a royal ancestral ritual to honor the past kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty. During the Joseon era, the ritual was held five times a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter, and December) until it was abolished by Japanese colonial rule. In 1969, Jongmyodaeje was reinstated and has been held in May every year since.

Jongmyo Shrine, the destination of the procession, was the setting of ceremonial rituals during the Joseon dynasty. Originally, Jongmyo only referred to Jeongjeon (Main Hall) where the memorial tablets of Joseon’s reigning kings and queens are enshrined. Today, however, Jongmyo also encompasses Yeongnyeongjeon (Hall of Eternal Peace) where the tablets of posthumous kings and queens are enshrined and Gongsindang (Hall of Meritorious Subjects) where the tablets of esteemed ministers of the state are kept.

Seoul Mangusan Mountain (망우산(서울))

13.8Km 2021-02-10

San 69-1, Mangu-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2094-2395

Mangusan Mountain at 281.7 meters above sea level spans across Mangu-dong and Myeonmok-dong of Seoul, and Guri-si of Gyeonggi-do. Located on the mountain is Mangu Cemetery, which was designated as a public cemetery in 1933. Since its designation, many popular people have been buried here including children’s literature author Bang Jeong-hwan (penname: Sopa), independence activists Oh Se-chang and Han Yong-un, and Ji Seok-young who pioneered the use of the smallpox vaccination in Korea and was also a Korean linguist. In addition, tombstones bearing chronological listings of seven popular poets and one educator were installed at the park, making the cemetery a venue for historical education. The park also has Sin Gyeong-jin Sindobi, a cultural asset designated as Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 95. It is a monument of Sin Gyeong-jin, an official scholar of the Joseon dynasty.

The park also has a 5.2-kilometer-long circular road named “The Thinking Path”. The name was selected through a public competition held in May 1998. Other facilities include the urban environment and nature observation road, a wooden gazebo, and a mineral spring. Thanks to the well managed trees and clean air, the park is visited by many citizens seeking a place to rest.

The Oreum (디오름)

13.8Km 2024-02-21

136-10 Yongdu-ro 47beon-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

The Oreum presents various spatial concepts on each floor, ranging from reed-themed to black or white-themed spaces. The café boasts dedicated sections for media art enthusiasts and a rooftop area ideal for photography sessions. Their standout offerings include the Truffle spänner, a delightful blend of creamy sweetness infused with truffle essence, and the Jeju matcha crumble, featuring smooth cream and savory crumbles. The aromatic americano crafted from Geisha coffee beans is also one of the patrons' favorites.

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul (JW 메리어트 동대문 스퀘어 서울)

13.8Km 2021-02-17

279, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2276-3000

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is located at the fusion of culture, entertainment and commerce in the dynamic Dongdaemun and is JW Marriott’s second hotel to open in Seoul. The hotel has 170 guest rooms, including 15 suites, a swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, and full-service spa, all for the convenience of its guests.

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul has four meeting rooms, including the Grand Ballroom, a modern, yet refined space housing a cutting-edge 98 screen Samsung LFD media wall to ensure that every event held in the ballroom is a success. The hotel also has a variety of dining options including the internationally renowned steakhouse BLT Steak, Tavolo 24 which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Lounge, The Griffin Bar, and Seoul Baking Company.

SAEWHA HOSTEL(세화호스텔)

13.8Km 2024-06-20

50 , Samil-daero 32ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-3780-5988

Located in Jongno, in the heart of Seoul, Saehwa Hostel offers a variety of guest rooms, including ondol rooms and bedrooms, for up to 3 people. There’s a bathtub in each room. Shared PCs, massage chairs, microwave ovens, washing machines and dryers are all available free of charge. A simple free breakfast is provided, plus a free international phone service and a foreign language guidance service. Seoul Station is 15 minutes away by subway, and the airport limousine bus stops at Jongno 3-ga station. Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, and downtown shopping streets are all reachable on foot.

Seoul City Wall Museum (한양도성박물관)

13.8Km 2023-12-22

283, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-724-0243

Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, built in 1396, was the city fortress wall that protected the capital city Seoul for over 600 years. The fortress wall was built along the terrains and although it became partially damaged during the modernization process, its original form remains well to this day, making it a cultural heritage that coexists with the modern city. The Seoul City Wall Museum, located in Heungjinjimun Park, is a museum containing the history and culture of city wall from the Joseon dynasty to the present. It is a cultural space with a permanent exhibition hall, special exhibition hall, city wall information center, and study room.

Gallery Simon (갤러리 시몬)

13.8Km 2022-09-15

20, Jahamun-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-720-3031

Since its opening in April, 1994, Gallery Simon has continued to focus on promoting the beauty of modern art. Exhibitions include works from experienced artists as well as the works of budding artists, both from Korea and abroad. Select artists, referred to collectively as "Simon's Friends," have exhibitions annually. The changing collections allow the museum and featured artists to constantly strive for improvement and follow the changes in art over time.

Seochon Village (서촌마을)

13.8Km 2024-12-02

45 Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Nuha-dong)

Seochon Village is the name given to the area to the west of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is a historic village, home to old shops and hanok buildings that have stood the test of time. Korean traditions and contemporary sensibilities coexist within Seochon Village’s maze-like alleyways, creating the unique ambience that makes the district so beloved. One can find shops, guesthouses, cafés, and restaurants in the village.

Seoul Folk Flea Market (서울 풍물시장)

13.8Km 2025-04-11

21 Cheonho-daero 4-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2232-3367

The Seoul Folk Flea Market is located around Cheonggyecheon Stream's Hwanghakgyo Bridge and Sinseol-dong Station and is on its way to becoming a famous tourist attraction along with the already famous Cheonggyeocheon Stream. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is one of the major folk flea markets preserving the culture of the traditional Korean marketplace and drawing in visitors with a range of folk items that embody the unique charm of Korea. Folk items include everyday items, souvenirs, traditional goods and even traditional foods, allowing visitors to enjoy shopping and eating all under the same roof.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market originated from the flea market in Hwanghak-dong where many street shops and vendors gathered around Cheonggyecheon Stream before it was restored and modernized into its current state. The market was relocated to the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Formerly Dongdaemun Stadium) while the Cheonggyecheon Stream was undergoing restorations, and was moved back to Cheonggyecheon Stream sometime later. Seoul City aims to market Seoul Folk Flea Market as a new shopping spot at its current location, the former site of Sungin Girls' Middle School on Cheonggyeo 8-ga Street, near Cheonggyeocheon Stream to develop the Korean representative folk flea market-related tourism industry.

The main items of the Seoul Folk Flea Market include a diverse range of folk items, traditional crafts, local specialties and fashion items. You may also enjoy a range of foods and snacks including traditional Korean food and fusion cuisine from all over the world. What is special about the market is that you can find rare goods and authentic traditional items that cannot be found at other markets. The market atmosphere is a mix of old, revered traditions and modern aspects, providing visitors with a great shopping experience. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is truly a traditional flea market well worth visiting.

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

13.8Km 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.

Jongmyodaeje (Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite of Joseon) (종묘대제) - Area information - Korea travel information