Soul of Korea: Culture, Nature, and Adventure: July 2025

Myeongdong Jjukkumi (명동쭈꾸미)

- Homepage
www.instagram.com/myeongdong.jjukkumi/#

Myeondong Jjukkumi is a jjukkumi (ocellerated octopus) restaurant located in Jung-gu, Seoul. It only takes about a 1-minute walk from Hoehyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 2, a convenient location for both tourists and people who work in the area. Main menu items consist of jjukkumi and samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), pork galbi (rib meat), bossam (cabbage wraps with pork), among other set menus. All dishes are cooked in the kitchen, and are known for their spicy kick and savory taste. The restaurant can accommodate group guests as it has a spacious hall as well as outdoor tables. Customers dining at the restaurant can help themselves to more side dishes at the self-service side dish bar and enjoy a hearty meal at a reasonable price.

- Address : 3-28 Toegye-ro 6-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

※ Presentation Information
- Main Dish
Stir-fried Jjukkumi and Samgyeopsal

- Information and Guides
+82-507-1430-0198

- Menu
Jjukkumi / Samgyeopsal / Pork Galbi / Bossam

- Opening Hours
11:00-23:00

- Parking
Not available

- Day Off
N/A (Open all year round)

- Restrooms
Available

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Wangdaebak Jijimichon (왕대박지지미촌)

- Tel
+82-2-752-3337

A great store to visit on a rainy day. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is three-colored pancake.

⊙ L’Escape Hotel (레스케이프 호텔)

- Homepage
www.lescapehotel.com

- Tel
+82-2-317-4000

L’Escape Hotel has multiple branches in Seoul and is a boutique hotel by Josun Hotel and Resort. It was listed on Forbes Travel Guide recommended hotels for three years in a row since 2020. The guest rooms were designed by world famous interior designer Jacques Garcia. Facilties include a fitness center, spa, and small banquet hall. The hotel is located a quick two minute walk from Shinsegae Mall.

⊙ Queen Plaza (퀸프라자)

- Tel
+82-2-775-8400

Queen Plaza offers diverse items for people of varying ages from children to seniors. Consisting of many shops, it is particularly popular among families. On the third floor, designer clothing and accessories can be found.

⊙ Grain De Beaute [Tax Refund Shop] (그랭드보떼)

- Homepage
www.graindebeaute.co.kr

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⊙ Boylondon - Hoehyeon Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (보이런던 회현)

⊙ Rex Hotel (렉스호텔)

- Homepage
www.hotelrex.co.kr

- Tel
+82-2-751-3191

Lex Hotel is a suitable accommodation for business trips. It is also great for shopping, due to its convenient location by Namdaemun Market, Seoul Station, and Myeong-dong, as well as Korea's major shopping malls like Lotte and Shinsegae Department Stores. The hotel has 110 rooms, offering a view of downtown Seoul. It is also equipped with convenient amenities and restaurants that are ready to fulfill every guest’s needs. The guestrooms feature a comfortable atmosphere with a simple interior.

⊙ Namdaemun Market (남대문시장)

- Homepage
namdaemunmarket.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

- Tel
+82-2-753-2805

Opened in 1964, Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea with shops selling various goods. All products are sold at affordable prices and the stores in this area also function as wholesale markets.

Most of the goods are made directly by the storeowners. Namdaemun Market is even open overnight, from 23:00 to 04:00, and is crowded with retailers from all over the country. When day breaks, the site of busy shoppers bustling around the market creates a unique scene that attracts tourists worldwide. Namdaemun Market sells a variety of clothes, glasses, kitchenware, toys, mountain gear, fishing equipment, stationery, fine arts, accessories, hats, carpets, flowers, ginseng, and imported goods.

⊙ Namdaemun Shopping Center (남대문 종합상가)

- Homepage
www.namdaemunmarket.co.kr

- Tel
+82-2-753-2805

Thanks to its rich history, Namdaemun Shopping Center boasts not only an impressive array of items, but items not available elsewhere. For instance, visitors can find all kinds of hard-to-get camera parts and accessories. Local products from across the country are also readily available in Namdaemun Shopping Center.

⊙ Namdaemun Jungang Shopping Center (남대문 중앙상가)

- Tel
+82-2-753-2805

Jungang Shopping Center boasts diverse items for women. Its first floor is devoted to shops selling women's clothing and accessories with colorful designs, appealing to female customers. The second floor houses shops selling folk crafts and tradtional crafts, popular among international tourists. It also deals with bedding items, handicrafts, linen and cotton items, and tradtional wedding items.

This work was created by the Korea Tourism Organization for 25 years and opened as the first type of public Nuri. You can download it for free from the Korea Tourism Organization, https://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto

Hanji House (한지가헌)

- Homepage
www.kcdf.or.kr/hanji/
www.instagram.com/hanji.HOUSE

Hanji House was founded to pass on the cultural heritage of hanji, tradtional Korean paper, as well as to promote its excellence and uses in everyday life. The center is operated by Korea Craft & Design Foundation, and offers a variety of programs that consist of exhibitions, hands-on activities, classes, and marketing hanji products. On the first floor is Hanji Showroom, where various exhibitions take place to showcase hanji of the past and the present. The basement floor comprises Hanji Open Archive, Hanji Photo Studio, and Hanji Workroom, where most of the hands-on activities and classes are held. Hanji House also offers a docent program for exploring the whole area.

- Address : 31-9 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

※ Presentation Information
- Information and Guides
+82-2-741-6600

- Parking
Not available

- Day Off
Mondays, the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), & public holidays (except Sundays)

- Usage Fee
Free, except for Hanji Photo Studio (5,000 won)
* Hanji Photo Studio and Hanji Workroom are operated by reservation only; on-site participation is accepted only if there is a vacancy upon inquiry

- Operating Hours
10:00-19:00
* Last Wednesdays of the month: 10:00-21:00

- Tour Duration
Hanji Workroom - 50 min
Hanji Photo Studio - 30 min
Workshop Classes - approx. 120 hours

- Collections Status
A collection of hanji works created by traditional hanji worshops nationwide and Korea Craft & Design Foundation

- Reservations
Call +82-2-741-6600

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Tanello Jewellery [Tax Refund Shop] (타넬로(모두디자인컴퍼니))

⊙ Hosim [Tax Refund Shop] (호심)

- Homepage
www.hosim.kr

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⊙ Aromind (아로마인드)

- Homepage
www.aromind.co.kr

Aromind is a perfume workshop that offers a perfume-making experience with a professional perfumer in a quiet hanok building. Visitors can create their own one-of-a-kind perfume by choosing three out of 30 different scent options that change on a seasonal basis. A perfume one-day class is held for one to eight people for one to one and a half hours. The fee for the experience includes a 50 ml product and a 10 ml sample. They also offer the class in Korean with English interpretation when there non-Korean speaking participants. Aromind is the perfect place to create your own scent to associate your memory of Korea.

⊙ Tea Therapy (티테라피)

- Tel
+82-2-730-7507

Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tea Therapy can be of help to those who chronically feel unwell even though they do not have any serious diseases that need to be treated. It is a place where medicinal herbal teas, which once seemed difficult to enjoy, can be enjoyed without hassle and in a unique way. The teas found at Tea Therapy can be brewed within three minutes, similar to herbal teas found in other countries, and are both delicious and good for your health. Tea Therapy recommends tea through testing so even novices can have fun selecting teas that suit them. Tea products are sold here as well, allowing you to enjoy the same flavors at home.

⊙ Jigum - Jongno Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (JIGUM 종로)

⊙ Baek In-je House (백인제가옥)

- Homepage
www.museum.seoul.kr

- Tel
+82-2-724-0200

Baek In-je House, located in Bukchon Hanok Village, is a hanok built during the Japanese administration period that portrays modern hanok features. The structure consists of a main room offering a good view of the whole village, spacious bedrooms, a large garden, and annex buildings. As it maintains the beauty of a traditional hanok while incorporating the modern trend of its time, Baek In-je House is considered to be highly valuable in means of both architecture and history, representing the Bukchon Hanok Village together with Yun Bo-seon House.

Baek In-je House was built from black pine, which was first introduced in Seoul during the Gyeongseong Expo in 1907, distinguishing itself from other upper-class houses of its time. Unlike other traditional hanok designs that separate the main building from the other rooms, Baek In-je House connects the two with a hallway, allowing convenient access between the two structures. The house also consists of a Japanese-style hallway and floor mat rooms, reflecting the interior trends of that period. Baek In-je House is also unique in that the main room is partially built as a two-story structure, a style that was never seen in any traditional hanok built during the Joseon period.

⊙ Jeongdok Library (서울특별시교육청 정독도서관)

- Homepage
jdlib.sen.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-2011-5799

Jeongdok Library opened in January 1977 on the former site of the Gyeonggi High School in Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul. As a public city library, it boasts little under half a million books and 16,300 reference materials. The Seoul Education Museum in the library houses a collection of 12,000 reference materials.

In addition to basic library functions (lending books and offering archives and reading rooms to the public), the library runs various cultural programs such as monthly lectures by invited authors, photo exhibitions, reading seminars, and music/dance performances.

⊙ Baengnyeon Tojong Samgyetang (백년토종삼계탕)

- Tel
+82-2-747-5535

This is the place featured on the Michelin Guide. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is ginseng chicken soup.

⊙ Bukchon Son Mandu Bukchon Branch (북촌손만두 북촌점)

- Homepage
http://mandoo.so

This third-generation family-owned handmade mandu restaurant has been in business since 1953. Its handmade mandu bears the tradition of nearly 70 years. This restaurant distinguishes itself above others with its unique expertise in the art of mandu-making and fresh ingredients, capturing deep flavors with care in each mandu. A full spread of mandu is available here, from steamed mandu to thin-skin mandu, deep-fried mandu, shrimp mandu, and galbi mandu, which can be ordered in individual pieces or as an assorted package. Mandu and noodles go perfectly together, and here, visitors can enjoy mandu with cold buckwheat noodles or noodle soup. The most recommended menu is the noodle soup, which serves thick, plump noodles in warm broth. But that does not mean that the cold buckwheat noodles are lacking: cold buckwheat noodles are served in a cool, red kimchi broth.

Olive Young - Hyundai City Outlets Gasan Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 현대아울렛가산)

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- Address : 9, Digital-ro 10-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul

※ Presentation Information
- Fair Day
Monday – Sunday

- Information and Guides
+82-2-2136-9721

- Opening Hours
11:00-21:00

- Day Off
Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays

- Parking
Available

- Restroom
Available

- Items for Sale
Perfume & Cosmetics, Others Retail

- Shop Guide
Refund method (Time-frame) : Claim for refund

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

This work was created by the Korea Tourism Organization for 24 years and opened as the first type of public Nuri. You can download it for free from the Korea Tourism Organization, https://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto

Lotte Mart - Seoul Station Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (롯데마트 서울역점)

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- Address : 426, Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul and other lots

※ Presentation Information
- Fair Day
Monday – Sunday

- Opening Hours
10:00-24:00

- Day Off
Every Second and Fourth Sunday

- Parking
Available

- Restroom
Available

- Items for Sale
Furniture & Home Décor, Gardening & DIY, Leather Goods & Bags, Souvenir Shop, Other Fashion & Clothing, Men’s Clothing, Lingerie (Underwear), Jewelry (Accessories), Sportswear & Clothing, Timepiece, Grocery, Shoes, Kids’ Clothing, Accessories, Eyewear, Women’s Clothing, Electronics, Perfume & Cosmetics

- Shop Guide
Refund method (Time-frame) : Immediate tax refund / Claim for refund

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

Aēsop - Parnas Mall Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (이솝 파르나스몰)

- Homepage
Acsop.com

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- Address : 2F, #91, 147, Gijanghaean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan Store# R-31, B1

※ Presentation Information
- Fair Day
Monday – Sunday

- Information and Guides
+82-2-3438-0090

- Opening Hours
10:30-22:00

- Parking
Available

- Restroom
Available

- Items for Sale
Perfume & Cosmetics

- Shop Guide
Refund method (Time-frame) : Claim for refund

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Parnas Mall (파르나스몰)

- Homepage
http://www.parnasmall.com/

- Tel
+82-2-559-7089

Parnas Mall is the first premium casual shopping mall opened by a hotel chain. Grand Intercontinental Seoul's Parnas Mall is located on the first underground level and features shopping, food, beverages, and cultural activities all in one place.

⊙ Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas (그랜드 인터컨티넨탈 서울 파르나스)

- Homepage
www.grandicparnas.com (Korean, English)

The Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is conveniently located in the heart of southern Seoul’s business district, featuring COEX convention and exhibition center, and City Airport. THe nearby COEX Mall offers duty free shops, a casino, cinema and over 200 shops.

The hotel is the largest 5-star hotel in Korea, featuring state-of-the-art amenities, including a grand ballroom and 15 banquet halls, perfect for hosting conventions and gathers of all sizes. Each of the 516 guestrooms is large and decorated comfortably for the perfect stay. Also, the hotel offers various restaurants from French, Italian, Asian, Japanese, to Chinese with top of the line chefs that cook up a delicious meal.

⊙ Louis Vuitton - Hyundai Trade Center Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (루이비통 현대무역)

⊙ Gentle Monster - Hyundai Trade Center Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (젠틀몬스터 현대무역)

Series; - Starcity Mall Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (시리즈건대스타시티)

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- Address : 574, Cheonan-daero, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

※ Presentation Information
- Fair Day
Monday – Sunday

- Information and Guides
+82-2-2218-3937

- Opening Hours
10:30-20:00

- Day Off
Monday, once a month

- Parking
Available

- Restroom
Available

- Items for Sale
Men’s Clothing

- Shop Guide
Refund method (Time-frame) : Claim for refund

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

National Geographic - Starfield Coex Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (내셔널지오그래픽 스타필드코엑스)

- Homepage
natgeokorea.com

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- Address : #C114, 524, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

※ Presentation Information
- Fair Day
Monday – Sunday

- Information and Guides
+82-2-6002-3140

- Opening Hours
10:30-22:00

- Parking
Available

- Restroom
Available

- Items for Sale
Leather Goods & Bags, Men’s Clothing, Shoes, Women’s Clothing, Others Retail

- Shop Guide
Refund method (Time-frame) : Claim for refund

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Will Spa (윌스파)

- Tel
+82-2-3466-8100

Willspa operates 24 hours in the Gangnam area, featuring luxurious spa that is equipped with suitable size, facility, and programs for foreign visitors’ taste.

⊙ Clue - COEX Branch (클루 (코엑스점))

- Homepage
www.clue.co.kr

- Tel
+82-2-6002-3330

Clue specializes in women’s accessories with its focus on fashion jewelry accessories made of gemstones and crystals, popular among women. The store has a unique interior design and is equipped with an extensive lighting system. It boasts gemstone accessories at inexpensive prices, attracting many loyal female customers.

⊙ Haneol Craft (한얼공예)

- Tel
+82-2-6002-6772

Haneol Craft is the only store in the COEX Mall specializing in traditional Korean handmade crafts. It sells and exhibits colorful Hahoe masks (traditional Korean masks) and traditional Korean crafts, attracting many visitors.

⊙ Season's Table COEX MALL Branch(계절밥상 코엑스몰)

- Tel
+82-2-6002-1020

This Korean cuisine is located near Samseong (World Trade Center Seoul) Station, Seoul. Enjoy a variety of Korean menus. The representative menu is Korean dishes.

⊙ Bonjuk City Air Tower (본죽 도심공항타워점)

- Tel
+82-2-2016-7477

Bonjuk is a restaurant serving juk (porridge). Juk (porridge) is often enjoyed as a breakfast, hospital food, and snacks, thanks to it being nutritious and easy to digest. One can find sogogi yachae juk (Beef and vegetable porridge), sweet danhobak juk (pumpkin porridge), jeonbok juk (abalone porridge), nakji kimchi juk (octopus and kimchi porridge), chamchi yachae juk (tuna and vegetable porridge), dakgogi juk (ginseng with chicken porridge), and nokdu juk (sweet green beans porridge). Because this branch of Bonjuk is located on the first underground floor of the City Air Tower at Samseong Station, one can easily reach the restaurant from the Coex Mall.

⊙ Heukdonga Samseong (흑돈가 삼성)

- Tel
+82-2-2051-0008

Heukdonga Samseong is a restaurant near COEX that serves Jeju-style dwaeji gui (grilled pork). The pork served here is Jeju heukdwaeji (Jeju black pork), cut into thick slices, charcoal-grilled, and either dipped into myeolchijeot (salted anchovies) or eaten with kkaennip jangajji (pickled perilla leaves). The grilling process drains the excess fat from the meat and imbues it with the scent of charcoal. Other menu items include sodeungsim jumulleok (stir-fried marinated sirloin) and naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles).

⊙ SEVEN LUCK CASINO - Gangnam COEX Branch (세븐럭카지노(강남코엑스점))

- Homepage
www.7luck.com/

- Tel
+82-2-3466-6000

The Gangnam COEX branch of Seven Luck Casino is a Korean-style casino with an oriental atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities. A total area of 6,093.57㎡ houses 82 table games and 121 of the latest machine games. Visitors can enjoy a great variety of gaming options such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Tai-sai, Roulette, Caribbean Poker, and slot machines. With its convenient location in the central Gangnam area, the casino also makes for an ideal place to sightsee and shop.

⊙ Timhowan Samseong Branch (팀호완 삼성점)

- Homepage
https://www.instagram.com/timhowan_korea/

Timhowan is a specialized Chinese restaurant focusing on dim sum, located near Gangnam COEX. It has been selected by the Michelin Guide. Its signature dim sum includes the fresh shrimp-made har gow (shrimp dumplings), along with char siu bao bun (baked BBQ pork buns), shaomai (pork & shrimp dumplings), sacheonsik wantang (pork dumplings in hout & spicy sauce), and buchaegyo (spinach dumplings with shrimp). Additionally, there are dishes like sacheonsik wantang bibimmyeon (pork & shrimp dumpling in hout & spicy noodle), dakgogi beoseot jjim (chicken, cordycep flower & mushroom), Hong Kongsik tangsugi (sweet & sour fried chicken), cheonggyeongchae (poached fresh bok choy), and gongsimchae (seasonal vegetable). Nearby attractions include COEX, Bongeunsa Temple, and Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb.

⊙ Dogo Dental Clinic (도고치과의원)

‘Dogo’ is an ancient Korean word used to describe the groundwork that had to be done before placing the foundation stone to build traditional Korean houses and buildings. Dogo Dental Clinic pursues only the best treatment based on fundamentals, principles, and hygiene. We share all processes with our patients and do not overtreat.
Dr. Rumi Lee from New Zealand provides the best treatment in English with diverse experience practicing in both New Zealand and Korea for several years.
We are very close to COEX and Bongeunsa Temple and in close proximity to transportation options, convenience facilities, and tourist attractions. Thus, you can enjoy many other experiences before and after receiving dental treatment.
Our clinic boasts an elegant interior and treatment space but the treatment fee is reasonable, so many patients like to visit. With Dr. Lee's delicacy and gentleness, even those who are afraid of dental treatment can feel comfortable.