Things to do in Myeongdong, Euljiro & Dongdaemun

Sights· 2

1. Deoksugung Palace

   A palace with old Korean and Western-style halls, good at dusk.

   A palace entered through Daehanmun Gate in front of Seoul City Hall, where traditional hanok halls and Western-style stone buildings stand within the same walls. The stone wall path along its outer wall starts right outside.

   Why go

   It stays open into the evening, so it fits well as a late-afternoon or sunset walk. The Seoul Museum of Art's Seosomun branch and Jeongdong-gil are a short walk away, which makes it easy to pair the palace with an exhibition.

   Good to know

   Closed on Mondays. Seokjojeon, the Western-style hall, is a guided, limited-entry visit that needs an advance online booking of its own. Check the official hanbok guideline for the free-entry rules.

   Sources: royal.khs.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net

2. Euljiro Alleys (Hipjiro)

   Old print shop lanes where young Koreans find new cafes and bars.

   The Euljiro 3-ga and 4-ga area is an old commercial quarter of print shops, lighting stores and tool dealers. Cafes, wine bars and eateries have moved into upper floors and back lanes of ageing buildings, earning the nickname Hipjiro (hip plus Euljiro).

   Why go

   By day you walk among working shops; by evening office workers and Koreans in their 20s and 30s fill the lane venues. It shows a young Korean taste for giving old commercial buildings a new use.

   Good to know

   Start at Euljiro 3-ga Station on Line 2. Signs are small and many venues hide on upper floors or in back lanes, as a Korea Tourism Organization article notes, so check the floor on your map app. A 2023 report mentioned 20 to 30 minute lunchtime waits at popular restaurants. Do not photograph inside working shops; evenings centre on bars, so daytime suits you better if you are not drinking.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · korean.visitkorea.or.kr

Culture· 2

1. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

   A curved design hall where Koreans see fashion shows and exhibits.

   A multi-purpose cultural complex designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2014. Design exhibitions, fashion shows and pop-up events run through the year inside its curved shell, and it connects directly to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station.

   Why go

   Large events like Seoul Fashion Week and a near-constant exhibition programme make it an ordinary exhibition outing for Koreans too. It sits next to the Dongdaemun market streets, so it pairs easily with shopping.

   Good to know

   Hours and ticketing differ by exhibition, so check the official schedule for the show you want. There is no weekly closing day; the information desk says it runs all year and closes only on Lunar New Year's Day.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net

2. Seoul Museum of Art, Seosomun Main Branch

   A city art museum where locals see current art after a palace walk.

   The Seoul Museum of Art's main building in Jeongdong, beside the Deoksugung stone wall path. Modern architecture is joined to the preserved front of the old Supreme Court building, and it hosts contemporary art exhibitions.

   Why go

   It is run by the city of Seoul and works as an everyday exhibition outing for locals. It makes an easy indoor stop at the end of a Deoksugung and Jeongdong-gil stroll.

   Good to know

   Closed on Mondays (open if Monday is a public holiday) and on New Year's Day. It stays open later on Fridays. Viewing terms differ by exhibition, so check the current show on the official site.

   Sources: sema.seoul.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net

Markets· 4

1. Dongmyo Flea Market

   A street flea market where all ages hunt for vintage finds.

   A street flea market along the stone wall of Dongmyo Shrine, started in the late 1980s and now one of Seoul's best-known vintage and secondhand markets. Old household items, books, electronics and vintage clothing and shoes change hands here.

   Why go

   It is the easiest place to see Korea's thrift and vintage culture in action, which is why it turns up on TV shows and social media, and shoppers of every age dig through the piles.

   Good to know

   Many vendors take cash only and haggling is common, according to the tourism guides. It is busiest on weekend afternoons and each stall closes at its own time, so an early-afternoon visit is the safer bet.

   Sources: english.visitseoul.net · english.visitkorea.or.kr

2. Gyeongdong Market

   A market of herbs and wild greens that feels like everyday Seoul.

   A herbal-medicine and farm-produce market in Jegi-dong. It started in 1960 as an agricultural market, and after a large building opened in 1985 it grew into a hub for ginseng and herbal medicine shops, alongside wild greens, dried fish and seafood.

   Why go

   The herbal section draws many older shoppers buying herbs and seasonal greens, and the newer wing now has food spaces aimed at younger visitors. It is less known than Gwangjang or Namdaemun, so it feels more like everyday Seoul.

   Good to know

   Many shops close on Sundays and the official notice lists every other Sunday as a closing day, so a weekday daytime visit is safer. After the main market, the rooftop evening food space on the newer building shows a very different side after dark.

   Sources: english.visitseoul.net

3. Namdaemun Market

   A big traditional market where locals compare prices on daily goods.

   One of Korea's biggest traditional markets, built up around Sungnyemun Gate, selling clothing, kitchenware, eyewear, ginseng and imported goods at both retail and wholesale. Official sources trace it to shops set up near the gate in the reign of King Taejong.

   Why go

   Koreans come to compare prices on everyday goods and clothes, and to grab a bowl of noodles or braised cutlassfish in the food alleys. Being a wholesale hub too, it draws regular shoppers by day and retailers at night.

   Good to know

   Official guides list Sunday as the closing day, so go on a weekday. The kalguksu alley has an easy-to-miss entrance, lines form at lunch and on weekends, and you sit shoulder to shoulder at shared counters.

   Sources: english.visitkorea.or.kr · english.visitseoul.net

4. Seoul Folk Flea Market

   A flea market where Koreans hunt for old objects and retro charm.

   A two-story market opened in 2008 by merchants who moved from the old Hwanghak-dong flea market along Cheonggyecheon. The first floor holds everyday goods, antiques and clothing, and the second floor has restaurants. Its sections are named after rainbow colors.

   Why go

   Plenty of Koreans come looking for old objects and retro charm, and it pairs well with nearby Dongmyo Flea Market for a longer vintage browse.

   Good to know

   Seoul city's notice lists Tuesday as the closing day, and the restaurant floor stays open later than the shops. Check the market's website for closures and event days.

   Sources: news.seoul.go.kr · english.visitkorea.or.kr

Food· 3

1. Hoegi Pajeon (Scallion Pancake) Alley

   A college alley where Koreans eat thick scallion pancakes with drinks.

   A university-district drinking alley in front of Hoegi Station, near Kyung Hee and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, lined with pajeon (scallion pancake) restaurants. The pancakes here are known for being thick and packed with green onion.

   Why go

   Regulars who came as students keep returning into middle age, so the alley holds a lot of Korean campus drinking memories. Dongdaemun-gu renovated the underpass beneath the railway bridge and the alley surface, and a local alley festival is held here.

   Good to know

   One pancake is thick enough that two people can start with one and add more if needed. Pajeon is a classic snack with makgeolli or beer, and days off and hours vary by restaurant, so check before you go.

2. Jangchung-dong Jokbal (Pig's Trotters) Alley

   A lane of pig's trotter restaurants where Koreans eat with soju.

   A lane of jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurants behind the main road in Jangchung-dong, close to Dongguk Univ. Station. It is said to have begun when settlers from North Korea began serving trotters as a drinking snack after liberation, and it is on Seoul's Future Heritage list of food alleys.

   Why go

   It grew on crowds leaving matches at the nearby Jangchung Arena, so it recalls the Korean habit of finishing a sports outing with trotters and soju. Several restaurants each claim to be the original, which is part of the alley's character.

   Good to know

   Jokbal is pork front leg slow-simmered in soy-based broth and sliced, often served with dongchimi (radish water kimchi). A single plate shared by two to four people with soju or makgeolli is the usual order; rest days vary by restaurant, so check before you go.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr

3. Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town

   A lane where you cook spicy rice cakes at the table, a school treat.

   A narrow lane near Sindang Station lined with tteokbokki restaurants. The street made its name from the late 1970s and grew in the 1980s. The signature style is cooked at the table: ingredients go into a pot and simmer in front of you.

   Why go

   For Koreans it is a nostalgic school-days snack, and with cafes and bars now opening along the lane, younger crowds and foreign visitors come too.

   Good to know

   Most people add extras such as instant noodles or glass noodles, and cooking takes a little while, so leave some time. Ordering rules and minimum party sizes can differ by restaurant, so solo diners should ask first.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net

Outdoors· 1

1. Namsan North Loop Trail

   A car-free loop path where locals run and walk after work.

   The roughly 3.4 km northern part of Namsan Park's 7.5 km loop path, closed to cars and good for walking or running. It connects to the Seoul Tower and city wall routes, so you can walk a short stretch or a long one.

   Why go

   Locals run and walk it after work or on weekend mornings, and the city even runs a free runners' shower room in the park. Tourists and residents share the same path.

   Good to know

   Private cars and tour buses are barred from Namsan Park, so walk up from a subway station or take the Namsan shuttle buses 01A or 01B. The steps and slopes toward Seoul Tower are tiring, so mixing in a bus or the cable car is an option.

   Sources: parks.seoul.go.kr · seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr

Experiences· 2

1. Jangchung Gymnasium (V-League Volleyball)

   An indoor arena for pro volleyball where cheer squads lead the crowd.

   An indoor arena in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, home to V-League volleyball teams Woori Card (men) and GS Caltex (women). It seats about 4,500 and is close to Exit 5 of Dongguk University Station on Line 3.

   Why go

   The seats sit close to the court, so the noise reaches you directly, and the cheer squad leads group cheering between rallies and sets. It pairs easily with a day around Dongdaemun and Namsan.

   Good to know

   The V-League volleyball season usually runs from late October to April, with home games for Woori Card (men) and GS Caltex (women). Tickets are sold on the official KOVO site and app (in Korean); check the KOVO schedule for game days.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · sisul.or.kr

2. Sparex Dongdaemun (Goodmorning City)

   A 24-hour jjimjilbang bathhouse where friends sweat, eat and nap.

   A 24-hour jjimjilbang on the third basement level of the Goodmorning City mall, near exit 14 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. It has a hanok-style wooden interior, dry and wet saunas, sleeping areas, a food court and luggage storage.

   Why go

   In Korea a jjimjilbang is an everyday place where friends and families sweat, eat and nap for hours. Many foreign guests come here, so it is easy to follow along on a first visit, and it slots neatly between Dongdaemun shopping and a late night.

   Good to know

   You change into the jjimjil clothes you are given for the shared areas, while the bath and shower zones are gender-separated and fully nude. Tattoo rules are set by each facility, not by law, so ask before you go and check the venue's own notice for hours and closures.

Night out· 1

1. Euljiro Nogari Alley

   An alley of draft beer pubs serving dried pollack snacks after work.

   A cluster of draft-beer pubs in the alleys between Euljiro 3-ga's printing and tool shops. In the early 1980s a pub began serving dried young pollack (nogari) as a beer snack, neighboring tradespeople started gathering there, and Seoul listed the alley as Seoul Future Heritage in 2015.

   Why go

   It offers a close look at the Korean after-work habit of one or two beers and a single snack. Pubs selling nogari and spicy whelk salad sit in the same neighborhood, so the menu is easy to navigate.

   Good to know

   Nogari is a dried fish you dip in gochujang. Outdoor tables in front of the shops can vary with district enforcement and nearby construction, so plan on sitting inside; after the first toast, topping up each other's glasses is the polite thing to do.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · english.visitseoul.net

Premium experiences· 2

Fine dining, art, hanok stays, concert halls

1. National Theater of Korea

   A national theater at the foot of Namsan with traditional performance.

   A national theater in Jangchung-dong on the slope of Namsan, founded in 1950. It has the large Haeoreum Theater, the medium Daloreum Theater, a small flexible studio and the dome-shaped outdoor Haneul Theater, and stages traditional works such as pansori as well as ballet and plays.

   Why go

   Traditional Korean performing arts are staged here in a setting built for them, and Visit Seoul notes English subtitles for some performances. It is on the Namsan side near the Dongguk University area, so it suits an evening after a day around Namsan or Myeong-dong.

   Good to know

   Look up the program on the official site and book ahead; whether English subtitles are offered depends on the performance. Dongguk University Station on Line 3 is the nearest subway stop, a little under a kilometer away.

   Sources: english.visitseoul.net · english.visitkorea.or.kr

2. La Yeon (The Shilla Seoul)

   A Korean fine-dining restaurant on a high floor of The Shilla Seoul.

   A Korean restaurant on the 23rd floor of The Shilla Seoul, with a view toward Namsan. It reworks traditional Korean dishes with modern techniques, and the MICHELIN Guide Seoul 2026 lists it with two stars.

   Why go

   It lets you try Korean cuisine as a fine-dining course with Namsan in view, in a room whose tableware takes its look from Joseon white porcelain. The hotel is in Jung-gu near the Dongguk University area, so it suits a day around Namsan.

   Good to know

   Booking ahead through the hotel is the safe approach, and the open days and meal times should be checked on the hotel's official page. Dongguk University Station on Line 3 is the nearest subway stop.

   Sources: english.visitseoul.net

Where K-celebs eat· 7

Spots stars and well-known people have visited

1. Eomeoni Daeseongjip

   Dongdaemun haejangguk restaurant featured on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel

   A Korean restaurant serving haejangguk (hangover soup).

   Who’s been

   Sung Si-kyung

   Why go

   Sung Si-kyung featured this restaurant in his official YouTube series 'Meogeultende', in the episode titled 'Eomeoni Daeseongjip haejangguk'.

   Sources: mukzip.club

2. Eulji Kalguksu

   Euljiro kalguksu restaurant featured on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel

   A kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul.

   Who’s been

   Sung Si-kyung

   Why go

   Sung Si-kyung featured this restaurant in his official YouTube series 'Meogeultende', in the episode titled 'Eulji Kalguksu, Euljiro'.

   Sources: mukzip.club

3. Geumdwaeji Sikdang

   Sindang-dong pork grill visited by David Beckham, Lee Kwang-soo and EXO's D.O.

   A pork grill restaurant in Sindang-dong. Samgyeopsal, pork neck, jowl and pork rinds are mentioned.

   Who’s been

   David Beckham · D.O. of EXO · Lee Kwang-soo

   Why go

   David Beckham posted photos of himself eating samgyeopsal, pork neck, jowl and pork rinds here on his own social media during his 2024 trip to Korea, and a March 2026 interview with the restaurant's owner confirmed that photo records of the visit remain. In a September 2026 episode of Park Myung-soo's YouTube channel 'Halmyungsoo', Lee Kwang-soo and EXO's D.O. said they are regulars here too.

   Sources: mukzip.club

4. Mabokrim Halmeonijip

   Sindang-dong tteokbokki spot featured in Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil

   Credited as the originator of Sindang-dong style tteokbokki, serving it cooked at the table.

   Who’s been

   Phil Rosenthal

   Why go

   In the Seoul episode of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil (season 3), host Phil Rosenthal ate tabletop tteokbokki with fish cake, ramen, dumplings and egg here. VisitSeoul, the city's official tourism site, also lists it as a restaurant featured in that episode.

   Sources: mukzip.club

5. Munhwaok

   Euljiro seolleongtang restaurant featured on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel

   A seolleongtang (ox bone soup) restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul.

   Who’s been

   Sung Si-kyung

   Why go

   Sung Si-kyung featured this restaurant in his official YouTube series 'Meogeultende', in the episode titled 'Munhwaok, Euljiro'.

   Sources: mukzip.club

6. Uraeok Main Branch

   Euljiro Pyongyang naengmyeon restaurant where Jensen Huang and Chung Euisun met

   A Pyongyang-style naengmyeon (cold noodle) restaurant in Euljiro.

   Who’s been

   Sung Si-kyung · Jensen Huang · Chung Euisun

   Why go

   Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Euisun shared Pyongyang naengmyeon here for about an hour at midday on 7 June 2026, in what was called a 'naengmyeon meeting'. Sung Si-kyung also featured the restaurant in the 'Uraeok, Euljiro' episode of his official YouTube series 'Meogeultende'.

   Sources: mukzip.club

7. Yaksu Sundaeguk

   Yaksu-dong sundae gukbap place reported as Doosan chairman's regular

   A sundae gukbap (blood sausage soup with rice) restaurant in Yaksu-dong, introduced in a 2018 video as having a 40-year history.

   Who’s been

   Park Jeong-won

   Why go

   Doosan Group's official video channel introduced this restaurant in June 2018 as one that its chairman Park Jeong-won visits often, and a July 2019 report quoted the owner as saying he comes about once a month for lunch with two or three others and only eats.

   Sources: mukzip.club