Things to do in Seongsu

Markets· 2

1. Geumnam Market

   An alley market where neighbors shop and new shops are moving in.

   An alley-style market in the residential streets of Geumho-dong, with about 135 shops according to the district office. Everyday grocery shops sit alongside restaurants serving cold noodles and grilled intestines, plus newer places.

   Why go

   A neighborhood market that residents have long used is now mixing with newer shops and spilling into a lane nicknamed Geumri-dangil, so you see ordinary Seoul rather than a tourist set.

   Good to know

   The district office puts it about a three-minute walk from Exit 1 of Geumho Station (Line 3). Closing days vary by shop, so go in the afternoon and check the official notice.

   Sources: sd.go.kr · mediahub.seoul.go.kr

2. Majang Meat Market

   A big meat market where you pick your cuts and grill them nearby.

   A very large meat wholesale and retail market on the Cheonggyecheon stream, lined with shops selling beef and pork. Seoul city sources put the shop count above 3,000 across an area of more than 110,000 square meters.

   Why go

   Picking out meat by eye and grilling it at a restaurant is a common way to eat out in Korea, and this market and its food alley let you do exactly that.

   Good to know

   The market is listed as closed on the first and third Sunday of each month, so check the date if you plan a Sunday visit. Restaurants charge for the table setting in different ways, so ask before you sit down.

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

Food· 2

1. Konkuk Univ. Lamb Skewer Street (Yangkkochi Street)

   A street of lamb skewers where Korean groups come for beer.

   A street of Chinese-style lamb skewer restaurants, hot pot and mala tang shops along Dongil-ro 18-gil, heading down from Konkuk University Station toward the Han River. It grew in the 1990s as Chinese students and ethnic Koreans from China settled here, and it is nicknamed the 'new Chinatown'.

   Why go

   Korean groups come here too, pairing lamb skewers with beer for a night out with friends. Skewers, hot pot, mala tang and Chinese noodle dishes are all on one street, so a group with mixed tastes can still agree on a place.

   Good to know

   Lamb skewers are eaten dusted with cumin (zira), and mala dishes can be quite hot, so ask about the spice level when you order. Konkuk's separate 'Taste Street', with Korean and Western pubs, is close by if you want a second round.

   Sources: gwangjin.go.kr · love.seoul.go.kr

2. Wangsimni Gopchang Alley

   A grilled intestine street, a classic group dinner with soju.

   A street of grilled-offal (gopchang) restaurants near the Seongdong-gu Office, a walk from Wangsimni Station. It began with vendors grilling intestines, tripe and offal from the nearby Majang-dong meat market over briquette fires, scattered during 2000s redevelopment, and regrouped across from the district office.

   Why go

   In Korea, gopchang is a classic pairing with soju and a common choice for group dinners. Many places serve the same ingredients grilled, stir-fried or in a hot pot, so it is easy to find a format you like.

   Good to know

   If it is your first time, a set menu like mixed beef offal on the grill or pork-and-vegetable gopchang stir-fry is a safe pick. Topping up each other's soju glasses is the polite way to drink, and popular places can have an evening wait, with days off varying by restaurant.

   Sources: love.seoul.go.kr

Outdoors· 3

1. Achasan Hike

   A low neighborhood mountain where locals walk and exercise.

   A low mountain on the border of Gwangjin-gu and Guri. The district's official courses range from about an hour and a half to roughly two and a half hours toward Yongmasan, passing the Goguryeo Pavilion and a sunrise plaza with views down to the Han River.

   Why go

   Gwangjin-gu describes it as a citizens' park where people come to walk and exercise, a neighborhood mountain rather than a tourist trail. Ruins from the Three Kingdoms period let you add a little history to an easy hike.

   Good to know

   Start from the Line 5 Achasan or Gwangnaru station side. The upper part keeps climbing so wear sneakers, and in autumn the sun sets early, so plan the descent if you go late in the day.

   Sources: gwangjin.go.kr · en.wikipedia.org

2. Seoul Forest

   A big city park where Koreans picnic and walk their dogs.

   An urban park beside Seongsu-dong, opened in 2005 where the Han River meets the Jungnang stream. It has a family lawn, a woodland with spotted deer, an insect botanical garden, a shallow winter pond and a footbridge to the riverside, and it stays open year-round.

   Why go

   Koreans bring a mat for a picnic here and walk their dogs. It connects to the Seongsu-dong streets, so a walk is easy to pair with a Seongsu itinerary.

   Good to know

   Per the official guide, shade tents and tents are not allowed, and ball games and kite flying are restricted. Some facilities such as the insect garden and butterfly garden close on Mondays, so plan the day around that.

   Sources: parks.seoul.go.kr · ko.wikipedia.org

3. Ttukseom Hangang Park

   A riverside park where locals eat ramyeon and chicken on mats.

   A long riverside park in Gwangjin-gu near Line 7's Jayang (Ttukseom Hangang Park) Station. It has lawns, bike paths, water-sports facilities, convenience stores, delivery pickup zones and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool.

   Why go

   For Koreans the Han River is where you spread a mat and eat convenience-store ramyeon or delivered chicken and pizza until after dark. Seoul's official counts rank it among the busiest of the 11 Hangang parks while foreign visitors are a tiny share, so you get the local routine as it is.

   Good to know

   Delivery riders are kept out of the park, so you order by app, collect at a designated delivery zone, carry the food to your spot and take all trash home. The pool is summer-only; check the official notice for each year's dates.

   Sources: hangang.seoul.go.kr

Experiences· 2

1. Convenience-Store Ramyeon by the Han River (Ttukseom)

   Cook convenience store ramyeon by the river, a Korean leisure habit.

   Buy packet ramyeon, triangle kimbap or a lunch box at a convenience store and cook the noodles in the store's ramyeon machine. Han River park convenience stores made this famous, and Ttukseom Hangang Park has a store with cooking machines.

   Why go

   Koreans treat riverside ramyeon as a leisure habit, eaten after cycling or on a picnic mat. Korean dramas and social media have made it a stop for international visitors too.

   Good to know

   Pick a packet of ramyeon, pay, put the noodles and soup base into the machine's dish and press start. Water pours in and the noodles are ready in about three to four minutes. Eat at the tables outside the store or carry it to the riverbank, and use the sorted-recycling bins for your trash. The nearest station is Jayang (Ttukseom Hangang Park) on Line 7. Outdoor seating is hard in cold or rainy weather, so check the forecast.

   Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr

2. Gangbyeon Spa Land

   A family jjimjilbang where Koreans eat, play, rest and nap all day.

   A large jjimjilbang that opened in 1988 and fills the first and second basement levels of a building near Gangbyeon Station in Gwangjin-gu. It has a pine-wood-fired sweat kiln, charcoal, salt and red-clay rooms, hot and cold baths, saunas, a restaurant and a game arcade.

   Why go

   It shows the neighborhood version of the jjimjilbang day, where eating, games, rest and sleep all happen under one roof. It is described as family-oriented, so you see how ordinary Korean visitors spend the time.

   Good to know

   The official tourism listing shows it open 24 hours every day, so it suits a late-night or early-morning slot. The wet area is gender-separated and nude, and tattoo admission is up to each facility, so ask first.

   Sources: english.visitkorea.or.kr · korean.visitkorea.or.kr

Shopping· 1

1. Seongsu-dong Alley Walk

   Old factory lanes turned cafes and pop-ups that young Koreans visit.

   In the 1960s and 70s Seongsu was a district of shoemakers, printers and steel workshops. Red-brick factories and warehouses now hold cafes, galleries, select shops and pop-up spaces along its back lanes.

   Why go

   New brands and pop-ups rotate through constantly, so Koreans in their 20s and 30s come to see what is current in Seoul. Seoul Forest is close by, which lets a lane walk end with a rest in the park.

   Good to know

   Get off at Seongsu Station on Line 2 and start with the lanes around Yeonmujang-gil. Walking on to Seoul Forest is a long stretch, so split it up to suit your legs. Popular pop-ups often have a queue outside; pick two or three you really want and drift between the rest. Closing days vary by shop, so check hours on your map app.

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

Where K-celebs eat· 7

Spots stars and well-known people have visited

1. Hanguk Hoetjip

   A Jungnang sashimi restaurant seen on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube with Lim Ji-yeon

   A sashimi restaurant in Jungnang-gu, Seoul.

   Who’s been

   Lim Ji-yeon

   Why go

   In an episode of Sung Si-kyung's official YouTube show 'Meogeultende' uploaded in November 2024, actress Lim Ji-yeon joins him for sashimi. The title names the restaurant as Hanguk Hoetjip at Jungnang Station, and the description tags her and gives its address.

   Sources: mukzip.club

2. Ki Bakery

   A Seongsu-dong bakery visited by SEVENTEEN's Mingyu, S.Coups and Vernon

   A bakery and pastry shop in Seongsu-dong.

   Who’s been

   SEVENTEEN Mingyu, S.Coups, Vernon

   Why go

   SEVENTEEN's Mingyu, S.Coups and Vernon are recorded as visitors, with episode 75 of 'GOING SEVENTEEN' cited as the source.

   Sources: mukzip.club

3. Mokgumeong Jangan Branch

   A Jangan-dong samgyeopsal restaurant visited by Shuhua

   A samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) restaurant in Jangan-dong.

   Who’s been

   (G)I-DLE Shuhua

   Why go

   The restaurant itself announced that (G)I-DLE's Shuhua visited.

   Sources: mukzip.club

4. Norunsan Tteokbokki

   A Seongsu-dong tteokbokki shop visited by NCT's Doyoung

   A bunsik (Korean snack food) shop in Seongsu-dong that serves tteokbokki.

   Who’s been

   NCT Doyoung

   Why go

   NCT's Doyoung is recorded as having visited, with MBC's 'I Live Alone' cited as the source.

   Sources: mukzip.club

5. Silbiok

   A Seongsu-dong restaurant where aespa's Karina and Giselle ate sujebi hot pot

   A Korean restaurant in Seongsu-dong that serves beef seaweed sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) hot pot.

   Who’s been

   aespa Karina, Giselle

   Why go

   In the aespa official YouTube episode of 'Audiz Tour' about searching for seaweed-soup sujebi, Karina and Giselle ate the beef seaweed sujebi hot pot. An article from December 2025 identified the restaurant as Silbiok in Seongsu-dong and published its address.

   Sources: mukzip.club

6. Somunnan Seongsu Gamjatang

   A Seongsu-dong gamjatang restaurant featured on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube

   A gamjatang (Korean pork bone stew) restaurant in Seongsu-dong.

   Who’s been

   Sung Si-kyung

   Why go

   Sung Si-kyung featured it on his official YouTube channel 'Meogeultende', and press coverage confirms it.

   Sources: mukzip.club

7. Suwon Wonjo Galbi

   A Seongsu-dong galbi restaurant featured on Red Velvet Seulgi's own YouTube

   A galbi (Korean-style ribs) restaurant in Seongsu-dong.

   Who’s been

   Red Velvet Seulgi

   Why go

   Red Velvet's Seulgi is linked to the restaurant through her own YouTube channel 'Hi Seulgi', which is cited as the source.

   Sources: mukzip.club