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Where Past Meets Present in Seochon Village, Seoul

Seochon Village is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jongno-gu, Seoul, traditionally associated with Joseon era (1392 ~ 1910) and Korean literature. Seochon stretches out from the western gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace to the feet of Mt. Inwangsan, which includes all of the neighborhoods in between: Chebu-dong, Ogin-dong, Tongin-dong, Tongui-dong, Sajik-dong, Hyoja-dong, and Pirun-dong. In Seochon, there are huddles of traditional Korean houses in small alleyways that still remain the same since 500 years ago. Here and there, travelers could find beautiful cafes, galleries, boutique shops, and restaurants hidden in these alleys. Take a stroll around the old, narrow alleyways of Seochon Village where past meets present.

願望清單

Dae-o Bookstore 대오서점

"Dae-o Bookstore" has remained the same for more than 60 years. Run by a grandmother, Gwon O Nam, she greets the visitors with a smile. The bookstore also offered a place of filming a Korean drama called, "Sang-eo (Shark)", starred by Son Ye Jin and Kim Nam Gil.

Restaurant Kaljil 칼질의 재발견

"Restaurant Kaljil" offers Western dishes, from French, American, to Italian, with a reasonable price. The meal is served based on the vegetables of the season. In every 2 or 3 weeks, the restaurant offers new appetizers and desserts of the dinner course menu.

Barcelona 바르셀로나

"Barcelona" is a wine bar that serves Spanish style accompaniments with drinks, such as tapas, and sherry wine. The most popular menus are beef stew with a deep flavor of beef broth and "gambas", shrimps with garlic and olive oil. Enjoy "Longue-Dog" and "Estrella" at "Barcelona"!

Ttaengmoban 땡모빤

"Ttaengmoppan" is run by the grandson of the owner of "Dae-o Bookstore" right next door. This shop offers Thai style watermelon juice, "Ttaengmoppan". Grab a cup of delicious watermelon juice and take a look inside the old bookstore in Seochon!

Woo Yeon Soo Jib 우연수집

"Woo Yeon Soo Jib" is a special gift shop that sell products and goods that are from serendipitous things that the owner has collected. Also, the shop sells unique goods designed by new, rising artists.

Aux Petits Verres 오 쁘띠 베르

"Aux Petits Verres"is a European style cafe famous for its pretty-looking delicious tarts and beers from Belgium. The cafe is run by a semifinal winner of a Korean cooking program called, "Master Chef Korea", Park Joon Woo. A sweet, sour taste of the lemon tarts offered in "Aux Petits Verres" is truly unforgettable!

Wonjo Halmeoni Tteokbokki 원조할머니 떡볶이

"Wonjo Halmeoni Tteokbokki" located in Tongin Market is a popular Korean snack bar. On big fry pans, you can watch the owners stir and fry "tteokbokki" in two sauces, spicy red pepper sauce and soy sauce.

When Buckwheat Flower Blooms 메밀꽃 필 무렵

"When Buckwheat Flower Blooms" is a folksy restaurant where you can meet noodles and pancakes made out of buckwheat. Although it offers only five dishes, there are many regular visitors who can not forget the taste of "maemil boochim", the buckwheat pancake.

Bongpyeong Makgooksu 봉평막국수

"Bongpyeong Makgooksu" is a popular restaurant that specializes in "Makgooksu", which is a Korean cold noodle dish made out of buckwheat. Using fresh, clean ingredients, "Bongpyeong Makgooksu" offers a delicious dish with a light and clean taste to the visitors.

Gagarin 가가린

"Gagarin" sells used books and posters on fine arts, photography, architecture, design and more. Unlike old, dirty secondhand bookstores, "Gagarin" offers in a simple, clean and modern interior. If you are interested books on art, go visit "Gagarin" and find unique, extraordinary magazines and handmade books!

Tongin Market 통인시장

Tongin Market was originally a local market for Japanese residents during the Japanese colonial period, first opened in June 1941. After the Korean war, lot of food stores and shops gathered around this area which became the Tongin Market nowadays.

Goyangyi Moonbanggu 고양이 문방구

"Goyangyi Moonbanggu" is an offline shop of a design brand, "Yuimaru". The store offers a customized notebook, where you can choose from a book cover to spring according to your preference and the store makes it into a notebook.

Brotherco 브라더코

"Brotherco" is an unusual cafe without an owner. The place is like a free gallery and a self cafe, where you can drink and eat snacks for free from a snack bar in the room. Read, drink, and eat for free at "Brotherco"!

Tosokchon Samgyetang 토속촌 삼계탕

"Tosokchon Samgyetang" located nearby Gyeongbokgung Station, is well-known for the frequent visit by the late President No Moo Hyun. People all around the country visit Gyeongbokgung Palace on purpose just to taste Samgyetang(chicken soup with ginseng) at this restaurant.

Namdo Bunsik 남도분식

"Namdo Bunsik" is where you can taste Korean snacks and fried lettuce, a local specialty that you can see only in Gwangju region in Korea. Unlike its folksy name, the interior is like a cafe, where you can enjoy food in clean atmosphere. Also, the kitchen is open, and so you can watch the cooking process.

Seochon Maru 서촌마루

"Seochon Maru", located in Seochon, nearby Gyeonbokgung Station, offers a class for experiencing arts and crafts of "Hanji" (a traditional Korean paper), miniature props, and playing "Daegeum" (a large bamboo transverse flute). The store offers goods from India as well, which adds more exotic atmosphere to the interior.

Tongin Herbal Medicine Dispensary 통인한약국

"Tongin Herbal Medicine Dispensary" is a dispensary of herbal medicine where two pharmacists choose the best medicinal herbs and make herbal medicines with their utmost, following the traditional method to be effective.

Armdri Shop 아름드리 가게

"Armdri Shop" is located in Tongin Market, which offers various handmade crafts and products, such as jewelries, bags, interior props, and ceramics. Since they are handmade and designed in a Korean traditional style, they are the one and only items and a perfect souvenir for your lover, friends, and families!

Flower & Cafe Do 플라워&카페 두

"Flower & Cafe do" is a flower cafe in a remodeled Korean traditional style house. As soon you step inside the door, you will see greenery all over the room, which makes you feel like you are in a botanic garden. Visit "Flower & Cafe do" and drink coffee or tea, and replenish your energy!

Hyoja Bakery 효자베이커리

"Hyoja Bakery" located in Seochon, is a neighborhood bakery that bakes bread by using old, traditional methods. For 26 years, it has been delivering its breads to the Blue House. From donuts, croquette to bagel, you can taste various kinds of delicious breads at "Hyoja Bakery."

Autumn Foliage Tours & Festivals