41 EXPLORING DONGDAEMUN 07:00 pm
Dongdaemun Gate
Begin your exploration of Dongdaemun at its namesake, historic Dongdaemun Gate C1, the old eastern passage to Seoul. Built in 1869, the imposing gate and its stone walls are fitting tributes to the glory of the Joseon Dynasty.
EXPLORING HONGDAE
although these tend to most active at night, when the wholesalers do their trade. Come here anytime between 10pm and 3am, and you’ll find buyers from all over Korea and even overseas searching for deals on bulk purchases. The energy is electric.
08:00pm
Dongdaemun History & Culture Park C2 is a landmark piece of urban landscaping designed by famed British architect Zaha Hadid.
RECOMMENDED EATERIES
Shopping!
10:00 pm
After you’ve taken in the history and culture, it’s time to get busy shopping. Dongdaemun Market is home to several massive fashion malls, including Doota Tower B1, Migliore B1 and Pyeonghwa Market A1. The shops here stock goods by younger, smaller designers.
Midnight
Wholesale market
Need a quick bite while you’re shopping? This is probably the most convenient place to do so. Clean and delicious.
This area is famous for its restaurants specializing in jokbal , or marinated pig feet sliced and served with lettuce leaf and kimchi.
Dinner
East of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park C2 you’ll find still more shopping centers,
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Central Asia Village B2 Home to many restaurants specializing in Uzbek, Russian and Mongolian cuisine. Most don’t look like much, but they do good food that is easy on the wallet, too.
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Alley C2 The Sindang-dong neighborhood has an alley of restaurants that do Sindang tteokbokki, a dish of panfried rice cakes cooked in a spicy red pepper sauce with noodles, dumplings and other yummy things.
Pyeongyang Myeonok B2 (T. 02-2267-7784) Famous for naengmyeon, buckwheat noodles in a chilled turnip and beef broth. North Koreanstyle meat platters like obokjaengban and jaeok, and their fist-sized dumplings can’t be missed, too.
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Good gyros and souvlaki.
Cheolgil Wang Galbisal B1 (T. 02-332-9208) Great BBQ meat and delicious stew.
Hakata Bunko E1 (T. 02-338-5536) Tasty Japanese-style ramen noodles are available around the corner from the Far East Broadcasting Co.
Castle Praha E2 (T. 02-334-2121) A taste of the Czech Republic in Korea, this Czech-style beer hall houses a microbrewery (run by a Czech brew master).
405 Kitchen E2 (T. 02-332-3949) A pleasant Hongdae café with three spaces— hall, sedentary table room, and terrace—serves brunch by day and wine at night.
Vinyl E1 (T. 02-322-4161) This tiny drinking establishment serves up various cocktails in plastic bags with straws and has an atmosphere all of its own.
Little Terrace D2 (T. 02-333-3310) Little Terrace, or more precisely, “This Little Terrace Has Mesmerized Me,” is a fifth-floor wine bar that serves affordable wines in a romantic atmosphere. Oh yeah, and it’s got a terrace with nice views.
When the sun goes down, Hongdae heats
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Modern Design Museum
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Hongik Univ.
Jammers (B1F)
Alternative Space LOOP
Jeongol Pollala
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Brownbreath Ding Dong
Bar Daq
& Coffee
Anseong Mart Cuba Wang
Tora-b
Hongik Galbi Café Danchu
Mapo Lifelong Learning Center Pedestrian-Friendly Street
Trickeye Museum (B1F) A Land
1
NANTA THEATER
Tony Moly
Jongno Bindaetteok
V-Hall Club Vera
02-363-4253 Hair in its natural state
Lotte Cinema
BBQ Premium Café
Angel-in-us Coffee
Swing Guitar Café Street
eathai
Old Rock
Club Auteur M2 Q-vo
Zari
Chie The Café
Live Club DGBD Multicultural Museum
Café Eire
Club Mansion Publishing Alley Ganggang Sullai Gallery Zandari Bobo Hotel
Prism Live Hall
Zoo
Mixxo
Hotel Seokyo
Hongik Univ. Stn.
y, the playground in front of Hongik ns. If you’re into dancing and live music, Friday of the month.
Gam Salon 405 Kitchen Eunhasu Dabang
Castle Praha
Youngbin Wedding Hall
Hair & Joy B3 02-363-4253
1
Inn Bar
Hello Kitty Cafe 1300K Seoul Art Space – Seog40 Sapience 7
Ziller Zone 1300K
Gap Denim Studio
D'Avant
ley Al Gogos2 NOK Bread 05 Lot Rolling Hall FF ing TA k After A Land r Evans Lounge Pa Ronin El Bliss Design Museum aA Found Store Ska2 Fell+Cole Club Crack Shamrok Rock & Roll
Margarita lley Splash (1F) Mural A Tinpan Taehwa Plaza Harlem (NB1) Bowling Center Myoung Wol Gwan Bar Exit Ice Waffle Lomography Korea Spot Playground Little Terrace SoundHolicity Greek Joy Theater Snow Spoon Dan Hana Zero Paul & Paulina de Solar Freebird Chloris Tea Cocoon
OFF°C
Vinyl
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Pomponnette
Hooper
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Unit Saab dd
Platform Place
Style Nanda
Café Kkum (B1) Cellar15 (1F) Ullim (2F) IAN Café (3F) Louis Vins (4F)
Toni & Guy Sk@
Didim Hall
Indifan Reggae Chicken
Gyahaha
Noise Basement (NB2)
Jenny's Bread
Café Suda
Coffee Prince
Sangsu Stn.
Far East Broadcasting Co.
The Post Theater
Sky High
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Hakata Bunko
nwoolim ean-Style Bar Lydian
lli Pub
Greek Joy D2 (T. 02-338-2100)
Nightime
Dance the night away
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RECOMMENDED EATERIES
The Hongdae area is best known for its nightlife, but it’s a pretty cool place in the day, too. Hongdae is one of Seoul’s most artistically vibrant neighborhoods. Check out Mural Alley D1, an interesting experiment where young artists have been communicating with the masses since 1993. You’ll find plenty of other street art in the area, and then there’s always KT&G Sangsang Madang E2, a privately run cultural complex that not only hosts exhibits and performances in a variety of genres, but also provides support for local artists. Another gallery to check out is Pollala B1, a collection of toys by pop artist Hyeon Tae-jun. If buying art is your thing, go on Saturday and stop by Hongdae Free Market D2, where local artists come to sell their works. It’s a good place to pick up some beautiful arts and crafts. The Hope Market D2, held on Sunday, is more of a traditional flea market. After you’ve done some shopping, stop by A Land D2, where you can pick up fashion from up-and-coming local and international designers. After A Land E1, meanwhile, sells well-handled goods and post-season fashion for even better prices.
Jangchung-dong Jokbal Restaurants B2
09:00pm
Daylight
Exploring Hongdae’s art scene
Doota Food Court B1 Dongdaemun History & Culture Park
up. Hongdae is the heart of Korea’s indie culture, and the music and dance clubs here are the most popular in Korea.
Hapjeong Stn. Kyusoodang Wedding Hall
Bulgogi Brothers
Choseon Barbecue
Map 7 HONGDAE
The Hongdae (Hongik University) neighborhood is Korea’s indie culture center. On a weekend, this place is full of young people looking to have a good time in its many clubs and bars.