Insadong

Insadong

In Insa-dong, every alley and store has something traditionally Korean to show off. Known initially as an antique district, Insa-dong was designated as a bastion of traditional culture in 1988, when an array of modern art galleries joined the area. Since 1997, Insa-dong has been "a vehicle-free street" every Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with no cars in sight, Insa-dong turns into a huge venue for outdoor festivals. Here you can purchase (or simply indulge in a spot of window shopping) paintings, sculptures, ceramics and installation art works by some of the country’s most celebrated (not to mention the up and coming) artists.

Jonggak Station, Subway Line 1/ Exit 6, Anguk Station, Subway Line 3

The majority of antique shops in Insa-dong settled here in the 1960s and 1970s. These were soon joined by galleries and craft shops in the late 1970s, forming the familiar street of traditional Korean culture as it is now. The alley stretched from Sudo Pharmacy to Unhyeongung (Palace), in particular, is lined with galleries and antique shops. Godosa displays antique furniture, household goods, ceramics, folk paintings, and the like and provides guided tours as well. Dongyeheon holds antique exhibitions on a regular basis, offering visitors an opportunity to better understand Korean antiques for free.

Anguk Station, Subway Line 3

Godosa : 82-2-735-5815
Dongyeheon : 82-2-730-5550

Insa-dong has been home to antiquarian bookstores, along with antique stores, since the period of Japanese rule in Korea. However, most of the some 30 antiquarian bookstores once clustered in Insa-dong closed, as time passed by, and only a few still remain in existence.

Anguk Station, Subway Line 3

Tongmungak : 82-2-735-4092
Seungmungak : 82-2-733-6148

Located in Insa-dong, downtown Seoul, the Seoul Souvenir Shop displays and sells items that have won numerous prizes at the annual Korean Souvenir Contest. Run by Seoul Metropolitan Government, this shop sells various types of souvenirs at a 15 to 20 percent discount. As well as bringing Korean culture to the many tourists that visit it each year this shop also plays an important role in bringing creative artistic talent to the population at large.

Anguk Station, Subway Line 3

82-2-3210-0328

Antique Markets