6645569 In Seoul, you can visit many tourist attractions. Choosing a Seoul sightseeing spot can be a difficult choice. Some of the popular tourist sites are listed below, as well as a brief history of the area and what you can expect when you visit them.
DMZ
The DMZ or Demilitarized Zone is a unique 6-kilometer stretch of land that passes through the Korean Peninsula and serves as a buffer between North and South Korea, two countries that are technically still in a state of war. This is a landmark reminder of the tragedy of war, the separation of people and is one of the saddest legacies of the Cold War.
At first, Korea was divided into the northern and southern halves after the end of the Second World War. However, after the ceasefire agreement, which followed innumerable destruction and the loss of 3 million lives from the Soviet invasion south to north, the country was definitely divided.
The uniqueness of the DMZ makes it the most popular destination for foreign visitors in Korea. However, a remote sensing visit is strictly prohibited. Because of this ban, this area has become one of the best preserved parts of the desert in the world. Direct visits may be prohibited, but there are several travel agencies that offer tours to Panmunj or the United Security Zone, where the truce between the North and the South was signed in 1953. The union of the observatory, the tunnels of the North Koreans built under the DMZ station and Woljeongri, the last station to the DMZ, can also be visited.
There are several reasons for the uniqueness of a DMZ. It serves as the last bastion of the Cold War, and visitors can learn about peace and conflict. In addition, this is the place to go in order to gain an understanding of the Korean psyche, which is largely shaped by the activities, wars, and divisions that have affected the nation. Most of the popular DMZ entertainment is located 90 minutes from Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung
Three years after the founding of the Joseon Dynasty, the first royal palace built Gyeongbokung in 1395. The capital of Seoul, then known as Hanyang, was designated as the seat of Gyeongbokung, and constituted the sovereignty of the Chosun dynasty. Gyeongbokgun is the largest of Gyeonghuigung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggun and Changdeokgung, 5 great palaces and served as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty.
Until the Japanese invasion of Korea in the years 1592-1598, Gyeongbokgung continued to serve as the main palace. All palaces were badly damaged, and Gyeongbokkun was not reconstructed until 1868. The palace was expanded to a complex of 410,000 square meters with more than 500 buildings. Gyeongbokgung flourished for several decades, while the Japanese once again destroyed the palaces during their occupation of Korea in 1910-1945. The restored buildings were torn down, the Gwanghwamun gate was redeployed, and the building of the Japanese government was opposed to the main square of the palace.
Since 1990, the Korean government has made continuous efforts to rebuild and rebuild destroyed buildings. The 40-year-old restoration project aims to fully restore Gyeongbokgun Palace in its original form. The palace is currently open to the public and has the National Palace Museums of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea. Only 40% of the buildings were restored, but there are many beautiful things in the palace.
Gunchongzhon is a throne room in Gyeongbokkun, where its officials were informed by its officials, issued proclamations and provided to foreign envoys and ambassadors.
Gyeonghoeru is a very valuable architectural structure used as a pavilion. It is located next to Geunjeongjeon on an artificial island in the middle of a rectangular lake with three stone bridges stretching to the palace grounds.
Hyangwonjeong is also a pavilion located north of the palace grounds. The hexagonal pavilion was built on the orders of King Gojon on an artificial island in the lake and was connected to the palace platform by a bridge.
Geoncheonggung Palace was once the royal residence of the Emperor Gojon and his wife and is located in the Gyeongbokgun complex.
Located to the south of the palace - the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, Gwanghwammun gate. Consisting of 3 arched gates, called Hunimun, the middle gate is reserved for the king and the other 2 gates for their officials.
The secondary gate, which is visible after Gwanghwamun, is Hunnnemün, the second largest gate of Gyeongbokgun.
The change of royal guards and patrol rituals is repeated every day from 10:00 to 15:00 in front of the Hunnemün gate. Guardsmen perform several ceremonies, including the opening and closing of the gates of the royal palace and the changing of the guard. Following the reformation, there is a patrol ritual in front of Hunyomyun.
Gwangwamun Square
The length from Gwanghwamun to Sejonno-Sageori is Gwanghwamun Square. This area was once Ukzho-geori, the center of Hanyang, which was the capital during the Chosun dynasty. Now it is home to major government administrative departments.
Gwanghwamun Square is divided into 6 sections. The focal point of the square is the center and holds the statue of King Sejong the Great, the fourth and most respected king of the Chosun dynasty and the creator of the alphabet of Hangel, Korea. The main inventions of the reign of King Sejong are on display in front of the statue. This includes the Hangel alphabet and scientific instruments such as a sundial, a rain sensor and a celestial globe. The next gallery tells about the “History of King Sejong” and presents various materials and artifacts depicting the life and achievements of King Sejong.
The statue of Admiral Yi Sanshin also stands in the center. The naval commander celebrated his victories over the Japanese navy during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the years 1592-1598, he is a hero among the Koreans. The fountain and Eoksamulgil (“The Waterway of History”) stand near the statue. The fountain of the 12s celebrates the victory of the great victory in 1597, when Admiral Yi defeated 133 Japanese naval ships with only 12 ships and won 23 fights without a single loss. Eoxamulgil, flowing on both sides of the square, tells the story of Korea from 1392 to 2006 on the east side. The other side is left blank for future events in memory.
Han River (hangang)
Hangang is a place for rest and relaxation, whether it is day or night. Numerous parks are located on the embankments of Hangang, and this is the place for those who are looking for rest, sport and a lesson in history. An oasis of relaxation awaits those who are in the very center of the city in almost every place.
The Hangang cycle track extends almost the entire length of the river and covers a total of 80 km. Popular both for leisure and for the eco-friendly commuter route, the bike route is becoming increasingly important for Seoulites. On the route there are shots with a rental on a cycle, which are controlled by 8 administrative districts of Seoul. With several parks found along the trail, there is always a place to relax.
The ever changing seasonal landscape of the Hangang Cycling Trails is one of its biggest attractions. Watch the sunset as you ride along the river, and watch the night landscape of Seoul appear as it is interrupted by stunning light bridges, bright car lights and twinkling street lights.
Each park near Hangang offers repairs and toilets for its visitors. An asphalt and concrete road surface ensures that cyclists experience a smooth and safe ride, and the metropolitan government of Seoul constantly installs additional objects along the trail to gain a positive experience.
Parks along the Hangang cycle paths offer a variety of facilities, including a water sports center, other sports facilities and shady recreational areas. Each Seonyudo Park offers bicycle rental. Opening hours vary by season, but are usually open from 9 am until sunset. Repair cycles are also available for Korean-made brands.
One of the best ways to enjoy a Hangang is a Hangang cruise. There are 8 different docks available on board, including Yeouido, Jamsil, Yangwha, Ttukseom, Sangam, Seoul Forest, Jamdubong and Seonyudo. Each cruise has its own theme to entertain passengers, including live shows and fine dining with beautiful landscapes. Romantic atmosphere makes the cruise on the Khangan popular with lovers all year round.
World lotte
Lotte World is a large recreation complex, which opened in 1989 in the center of Seoul. It consists of the world's largest theme park, Indoor Adventure, an open-air theme park, Magic Island, a luxury hotel, the Korean Folk Museum, shopping centers, department stores, sports facilities, and a cinema in one place.
Indoor Adventure is the world's largest theme park, which hosts a variety of seasonal festivals and parades throughout the year, including the Masquerade Festival, the Rio Samba Carnival, the Halloween Party and the Christmas Festival. Thematic “Little Village of the World”, “Covered Adventure” includes 22 different attractions, and visitors can access the open theme park, Magic Island, through the junction of the 2nd floor passage and the People’s Museum on the 3rd floor.
The Folklore Museum is located on the 3rd floor of an indoor park. The folklore museum features exhibits about Korean history and culture through animation and small-sized models. Visitors can also enjoy traditional performances in Norimadang, a performance hall, or view kiosks on traditional Ryjaoriori Street.
Magic Island Outdoor Theme Park is an artificial island located in the middle of Seokhon Lake and can be reached from the 2nd floor of Indoor Adventure. In Magic Island with a medieval European style with a magic castle, there are 17 different attractions.
Daily parades are held at 14:30 and 19:00, and this is the star attraction of Lotte World. Different parades are held every season and holiday, and for each topic. Popular parades include Masked Festivals and Passionate Dance Parades.
N Seoul Tower
Built as the first integrated transmission tower in Korea, which broadcast television and radio programs throughout the capital in 1969, N Seoul Tower was opened to the public in 1980 and has since become a very favorite attraction of Seoul. The main attractions of the N Seoul Tower include multi-color digital art projected onto the tower at night, a digital observatory, a roof terrace, the HanCook restaurant, n.Grill restaurant and the Haneul lounge. In the vicinity of the N Seoul tower is Mount Namsan, which increases the popularity of locals and tourists.
N Seoul Tower comes alive at night with an exciting array of light shows from Reeds of Light that 70 lights create dynamic displays, changing with every gust of wind, to Douches of Light where the lights fall on the shower head for 3 minutes for every 100 won. More lights shine from the transmission tower, the observation deck, the main tower and the tower. They constantly change colors and patterns with the season and weather, making the N Seoul Tower a true night spectacle.
In Seoul there are many viewing platforms where visitors can enjoy the view of the night landscape of the city or look at Hangang. But N Seoul Tower distinguishes itself from others thanks to their 360-degree panorama over the city and 32 CD screens telling about the 600-year history of Seoul.
At the top of the N Seoul Tower there is a covered terrace, a spacious wooden observation deck. It is popular with couples for their exotic atmosphere and their “Castles of Love”, where thousands of castles are attached to the fence by romantic Seulites to symbolize their tireless affection.
Guided tours are conducted in English, Japanese and Chinese for groups of up to 20 people with prior arrangement in 3-7 days.
Namsangol Hanok Village
Namsangol Hanok Village is a collection of 5 hanoks, traditional Korean houses, sent from different parts of the city and displaced on the northern leg of Namsan. They were built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Each of the 5 houses reflects the social class of the owners, from the middle class to the yangban, who were mostly high-ranking government officials, nobles, and aristocrats. Visitors can enjoy the hanoks of many important figures from the Joseon era.
Most hanoks are built in rectangular shapes with a courtyard located in the center. Each side of the rectangle was a different area of the house, with the main areas of the hanok, including locusts for welcoming guests, anchae, where the lady of the house was rside, and daemunganchae, which is only inside the main gate of the house. Hanok also had special doors to separate areas of the house into separate rooms. These doors allowed rooms, such as the living room and master bedroom, if necessary were combined into one large room.
Namsangol Hanok Village also includes a program for teaching taekwondo for foreigners. They are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 am, 2 pm and 5 pm Foreigners who wish to experience taekwondo and not just watch can participate in their practical exercises by making a reservation.
Seoul city bus
If this is your first visit to Seoul, the best choice would be the Seoul city tour, a convenient bus tour with a race bus that will hit all the main tourist attractions of Seoul. One ticket allows you to visit markets such as Dongdaemun Market, shopping areas such as Myeongdong, palaces of ancient Korea such as Gyeongbokkiun, and major attractions such as Seoul Tower in Seoul. They also offer discounted entry to many of these attractions.
Each bus is equipped with a wide seating area consisting of audio guides. Audio guides are available in several languages, including Korean, Japanese, English and Chinese. They provide detailed information about each route stop.
There are 4 tours available: World Tour, Chongchcheon (stream) / Palace Tour and 2 night tours.
City Tour
This tour takes place on a single-decker bus and stops at all major tourist attractions in the center of Seoul. The tour lasts 2 hours, and the entrance ticket for adults is 10,000 won and 8,000 won for schoolchildren and junior students. The bus runs from 9 am to 9 pm and leaves at 30-minute intervals. The last bus leaves at 19:00
Stop: Gwanghwamun-> Deoksugung (palace) -> Namdaemun Market-> Seoul Station-> USO-> Yongsan Station-> National Museum of Korea-> Yunsan Army Base-> Itaewon-> Crown Hotel-> Myeongdon-> Namsangol Hanok Village - > Grand Ambassador Hotel-> National Theater of Korea-> N Seoul Tower-> Hyatt Hotel-> Shilla Hotel-> Dongdaemun Market-> Daehangno-> Changgyeonggung (Palace) -> Changdeokgun (Palace)> Insadong-> Cheongwadae (Blue House) -> National Folk Museum of Korea -> Gyeongbokgung (Palace) -> Gwanghwamun
Cheonggyecheon / Palace Tour
The double-decker bus tour stops along Cheonggecheon, a beautiful 11-kilometer artificial stream that flows through the center of Seoul, and each of the 5 great palaces built during the Chosun dynasty. The tour lasts 1.5 hours, and adult tickets - 12,000 won and 8,000 won for pupils and younger. The bus tour lasts from 9:00 to 18:00 with an interval of 1 hour. In 2 hours without a tour in March, June, September and November, the tour from 10:00 to 17:00
Stop: Gwangwamun-> Deokssugun (Palace) -> Chungi Plaza-> Museum of Cheongcheon-> Seoul Folk Flea Market-> Daehanno-> Changyungun (Palace) -> Chandokkung (Palace) -> Insadong-> Seoul Historical Museum-> Agricultural Korea -> Gwanghwamun
Night Tour 1
Night Tour 1 is a one-story and two-story bus tour and is ideal for those who love the romantic night views of the city. From these night tours you have a beautiful view of Hangang. The tour lasts 1.5 hours and is 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for schoolchildren and younger ones. The bus runs only once at 20:00.
Remains: Gwanghwamun-> Deoksugung (palace) -> National Assembly-> Seogangdaegyo (bridge) -> Seongsudaegyo (bridge) -> Hannamdaegyo (bridge) -> N Seoul -> Cheonggye Plaza-> Gwanghwamun
Night Tour 2
Night tour 2 - double-decker bus tour. This tour also lasts 1.5 hours and is 10,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for schoolchildren and younger ones. This bus tour runs once at 20:00
> Seongsanghegyo (bridge) -> Seongangwegyo (bridge) -> Seokangdaegyo (bridge) -> Hynamdaegyo (bridge) - >> Olympic-daegyo (bridge) -> Hannamdaegyo (bridge) -> Namsa Public Library-> Namdaemun Market-> Cheonggye Plaza-> Gwanghwamun
Buses for bus trips leave from the Gwanghwamun bus stop, located opposite the Donghwa Duty Free Shop, but passengers can take buses to any of the bus stops on the route. Seoul City Tour bus tickets can be purchased at the Gwanghwamun ticket office or by bus driver.
