Insa-dong

Insa-dong (인사동길), located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious and traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, traditional teahouses, and cafes. The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area and you can see every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. At first they might be hard to find, but if you take the time to stroll around the twisting alleyways, the window shopping in itself can be very entertaining. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Address: 39-1, Insa-dong Street, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Transport: Subway line 3, Anguk Station; Subway line 1, Jonggak Station, exit 3; Subway line 5, Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station, exit 1; Or Bus, Jogyesa Temple Station.