14 Best Sights in Jamsil and Eastern Seoul, Seoul

Dominating the Jamsil skyline, Lotte World Tower represents modern Seoul perhaps more than any other building in the city. This impressive skyscraper tops out at 555 meters (1,820 feet) and is not just the highest structure in Korea, but also currently the 5th tallest building on the planet. Its design was inspired by Korean ceramics and writing brushes, and if you're anywhere in its vicinity, its sure to capture your attention. It's one of those rare high-rises that has managed to inspire awe. The top seven floors make up the Seoul Sky Observatory, which offers easily the best views in the city. In addition to observation platforms, there is a cafe, shop, lounge, and sky bridge linking the two halves of the building.

Established in 2002 by the Hanmi Pharmaceutical's foundation for arts and culture, this museum (which was formerly known as The Museum of Photography Seoul) is dedicated to displaying the work of prominent and up-and-coming Korean photographers, as well hosting international exchanges. It also aims to encourage and inspire those who wish to pursue photography as a career by offering classes and training through its academy. It relocated to a purpose-built building in central Seoul in late 2022.

Situated in Bangi-dong between the Lotte World Tower and Olympic Park, this several-block concourse is home to scores of eateries and watering holes. At lunchtime, office workers line up at the most popular spots, and at night, the place comes alive with Jamsil residents eating and imbibing beer, soju, and more.

This pleasant riverside park is a great place to unwind in the midst of Seoul's hustle and bustle. It's home to a swimming pool, inline skating rink, soccer field, ice rink, volleyball courts, bicycle paths, and more. In the warmer months it's an ideal spot to sit down for a picnic, a favorite pastime of Seoulites. 

Built for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, this sports complex was the location of the opening and closing ceremonies. It houses the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, where you can catch a KBO game, plus football stadiums, golf courses, a hockey rink, Olympic swimming pool, and gyms that can be booked for use. It also hosts concerts from time to time, including past performances from big name acts such as BTS and Paul McCartney. The Olympic Pavilion exhibit displays uniforms, mascots, and souvenirs from the games and has free admission. Take a tour and learn all about that Olympics, including how the Olympic Stadium here is where American sprinter Griffith Joyner won three gold medals, and Carl Lewis won gold in the 100 meter. Check out Hodori Plaza, where a cartoon tiger called Hodol welcomes you and where the Olympic flame was ignited.

Recently relocated from its former site in Gangnam, JYP Entertainment now calls Jamsil home. This renowned company hosts a roster of artists including TWICE, ITZY, Stray Kids, and 2PM, making it a mandatory stop on the itinerary of any K-pop fan hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite idol, or for those who may just be curious about the phenomenon.

Opened in 2018, this relatively new museum is dedicated to introducing new waves of modern art from around the globe. From paintings to immersive installations, LMOA is curated with any eye on quality work that also pushes boundaries, with exhibitions of work by artists such as Shepard Fairey, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and others.

If you're looking to unleash the kid in you, plan a day at Lotte World. Opened in 1989, this complex contains one of the world's largest indoor theme parks, an outdoor amusement park, and oodles of other attractions. Major rides include the Gyro Swing, a Viking ship called "The Conquistador," a giant loop rollercoaster, "Jungle Adventure" water ride, "French Revolution" roller coaster, and the "Aeronauts Balloon Ride" that spans the whole of the park and offers visitors an eagle's eye perspective of the complex. There are also movies, magic performances, parades, a Korean folk museum, restaurants, a duty free shop, and much more. 

This aquarium located in the Lotte World Mall complex is one of Korea's biggest, boasting 55,000 different marine creatures spanning some 650 species. This includes seals, sea lions, penguins, piranhas, sharks, rays, and Beluga whales. The aquarium is kept in immaculate condition, and its underwater tunnels make for perfect viewing of the fascinating, multi-chromatic sea life swimming above and around you.

Built for the 1988 Seoul Summer Games, this expansive park is still home to a handball gymnasium, a gymnastics arena, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and a velodrome. It's most impressive as a destination for strolling, walking, or cycling, however, with acres of paths winding through some beautiful nature. At the entrance you are greeted by the winged World Peace Gate, an impressive structure designed by architect Kim Chung-up to promote international harmony and cooperation. The park is definitely worth an hour or two of your time.

This little park behind Lotte World Tower and Mall is a perfect spot to slow down and enjoy a breath of relatively fresh air. There are actually two lakes (East Seokchon Lake and West Seokchon Lake), both of which are ringed by walking and cycling paths. In spring the park hosts the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, which includes performances by singing and dance groups.

Opened in 2019, this massive bookstore was put together by the Seoul city government in order to help small, independent used book shops by giving them a big, central space to sell their wares. While most of the books are in Korean, it's still worth a visit if you have a love for books and the places selling them. The layout of the bookstore is extremely photogenic as well, so it's a nice place to wander around and snap a few pictures.

While the Jamsil neighborhood is known for ultra-modern high rises and shopping malls, you don't have to look too far (like anywhere in Korea) to stumble over some serious history. The Seokchong-dong Ancient Tombs park is home to burial mounds of leaders from from the Baekje dynasty (18 BCE–AD 660). There were thought to be more than 300 such tombs in the area, but most were destroyed during development in the 1970s. The remaining tombs are estimated to date back to the mid-3rd to late-4th centuries, and were discovered along with thousands artifacts such as pottery, roof tiles, beads, and gold.  

This once mainly residential area behind Seokchon East Lake has been transformed into a neighborhood of cool restaurants and funky cafes, drawing young people from across the city to delve into its photo-worthy deliciousness. While the main strip offers the most choices, make sure to wander into some of the quieter side alleys, where you just may stumble upon some hidden gems. Be prepared to wait for a table at the more popular places on the weekends, as the Songridan-gil can attract crowds.