Jung-gu (literally, "central district") is jam-packed with attractions, hotels, and out-of-towners wheeling their suitcases to Seoul Station to catch a train. Its most famous corners are Myeongdong, known for its shopping district, and Namdaemun, for its gate and traditional market. Each neighborhood is bustling with shops that offer flavors of Korean culture. Nearby, Euljiro and Seoul Station have taken the capital by storm with their reinvention of spaces, creative bistros, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Spend the day shopping, see City Hall nearby, and watch the district transform before your eyes as day turns into night.
Myeongdong has long been known as a tourist destination thanks to its many shops selling trending Korean casual wear and skincare products as well as internationally recognized Western brands. Namdaemun, too, has great souvenirs such as Korea-themed soju glasses, chopsticks, and hanji (traditional Korean paper).
If you’re less interested in shopping, you can head over to Seoul’s City Hall just a few blocks away. Out on the plaza, many visitors pose for a photo at the large “I SEOUL U” sign or attend one of the many events held here. On a quieter day, you can see Seoulites with their noses in books at the library or colleagues enjoying a bit of sun on their lunch breaks. Deoksugung Palace, across from City Hall, is a less obvious but equally elegant choice of Seoul's traditional palaces to see in the area.
Also take time to check out more recent developments in the area, often better reflections of how Seoulites spend their time. You’re likely to fall in love with Euljiro, the neighborhood of old printing presses and lighting shops between Myeongdong and Jongno. The weathering warehouses here light up with neon lights and dim lamps as bars and restaurants in the area begin to open at dusk. In recent years, Seoul’s younger generation have reconstructed the spaces, so much so that Euljiro is better known by the nickname “hip-jiro.” You’ll be delighted by the endless cascade of cool bistros like After Jerk Off and you might end up at Nogari Alley, a street full of bars that sell dried pollack and Korean beer.
Jung-gu is a great place to eat, especially for those who enjoy subtler Korean dishes and old-school vibes. There are dozens of restaurants in the area that date back to the 1970s and 1980s, and while this may not sound like a long time by American or European standards, here, this means the restaurants were created on the backs of the Korean War. Naengmyeon, or cold buckwheat noodles, is a beloved dish often made in Pyongyang-style and many local noodle lovers do consider Euljiro to be the mecca of the dish in Seoul. It may be a bit of an acquired taste, but head over to the restaurant Woolaeok to see what all the fuss is about.
