The districts of Dongdaemun (동대문), Jungnang (중랑), Gwangjin (광진) and Seongdong (성동) are in the east of the city of Seoul.East Seoul, often referred to as the eastern part of the South Korean capital, Seoul, is a vibrant and diverse region with a unique blend of traditional Korean culture and modern urban life. This area of the city is known for its rich historical heritage, stunning architecture, and a wide range of attractions and activities. East Seoul is home to several prominent districts, including Dongdaemun-gu, Gwangjin-gu, and Seongdong-gu, each offering its own distinctive character and experiences. Dongdaemun-gu is renowned for its historic Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Market, a hub for fashion and design enthusiasts. Gwangjin-gu boasts beautiful parks, such as the Ttukseom Resort, which provides a serene escape from the bustling city. Seongdong-gu, on the other hand, offers a glimpse into traditional Korean life with its narrow alleyways, historic homes, and local markets.
Understand
- Hanyang University (한양대학교), Wangsibri-ro 222, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Hanyang University station, metro line no.2.), ☏ +82 2-2220-0114. Hanyang University is one of the famous universities in Korea. Also you can enjoy delicious foods and a lively atmosphere. And the Seoul Forest is near here, so you can visit there so easily. The eastern part of Seoul, especially Dongdaemun-gu, is often thought of as Dongdaemun, but this is actually a lie. Dongdaemun (Heunginjimun) was once located in Dongdaemun-gu, but it is no longer part of Dongdaemun-gu.
That's why we chose to use Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) as the banner photo instead of Heunginmun.
History
East Seoul is one of the important neighborhoods in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and has seen many historical events and changes.
Below is information about some of the key historical events and people in eastern Seoul
- Joseon era: The eastern part of Seoul was a rural area during the Joseon Dynasty, where Hanseong (now Seongbuk-gu, Seoul) was located. Agriculture and ethnic activities were central to the area, and it played an important role during the Joseon Dynasty.
- Modern: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, eastern Seoul was influenced by the urbanization and industrialization of Seoul. Industrial facilities and residential areas formed in the area, and it was an important transportation node east of Seoul.
- Today: Today, eastern Seoul has developed into an educational and residential neighborhood. Various universities, schools, housing, and cultural facilities are located in eastern Seoul, playing an important role in the development of the city.
Climate
'''East Seoul''' experiences a typical climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and dry,
with temperatures in January ranging from -5°C to 2°C. Summers are warm and humid, with July and August being the hottest months with temperatures reaching up to 30°C.
July receives the most precipitation, with 414.4 millimeters of rainfall. Snow is not common in eastern Seoul.
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Get in
By plane
There is no airport, but you can take an airport bus directly from the airport. You'll also need to make a transfer, but it's easy to get to from Hongdae, Gongdeok, and Mapo, so you shouldn't have too much trouble getting to the airport.
By train
Several lines of the city's massive subway and commuter rail systems go to the eastern parts of the city including 1, 2, 5, 7 and the Gyeongui–Jungang and Gyeongchun lines.
- Konguk University station (건대입구역), Achasan-ro 243, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, ☏ +82 2 6110-2121. Konguk University Station is a transfer station between line no.2 and no.7. Also you can go to the Konguk University as well, you can enjoy the beautiful lake (Ilgam-ho.) at there. Public transportation is very good. First of all, Line 2, Line 5, and Line 7 pass through the district, and you can transfer at Gunsan Station (2,7) and Gunja Station (5,7). Gangbyeon Station Bus Transfer Center also serves as a transfer point for Gyeonggi-do residents coming from Guri, Namyangju, Hanam, and Gwangju, so it is very crowded during rush hour. Bus transportation to outlying areas is also very convenient thanks to the presence of Dong Seoul Terminal, and the large number of passengers who use it means that many people travel to and from Gwangjin-gu throughout the day. Seoul Express Bus Terminal is also easily accessible via Line 7.
By car
This is one of the most accessible neighborhoods in Seoul when it comes to transportation, both in terms of accessibility and comfort. There is a good balance of roads, subways, and buses. With the exception of the long-distance rail network, it's pretty much all there.
The road network is one of the best in Seoul. There are many neighborhoods in Seoul that have good access to roads, but they also have a lot of traffic congestion. Gwangjin-gu, however, is one of the few neighborhoods in Seoul that is both easy to get to and easy to get around in, with very little traffic congestion.
By bus
There are lots of buses which go to the east of the city of Seoul, (Dongdaemun, Jungnang, Gwangjin, and Seongdong).
You can easily visit and enjoy these areas.
Also there is a Dongseoul Bus Terminal (gangbyeonyeok-ro 50, Gwangin-gu, Seoul, call 1688-5979), so you can go to the other cities as well. (This is an intercity Bus Terminal, not a downtown Bus Terminal.)
By taxi
From the centre of Seoul to eastern Seoul can cost any where from ₩8,000 to ₩15,000 (2018). Prices late at night can be cheaper as there are fewer cars on the road.
By foot
Gwangjin-gu has the Jungrangcheon and Han River.
If you follow the Jungrangcheon, you can go to Hanam, and if you follow the
There are basketball courts, tennis courts, and sports facilities everywhere.
In addition, Achasan and Yongma Mountain, Achasan Baejusu Park and Children's University Park, where famous soccer player Son Heung-min sometimes plays soccer, are all within a 30-minute walk from Gunja Station.
See
- 🌍 Bonghwasan (Jungnang). A 160-m-high mountain from where there are good views over the city. The mountain together with the surrounding park is popular place for short hikes. Also worth seeing is the Sasingak Shrine at the southern side of the mountain.
- 🌍 Seoul Forest (Seongdong), ☏ +82 02 460 2905. Seoul's own Central Park, at the northern bank of Han. It's composed of five smaller parks, the culture & art park, the natural ecology forest, the natural hands-on experience learning garden, the ecological wetland garden and the Han river waterfront park as well as an outdoor stage and a big playground.
- 🌍 Geonguk University Museum, 93, Hwayang-dong (Gwangjin). A museum with Korean historical artifacts. The main attraction here is the Donggukjeongun, a set of six books from the 15th century describing how Chinese characters should be pronounced. These were the first such teaching books in Korea. Free.
- 🌍 King Sejong Memorial Hall, 56, Hoegi-ro (Dongdaemun). Memorial hall dedicated to the culturally most important king in Korean history.
- Ilgam-ho (일감호), Neungdong-ro 120, Gwangjin-gu (Konguk University Station, Metro line no.2 and no.7.), ☏ +82 2-450-3114. M-F 05:00-08:00, Sa Su 05:00-17:00.. You can enjoy this beautiful lake, Ilgam-ho M-F only 05:00-08:00, because of the students' security. But you can visit here at 05:00-17:00 every weekends.
- Seoul Pungmul Market (서울풍물시장), Cheonho-daero 4 gil 21, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Sinseoldong station, Metro Line no.2). 10:00-19:00. Closed every 2nd, 4th Tuesday. Seoul Pungmul Market is a traditional market which originated from Hwanghakdong market famous for flea market. You can buy and enjoy the traditional and also modern items at here.
- 🌍 Water Museum (수도박물관), 27 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, ☏ +82 2 3146 5921. Tu-Su 09:00-18:00, closed on Monday. There is an exhibition where you can see the growth and development of water supply-related culture and technology. There are also various facilities to experience. Free.
- 🌍 Seoul Imagination Country (서울상상나라), 216, Neung dong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, ☏ +82 2 6450 9500. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, closed on Monday. It is a space where you can experience various experience facilities through children's play. All ₩4000.
- 🌍 Cheonggyecheon Museum (청계천 박물관), 530 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Seongdong-gu, ☏ +82 2 2286 3410. Tu-Su 09:00-18:00, closed on Monday. You can see the history and culture of Cheonggyecheon Stream. You can also see how Cheonggyecheon affected human life through the exhibition. Free.
Do
- 🌍 Children's Grand Park (어린이대공원) (Children's Grand Park Metro station is close by), ☏ +82 2-450-9311. 05:00-22:00. Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu. The park was opened in 1973. The park has a zoo, amusement facilities and restaurants. To get there, simply take the subway to Children's Grand Park on line 7. Avoid the weekends as it can get very crowded.
- 🌍 Ttukseom Hangang Park, Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, ☏ +82 2-3780-0521. 24 hours a day. You can take a walk and have a picnic.
Buy
- 🌍 Dongdaemun. An enormous fashion shopping district with 24 large department store-like buildings such as Doota, Migliore, and APM, each with 2-17 stories of trendy shops and stalls grouped together so customers can shop efficiently and save time. This market is of equal historical significance to Namdaemun market, with the obvious difference being Dongdaemun's modernity. Historically, Dongdaemun was a nightmarket, open from 01:00 to 13:00 the following day; now it opens midday, but still remains active well into the early morning, with many shops finally closing around 08:00. Some stores are open for 24 hours. Come on Friday or Saturday night to see Dongdaemun at its most hectic, with huge crowds of thousands flooding the streets hunting for their next bargain. The energy is almost palpable.
- 🌍 Techno Mart (Gangbyeon), 546-4 Guui 3(sam)-dong, Gwangjin-gu (next to Gangbyeon St). There are two Techno Marts in Seoul: the original at Gangbyeon station, and the new store at Sindorim station. Both complexes house over 2,000 stores across eight floors that sell a variety of high-tech products. From electrical appliances to computers, you will find everything you need. The first floor has cosmetics, accessories, and stationeries. The second and third floors comprise Korean-made electrical goods, while the fourth and fifth floors sell foreign-made electrical appliances. The sixth floor sells cell phones and their accessories. Computers are sold on the seventh, and on the eighth music and DVDs. Aside from all the high-tech gadgetry, there are over a dozen restaurants on the 9th floor, and a cineplex and arcade on the 10th.
- 🌍 Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) (DDP), 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, ☏ 02-2153-0000. 10:00-20:00 everday. Dongdaemun Design Plaza is known as DDP, which is famous for holding various exhibitions and festivals and for holding Seoul Art Week and Seoul Fashion Week every year. Dongdaemun is a region of Seoul called the 'Mecca of Fashion' and is well known for its cool architecture constructure.
Eat
Kundai Taste Street -
Located at 50-9 Hwayang-dong, Kondae Flavor Street is crowded with students from nearby universities, Konkuk University and Sejong University, as well as young people in their late teens and early 20s. It's a younger crowd than Myeongdong and Itaewon.
Seongsu Cafe Street -
Located on Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Seongsu Café Street was created by a group of young people in a converted industrial complex. The street is filled with delicious coffee and sweets, as well as hip fashion shops and restaurants.
- 🌍 Pizza Hill (피자힐) (close to the Walker Hill hotel in Gwangjin-gu), ☏ +82 2-450-4699. An excellent pizzeria. As its name implies, the restaurant has a lovely view of Seoul on top of a hill and prices higher than the hill it sits on. Worth a visit if you hit it big at the nearby casino.
- 🌍 Shinto Buli Tteokbokki (신토불이 떡볶이 본점), 42, Jayang-ro 43-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea, ☏ +82 2-457-2475. 11:00-19:00. Tteokbokki, a Korean dish, is delicious here. It's spicy, so be careful.
- 🌍 Ewha dumplings (이화만두), 278-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea, ☏ +82 2-455-3486. 11:00-19:00(break time: 14:00 ~ 17:00). This is the most famous dumpling restaurant in Gwangjin-gu.
It sells out early almost every day, so it's best to get there when it opens. 6,000. - 🌍 YIYIYO (이이요), 6, Neungdong-ro 32-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea, ☏ +82 2-3437-2225. 12:00-22:00(break: 14:10 ~ 17:00). A restaurant that serves sashimi, sushi, and rice bowls.
There's always a wait, so I recommend getting there early to get on the waiting list and snapping photos at the selfie shop next door. - 🌍 Seobukmyeonok (서북면옥), 80-47 Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea, ☏ +82 2-457-8319. 11:00-19:30(last order at 19:00). It specializes in Pyongyang noodles, a North Korean-style cold noodle.
- Mibundang (미분당 광진점), 12-42 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea, ☏ +82 070-5103-9794. 11:00-21:00 (break: 15:00 ~ 17:00 / last order at 20:30). A place that sells rice noodles. It feels like a mix between Korea and Japan.
Drink
Sleep
- 🌍 Grand Walkerhill Seoul (former Sheraton), 177 Wakerhill-ro, Gwangjin-gu, ☏ +82 2-455-5000, reservations@walkerhill.com. Luxury hotel famous for its casino, swimming pool and seasonal dance parties. Populated with a lively crowd of regular expats.
- 🌍 Vista Walkerhill Seoul (formerly W Seoul), 177 Walkerhill-ro Gwangjin-Gu, ☏ +82 2-455-5000, reservations@walkerhill.com. Trendy boutique hotel in Seoul. Has a good Sunday brunch buffet with two seatings at 11:00 and 13:30. At least ₩140,000/person.
Hospital
The senior general hospital is Konkuk University Hospital (842 beds). Many patients use this hospital because it is attached to the KU enrollment area. Other general hospitals besides Konkuk University Hospital include Hyemin Hospital (219 beds) in front of Jayangsa Street.
In front of Junggok Station, there is a hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare called the National Mental Health Center (200 beds), which was renamed from the former National Seoul Hospital, which specialized in psychiatry.