Seongbuk-dong성북동

About this place

Tucked just north of the Seoul Fortress Wall, Seongbuk-dong is a neighborhood where the legacy of Joseon-era literati and early 20th-century independence activists lingers in every alley. Highlights include Sooyeon Sanbang, the hanok residence of novelist Yi Tae-jun now operating as a traditional tea house, Gilsangsa Temple, a Buddhist temple converted from the Daewongak banquet hall, and the Kansong Art Museum, Korea's first private art museum. The Korea Furniture Museum, housed in ten restored hanok buildings, displays over 2,000 pieces of traditional wood furniture, and the winding hillside lanes keep the look of old Seoul.

Good to know

Address

Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Hours

Varies by shop

Open neighborhood with no set hours. Individual sites have their own schedules: Gilsangsa Temple (opens 06:30, closes 19:00 in winter / 20:00 in summer), Kansong Art Museum (open only during 1-2 announced special-exhibition periods per year, reservation required via its website), Korea Furniture Museum (guided-tour-only, reservation required).

Sources

Confirmed 2 October 2026

Find more photos

Photo spots nearby

• Gilsangsa Temple11 min by transit
• Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun)17 min by transit
• Changgyeonggung Palace20 min by transit