5 Landmarks Worth Visiting Near Seoul Station

Introducing Five Landmarks Near Seoul Station That Are Worth Visiting, Each With Significant Architectural Value

1. SEOUL SQUARE

Seoul Square is an office building located in Namdaemun-ro 5-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, currently owned by NH Investment & Securities. Formerly known as Daewoo Building when it served as the headquarters of the Daewoo Group, it was renamed in 2009 following the group’s dissolution and subsequent remodeling. Situated across from Seoul Station’s bus transfer center and Hangang-daero, with the Namdaemun Police Station on its right, this building was the largest office building in Korea at the time of its completion. Its red square shape, measuring 100 meters in both width and length, is said to be difficult to replicate under current building regulations. It is also known as the building that consumes the most electricity in Korea, as it is the first to turn on its lights and the last to turn them off.

2. DOKING SEOUL

Doking Seoul is a public art platform revitalized from the former vehicle passageway connected to the rooftop parking lot of the old Seoul Station. This new art landmark was created as part of Seoul’s efforts to revitalize the Seoul Station area, linking Malli-dong, Seoullo 7017, and the old Seoul Station.

3. Culture Station Seoul 284

The old Seoul Station reopened as ‘Culture Station Seoul 284,’ a complex cultural space, after more than three years of restoration funded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and six months of preparation. Originally used as Gyeongseong Station in 1925, the station was left unused after the introduction of the KTX and the construction of the new Seoul Station in 2004. The Ministry of Culture restored the building to its original state, transforming it into a cultural hub and a platform for the Korean Wave.

4. Seosomun Shrine History Museum

Seosomun Historical Park, which served as an execution site for national criminals during the mid-Joseon Dynasty for over 400 years, is a place steeped in history. Particularly notorious as a site where many Catholics were executed during the Sinyu Persecution in 1801 (Catholic Persecution of 1801) to the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, it holds special significance as a pilgrimage site for Korean Catholics. Designated as a neighborhood park in 1973, its accessibility was hindered by the Gyeongui Line railway and the Seosomun Overpass, transforming it into an underutilized space. Below the park, facilities such as Jung-gu’s recycling center and public parking further highlighted its limitations as a place for citizen relaxation.

The Seosomun Shrine History Museum, opened on June 1, 2019, derives its name from its association with Catholicism and the Seosomun area. Originally intended as a garage for Seoul Jung-gu Office’s cleaning vehicles, it was transformed into its current form as part of the ‘Seosomun Shrine Historical Site Tourism Resource Development Project’ by collaboration between the Seoul Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Jung-gu District Office, aiming to repurpose the site into a meaningful cultural landmark.

5. Son Gi-jeong Culture Library

The Son Gi-jeong Culture Library reopened in 2021 after 22 years, following eight months of remodeling. Located where the old Son Gi-jeong Small Library once stood, it is now three times larger (771 m²) and serves as a complex cultural space where visitors can experience both culture and art. It is situated just up from the Son Gi-jeong Children’s Library and behind the Son Gi-jeong Memorial Hall.

By now, you might be curious about who Son Gi-jeong was. Son Gi-jeong (October 9, 1912 – November 15, 2002) was a Korean long-distance runner and athlete during the Japanese colonial period. He won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1936 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Korean to win an Olympic gold medal. Although he was Korean, he competed under a Japanese name as a member of the Japanese national team due to Korea being under Japanese rule at the time.

After Korea’s liberation, he served as a coach and sports administrator, holding positions such as Vice President of the Korea Sports Council, head coach of the Korean national marathon team, and Vice President of the Korea Association of Athletics Federations. He was also the flag bearer for the Korean team at the 1952 Summer Olympics and the first torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

—

UoH offers a personal assistant program with two types of services. For traveling in Korea, we assist with any type of reservations, rentals, and personal assistance. For shopping, we purchase anything you need and ship it to your home. Feel free to email us at [email protected] for a quote and to find out how to proceed!