Why You Have To Visit Ikseon-dong When You’re In Seoul, Korea

Ikseon-dong, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a place that we recommend you to visit when you come to Korea. It’s a great place to walk around and experience Seoul.

Jongno-gu is a district located on the upper side of the Han River and has a great blend of old and new.

The place you have to visit in Jongno-gu is Ikseon-dong. 

It’s full of alleys with various restaurants, cafes, and shops. You can feel the bright city vibe just by walking down the alleys.

Why You Should Go to Ikseon-dong

• To experience the ‘old and new’ vibe of Seoul

• To walk around the alleys wearing Hanbok
• To visit unique restaurants and cafes
• To visit various small shops to look around
• To be in the center of the city

+ so many more reasons!

History of Jongno-gu, Seoul

1980 ~ 1990

In the 1980s or so, Jongno was the Mecca of Seoul. It was a place where many young people used to meet and hang out.

2000 ~ 2010

But, in the early 2000s, there weren’t as many young people as there used to be. 

One of the reasons was because other parts of Seoul, such as Gangnam, Itaewon, and Hongdae, were developed more.

2010 ~ present

In the early 2010s, Seoul’s urban regeneration project in Ikseon-dong was carried out. As a result, the younger generation came back to the town.

 Ikseon-dong used to have a lot of old, abandoned hanoks (Korean traditional houses). Instead of demolishing them all, they created today’s “Newtro” vibe through repair and interior design.