Full Day- Highlight Seoul City Tour

Gyeongbokgung palace is the first palace built in 1395 out of five palaces in Seoul in Joseon dynasty. This palace was built byfenhshui which is a traditional geological theory, The name of Gyeongbokgung palace means new dynasty would have big blessing and prospered forever. This palace was burnt down completely by Japanese invasion in end of 16C, and it was restored almost end of Joseon dynasty. There was some removal of some buildings and damage in Japanese colonial era. But, full-scale and complete restoration has been done for 20 years since 1991, so the palace could have current buildings and form.

Geunjeongjeon Hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilionare are national treasures in the palace, Geunjeongjeon Hall is the main building of the palace, most of major event like king’s inauguration ceremony and reception of ambassadors from foreign countries were held at this building. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion was used for the purpose of banquet and entertainment. There is an artificial pond besides of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. Gyeongbokgung palace usually open to public in daytime, but especially the palace open to public in the night in spring and fall, and you can enjoy a beautiful night tour then. While tour of Gyeongbokgung palace, we will watch the Changing ceremony of Royal guards.

You will see how the Korean lived from the birth to grave at this museum.The National Folk Museum of Korea is a museum that represents daily life and culture of Korea and is visited by more than two million people every year, and provide educational and cultural opportunities to better understand and experience the traditional Korean lifestyle.

Bukchon(buk means north, chon means village) is a traditional residential village forming with Korea’s traditional house, Hanok(Tiled roof house). As you see, because of rapid industrialization of Korea, most Korean live in apartment and modified western style house, so it is very hard to see the traditional Korean Hanok village nowadays. This Bukchon Hanok village is one of traditional villages maintaining traditional Hanok style. Because this Bukchon was near the palace, and located at a good place according to fengshui, a theory of divination based on topography, this was a good residential area for royal family and high officials for 500 years of Joseon dynasty. Nowadays, Bukchon is one of famous tourist attraction in Seoul. Tourist can enjoy and feel the history of Bukchon , various cultural experience like tea ceremony, calligraphy, handcrafts and etc. at Bukchon.

Jogyesa Temple is located in central Seoul and it is one of Korea's major Buddhist temples, also serves as headquarters for the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest sect of Korea Buddhism. The temple's main hall is called Daeungjeon Hall and the famous statue of the seated Buddha is enshrined here (the statue is Tangible Cultural Heritage of Seoul No. 126). Baeksong, a white pine tree that is more than 500 years old stands next to Daeungjeon. Located in the heart of Seoul, huge numbers of tourists visit the temple to experience Buddhist culture.

Insadong is a traditional cultural place where you can see old Seoul. Originally, the government office in charge of paintings on king and royal family in Joseon Dynasty was located at Insadong. The streets of Insadong are lined with craft workshops, antique shops, galleries, and restaurants, traditional hanok style’s teahouse. Seoul city designated Insadong as street of traditional culture in 1988, and the first cultural place in 2002, This area is car free zone every weekend, so you can enjoy walking with shopping, cultural experience like making some handcrafts. And you can enjoy various events like musical performance. Samjigil is one of the place which you can feel Korea’s traditional handcrafts.

Cheonggyecheon is a 11 km-long waterway flowing from south of Kwanghwamun Square to Dongdaemun. This waterway was natural stream until Joseon dynasty. After Korean war, many refugees made their houses at the surroundings of Cheonggyecheon and lived there, so Cheonggyecheon was a typical slum and very dirty area with bad smells there. So, later 1950, Cheonggyecheon was covered with cement structurers and automobile overpass was built over there, and many modern buildings were built at surrounding area, so this place became a successful symbol of Korea industrialization. But, after 40 years passed, the structures and overpass became obsolete and dangerous, and so city government decided to restore the place as eco-stream. After two years and three months’restoration construction from 2003 to 2005, this was changed to eco-waterway. Total length of restoration is 5.8km, there are 22 bridges, and 50,000 visitors a day. Cheonggyecheon became a major tour attraction place for foreigners nowadays, and we can enjoy walk and meet many events and performances there. It takes about 3 hours to in browsing Cheonggyecheon.

Baek In-je House is a museum and cultural heritage site located in Bukchon Hanok Village. The house is a well-preserved as hanok(Hanok means traditional Korean house). The hanok was built on an elevated plot of land and there are incredible views of Bukchon Hanok Village from the house. There is also a spacious garden. The hanok is one of the few largest remaining hanok in the city, and because of its unique history and beauty, the hanok was designated a Citizens' Cultural Heritage site and converted into a museum. Closed on every Monday.

Kwangjang market is Korea’s first commercial market. This market opened in 1905. Originally, Namdaemun market was the biggest traditional market until early 1900s, but Japanese occupied Namdaemun market by Japanese’s invasion to Korea, so Korean merchants opened Kwangjang market for Koreans in 1905 to compete Japanese Namdaemun market. In the early of this market, major products were agricultural products, but nowadays, there are many kinds of products including fashion items, especially Kwangjang market has become famous as eating place to taste various street foods, so this market is very popular and attractive to many foreigners. The typical street foods are Kimbap, Soondae, Nokduejeon(Korean pancake made with mung beans), Yukwhe(beef sashimi)and etc.