With its peaceful and laid-back atmosphere, the central neighbourhood of Insadong offers a captivating blend of art, culture and traditional Korean teahouses.
Throughout the 500-year-long Joseon Dynasty, Insadong was where Korea’s artists came to study. The creative atmosphere remains today, and the main street Insadong-gil is now lined with independent shops selling unique handmade goods and is home to the oldest bookshop in Seoul. This very main street started life as a stream that divided two towns, whose respective names ended in “In” and “Sa”. When the two towns joined, “dong” (meaning neighbourhood) was added to the mix, and Insadong was born.
This is the spot to find many of Korea’s traditional arts and crafts, including the classic hanbok clothing and beautiful handmade writing paper, called hanji. One of the best things about the area is that there is something to suit all budgets. From cheap souvenirs to beautiful ceramic items with enormous price tags, Insadong is a great place to find that perfect gift or memento of your trip.
In keeping with its rich artistic heritage, Insadong is overflowing with art galleries. Head to the contemporary Hakgojae Gallery for work by Korean artists past and present, while the Gana Art Gallery boasts one of the largest floor spaces in the country. In all, there are around 100 art galleries in the Insadong area, so it’s worth planning which galleries you would like to visit beforehand.
The neighbourhood is known for its many traditional Korean teahouses. Your best bet is to explore on foot and simply lose yourself among the narrow streets that lead off from the main thoroughfare Insadong-gil. The teahouses serve up countless different blends of the leaf, along with some inventive dishes like green tea tiramisu.
Insadong is also a wonderful place to experience traditional Korean architecture, with some buildings and churches dating as far back as the 14th Century.
Most shops and galleries are open every day from mid-morning to early evening. A great time to visit Insadong is during the weekend when vehicles are restricted from Insadong-gil and stalls are set up along the street. You can reach Insadong by subway – get off at Anguk station.
