Seoul - What to Do in Insta-dong Art Street

My Korean teacher insisted that Insa-dong is a must for all first time Seoul travelers.

"There are many arts, antiques and cultural artifacts. You'll love it there."

Insa-dong is has many tea shops, coffee shops and restaurants. It is also one of the largest antique market in Korea. I have summarized 7 unique places worth visiting in Insadong. Let's go!

1. Ssamzigil Mall (인사동쌈지길)

Ssamzigil Mall is a landmark in Insta-dong. It is a cultural hub that houses over 70 stores selling art, stationary and accessories. You'll find graffiti on the walls of the building. There are also food stalls in the mall. Sticky notes in the form of Korean street snacks are worth purchasing.

Information:

Address: 44 Insadong-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (google map)
Hours: 10:30-20:30

2. Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art (경인미술관)

Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art is home to the. oldest traditional tea garden in Seoul. Currently, the tea house offer 15 types of homemade herbal tea.

Information:

Address: 11-4, Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Korean Address: 서울특별시 종로구 인사동10길 11-4 (관훈동)
Hours: 10:30-22:30 (traditional tea house), 10:00-18:00 (gallery)
Closed on Lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Website

3. O'sulloc tea house (오설록)

If you like tea, you may consider stopping by at the O'sulloc tea house. It is famous for its green tea from Jeju Island. O'sulloc provides a cosy environment to enjoy green tea tiramisu, green tea ice cream and green tea latte. The price range from 5500 won to 8500 won.

O'sulloc can also be found in Samcheongdong, Gangnam and Dongdaemun.

Information:

Address: 170, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Hours: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Acces: Exit 6, Anguk Station (Subway Line 3)

Website

4. Tongmungwan (인사동길)

Insa-dong is also home to the oldest bookstore in Seoul. Tongmungwan has old documents on archaeology, history and literature.

Address: 147 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (google map)

5. Jipangyi Ice-cream (J shaped cane stuffed with ice cream)

This is one of the unique ice-creams found in Seoul. It's essentially a long, corn stick filled with vanilla flavored soft ice-cream. You can find this on the streets of Insa-dong in summer.

6. Starbucks with a Korean Sign (스타벅스 인사점)

Have you ever seen a Starbucks that is written only in Korean?

This special outlet is the only Starbucks Coffee outlet worldwide with a sign that is not written in English. That's because English signs are not allowed in Insa-dong.

When Starbucks opened its branch in Insa-dong in 2001, it was opposed by the Insa Traditional Cultural Preservation Association (ITCPA). However, nothing was done by the government to control the street's unique identity. Now there are certain exceptions when you closely examine the signs in Insadong.


Address: 39 Insa-dong, Seoul, South Korea (google map)

7. Antique Shop Alley

Five hundred years ago, Insa-dong was an area of residence for government officials. The area later became a site for trading antiques during the Japanese occupation. In 1930s, shops began selling paper, old books, brushes and paintings here.

Now you can find many Korean products - from traditional porcelain and pottery, sculptures, handcrafted fans, antique books, hanbok, books, stationary to modern art supplies. So much to explore for art lovers!

Tip:

• Photography is prohibited at many shops
• Ask for permission before taking any photos (even the exterior)

Insta-dong Art Street (인사동 고미술거리)

Address: 29, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul-si
Korean Address: 서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 29 (관훈동)
Access: Exit 6, Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3)