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Insa-dong is a must-visit place for tourists in Seoul with streets filled with unique artworks and crafts.
By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alfonso Delgado from the Philippines
Photos = Alfonso Delgado
Insa-dong is one of the most popular spots in Seoul. Just like other famous attractions such as Hongdae, Gangnam, Myeong-dong and N Seoul Tower, Insa-dong is also a popular hashtag mention, and I don’t wonder why.
When I first walked around Insa-dong more than a decade ago, it felt like a throwback to an old Seoul with its cobblestone walks and traditional artisan shops. Though this place is slowly getting more modern with galleries and cosmetic stores, Insa-dong back then was a place for artists and artisans given its proximity to Gyeongbukgung Palace.
Insa-dong is a must-visit place when in Seoul not just because of the traditional Korean artisans and handicrafts and galleries there, but also chic cafés and restaurants. The main street has enterprising vendors selling Korean sweets, magicians displaying tricks and food carts like the one selling my favorite crêpe made of strawberry, banana and Nutella.
The following are my fun memories of Insa-dong accumulated over the years and straight from my photo albums.
A Jongno weekend
Insa-dong’s location is perfect for tourists with limited time in Seoul. Being in the Jongno district, which has a lot of tourist spots, one can just walk around neighboring attractions like the palaces of Gyeongbukgung and Changdeokgung, Tong-in Market, Bukchon Village, Samcheong-dong and Jogyesa Temple.
As a member of the program Global Seoul Mate, I spent a weekend posing as a tourist in Seoul as a paid challenge. The city government paid my expenses that weekend, including my Airbnb accommodation just next to Insa-dong. Not only was it convenient and easy, it was also fun. I got paid to visit a lot of places around the area and savor Korean dishes and snacks like a tourist.
Insa-dong’s mandu (dumpling) restaurant
One place in Insa-dong has me going back every now and then: Gung Mandu, Seoul's best dumpling restaurant. Over the years, I've brought friends here for lunch or dinner. The elderly owner’s delicious mandu recipe has people coming back over the years.
Because Insa-dong is just five minutes from Jongno's beer alleys, my friends and I simply walked toward Cheonggyecheon Stream and continued the night with beer, chips and stories.
Insa-dong also has restaurants serving Western cuisine but tourists should try popular Korean dishes like my favorite, mandu.
Art galleries
Showcasing Korean painters and artists, Insa-dong has galleries as well as stores with materials for painting and other handicrafts.
My friends held a painting exhibition at Kyung-in Museum in Insa-dong. Coincidentally, this gallery is located across Gung Mandu, where we had lunch to celebrate their exhibition.
Insa-dong is paradise for art gallery lovers.
Sightseeing in Insa-dong
When I brought my mom and sister around Seoul, I made sure they got to see Insa-dong’s galleries, artisan shops and cafés by walking its cobblestone main alley.
Ssamziegil, right in the middle of Insa-dong, is the most popular place to visit. This square is a street because the gil part of its name is Korean for "street." The building’s design enables one to reach higher floors without taking the stairs.
My niece came to Korea for work and I just had to introduce her to Insa-dong just as I did my family and friends. She got to know the area by strolling around its corners and alleys after eating lunch at the Sunday Philippine market in Hyehwa-dong, which is also in Jongno district.
Fresh from eating a heavy lunch of Philippine dishes, we had to walk off the calories gained that day. Climbing all the way up to the rooftop of Ssamziegil certainly helped.
Since we didn’t have our dessert yet, I brought my niece to my favorite crêpe stall at the end of Insa-dong.
The vendor prepared my favorite crêpe made of strawberry, banana and Nutella right in front of my niece, who then paid KRW 3,000 into a small box on the table. For sanitary reasons, the vendor doesn’t touch the cash; he simply lets customers put the money into the box and get change, if any, from it.
Since she now knows the interesting shops, cafés and galleries of Insa-dong, my niece can also bring her family and friends to this place as well.
Street food including crêpe is a major draw of Insa-dong.
wisdom117@korea.kr
* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.
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