Seoul Spotlight: Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun is often seen as the epicenter of cultural and traditional attractions for Korean people. Even today, many teenagers and youth gather to play at or near Dongdaemun, especially during the traditional holiday seasons of Korea like Seollal or Chuseok. For foreign tourists, Dongdaemun would likely have been a place they visited before without knowing it, as they would have driven by on their way to different attractions and places in Seoul. However, with little knowledge about traditional Korean attractions that seemingly are less accessible to foreigners of their deep ties with Korean culture and market, even though Dongdaemun might be a place visitors drive by or even take a glimpse at, finding things to do and things to see at the place might initially be a challenge. However, once unraveled, you will be able to enjoy the full beauty of the place, the heart of Seoul that always crowds with people, warmth, and passion.

Dongdaemun gets its name from the traditional gate named Heunginjimun (흥인지문) (now also known well as Dongdaemun), which was the gate to the Hanyang Palace, or Hanyangdoseong. Built in 1398 during the Choseon dynasty, this gate is preserved to the present day. When you visit Dongdaemun, you may realize that attractions like markets, cafes, and galleries are all nearby and seemingly centered around it. Indeed, the gate is seen as an iconic landmark of the region. As the palace of Hanyang has long been demolished, the gate itself does not serve any purpose and stands alone. Nevertheless, it proudly sits in the center of the town for everyone to see.

Adjacent to Dongdaemun, there are still remnants of the palace walls on a hill. Seoul uses this wall as the track of a park upon a hill named Seonggwak Park, where Korean families and loved ones often visit during warm days to enjoy the breeze. For a foreign visitor, visiting Seonggwak Park and enjoying traditional Korean architecture from Choseon might be a unique experience and definitely should be put on the bucket list of things to do when visiting Dongdaemun during the spring and fall seasons.

If you want to enjoy the traditional atmosphere of South Korea further, Dongdaemun traditional market would be a great choice for you. The market is full of seafood and Korean food restaurants with tens of years of tradition. Even though the market may initially seem intimidating with near to no English written on signboards, many of the stores have workers who can speak English fairly to guide you through what you are eating or drinking. Visiting the market would definitely immerse you to the experience of Korean tourism.

However, as mentioned, Dongdaemun is not just filled with traditional attractions and architecture but is rather a fusion of both modern and traditional places to see. One of the most iconic modern attractions near Dongdaemun is the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, better known as the DDP. Built by Zaha Hadid in 2014, the plaza has a unique geometry and atmosphere contrasting with other adjacent buildings, characterized by seamless bends and curving forms symbolizing the fusion of modern and traditional Korean elements. This plaza is often used as an exhibition hall for projects. For example, a couple of years ago, the plaza was used as the hall to showcase the famous Neom City project including The Line. With the right timing, visiting DDP could present you with enchanting exhibitions to enjoy.

Dongdaemun always flows with things to do that both foreigners and Koreans could enjoy. Especially being at the heart of Seoul city, being a foreigner will most definitely not exclude you from most, if not any of the attractions that the town has to offer. Don’t be hesitant to take more than a glimpse and take time enjoying the place and the Korean atmosphere during your next visit to Seoul!

Work cited

Park, Sangjun. “[ER현장] 서울 상륙한 '네옴 로드쇼' 직접 가보니… ." Economic Review Korea, 2023, https://www.econovill.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=619787

(n.a.) “낙산성곽, 600년 서울의 역사와 이야기.” 서울도보해설관광, 2019, https://korean.visitseoul.net/walking-tour/%EB%82%99%EC%82%B0%EC%84%B1%EA%B3%BD/KON000645