Seochon Village in Seoul: Things to Do, Food & Cafes

Last updated: October 20, 2026

Seochon Village (서촌마을) is a charming neighborhood west of Gyeongbokgung Palace, loved for its historic hanok houses, tucked-away cafés, independent boutiques, and local eateries. While many visitors head to the more famous Bukchon Hanok Village, Seochon offers a more laid-back way to experience everyday life in Seoul, with a mix of traditional streets and creative spaces. From browsing Tongin Market to exploring hidden alleyways, here’s everything you need to know before visiting Seochon Village.

Seochon Village at a Glance

• Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul, west of Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Nearest subway station: Gyeongbokgung Station, Seoul Subway Line 3
• Recommended visit: Around 2–3 hours for a neighborhood walk; allow half a day if you include museums, a leisurely meal, or nearby attractions
• Best things to do: Explore hanok alleyways, visit Tongin Market, browse art spaces, and discover local cafés and restaurants

How to Get to Seochon Village

• Subway: Take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 2. Directions: Upon exiting, walk straight along the main road, Jahamun-ro. Most of Seochon’s attractions — including Tongin Market, hanok alleyways, and charming cafes — are located to the left side of Jahamun-ro. Keep an eye out for small alleys and signposts leading into the heart of Seochon.
• Bus 701: If traveling from Seoul Station or another part of the city, check the current route and stop locations to see whether it offers a convenient connection to Seochon.
• Getting around Seochon: The neighborhood is best explored on foot. Its small alleys, independent shops, cafés, and historic buildings are spread across several streets, so wear comfortable shoes and leave time to wander.

History of Seochon Village

Seochon Village is in Seoul’s oldest neighborhood, Jongno-gu. The village is the perfect place to witness traditional and modern Korea with the oldest bookstore in Seoul, the close proximity to the Blue House, and the hanok restaurants.

There are smaller 15 neighborhoods within the Seochon area. Including Cebu-dong, Ogin-dong, Tongin-dong, Sajik-dong, Hyoja-dong, and Pirun-dong, which are all located between the western gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the foot of Mt. Inwangsan.

In Seochon, the traditional Korean houses in the small tunnels have remained untouched for more than 500 years. These small streets are a treasure trove of cafes, galleries, shops, and eateries. A stroll through Seochon Village’s old, tucked-away alleyways is an excellent opportunity to experience the village’s history and present it simultaneously.

Best Things to Do in Seochon Village

Gyeongbokgung Palace

While going to Seochon, don’t miss a trip to the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace. Joseon Dynasty’s first and most crucial palace is popular for its exquisite architecture. Built in 1395, the palace includes two significant national museums on its property. Two museums that are free to visit are the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Art Museum. Make sure to see the 10 AM or 2 PM changing of the guard’s ritual when visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace. Find more details in our ultimate guide on Gyeongbokgung.

• Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161
• Open hours: 09:00-17:00 | Closed on Tuesdays
• Phone: +82 2-3700-3900

Find and compare activities in Gyeongbokgung Palace

National Palace Museum

One of Seoul’s most popular tourist attractions is the National Palace Museum, located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum has more than 20,000 royal antiques from the five palaces, and the signage is both in English and Korean. Each of the ten chambers of the palace is a distinct facet of royal life.

Daeo Bookstore

Daeo was established in 1951 and is Seoul’s first and oldest bookshop. Since the bookshop opened, the traditional interior and exterior have remained unchanged, and Seoul named it municipal heritage in 2014. In addition, a small café has recently been built in the bookshop to offset the costs of maintaining and restoring the building.

• Address: 55 Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Operating hours: 12:00-21:00

Boan Yeogwan

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Many artists in Seoul lived in this 80-year-old building throughout the 20th century. Likewise, many aspiring poets and authors stayed in Boan Yeongwan. The front of the building remained unchanged when the room was converted into a gallery in 2007. The Boan 1942 building presently houses an exhibition space, a café, a book shop, and a few rooms with a view of the castle.

• Address: 33 , Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Open hours: [Boanstay] Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 11:00 | [Boan1942] Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-18:00 | [BOANBOOKS] Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-19:00 * Closed Mondays

Cheongwadae Sarangchae

An exhibition pavilion devoted to Korean history and culture is positioned right before Korea’s presidential palace. Both Korean and English are used on the signage. In addition, the Cheongwadae hall has a permanent display of the history of Korean presidents, while the first floor of the museum features rotating exhibits.

• Website: https://cwdsarangchae.kr/en/main/index.kto
• Open hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays
• Admission: Free

Shop and do a food tour at the Tongin Market

In the Tongin Market (Jahamun-to 13-Gil), buy fresh fruits, seafood, street food, and snacks at reasonable prices. The market is great for all ages and is close to popular Seoul attractions.

On the 2nd floor of Tongin Market, there is a Yeopjeon Dosirak restaurant where you can enjoy various Korean food in a lunch box using Yeopjeon (old money in Korea). It is a system where you use cash to buy yeopjeon and buy the food you want from the market.

• Address; 18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 자하문로15길 18 (통인동)

• Open hours: 7:00 – 21:00 | Dosirak Lunch Box 11:00 – 16:00 | Closed on Mondays and the third Sunday of the month.

Join a food tour at Tomgin Market!

See the King Sejong Stone Plaque

King Sejong was the 4th monarch of the Joseon dynasty and the inventor of the Korean alphabet. King Sejong’s Birthplace Stone Plaque (on Jahamun-or directly after Jahamun-ro 9-Gil) is along the road. The green 10,000 Korean won banknotes feature a portrait of King Sejong. The stone is 391 m. out of Gyeongbukgung station exit 2.

Sejong Village Food Street

Find many delicious foods on the Sejong Village Food Street (Jahamun-ro 1-Gil). The restaurants are right next to each other giving a traditional market feeling. There are various types of Korean food from grilled meat to cow intestine to fruit stalls.

What To Eat in Seochon Village?

Taste Samgyetang at Tosokchon Samgyetang

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We recommend going to Tosokchon Samgyetang. This is the best ginseng chicken soup in Seoul, Tosokchon Samgyetang (Jahamun-ro 5-Gil). One of the neighborhood’s most excellent and most genuine eateries is located here. In this massive hook, you’ll find one of Seoul’s greatest samgyetang. Served with an assortment of side dishes and a shot of ginseng liquor, this is a particular kind of chicken-ginseng soup.

• location: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno District, Seoul

Seochon Gyedan-jip Seafood Restaurant

Seochon Gyedan-jip is a restaurant where you can taste a variety of fresh seafood. You can taste fresh seafood delivered on the same day, such as prawns, mussels, octopus, and clams. It is a place frequented by Seoul residents when they want to taste seafood dishes with friends, so there are people waiting in line on the weekends.

The two shops facing each other are both Seochon Gyedan-jip, and they are open from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Seafood ramen at the end of the meal is the specialty of this restaurant.
Location: 15 Jahamun-ro 1-gil Jongno-gu, Seoul

Chebudong Janchi-jip

Chebudong Jan Chi-jip is a restaurant where you can taste various traditional Korean food such as makgeolli, kalguksu, mandu-guk (dumpling soup), bibim (spicy) noodles, and various kinds of jeon. As famous as it is, there are many old regulars, and the walls are full of autographs of celebrities. There are many types of makgeolli, so tasting one by one is another joy to visit the restaurant.
Location: 16 Jahamun-ro 1-gil Jongno-gu, Seoul

Jjumeog

If you want to try spicy Korean cuisine, I recommend Seochon Jjumeog. The main menus are Jjukkumi Cheolpan (stir-fried jjukkumi) and Jjukkumi Bokkeum. Jjukkumi Bokkeum is a dish in which red-fried jjukkumi is served on a plate and mixed with rice along with bean sprouts and greens. If you want to add tteok (rice cakes), cheese, or ramyeon, you should order the Jjukkumi Cheolpan. They will serve an iron plate and jjukkumi so you can cook by yourself. It can be spicy, so I recommend ordering an additional steamed egg.

• Location: 20 Jahamun-ro 1-gil, Jongno District, Seoul (approx. 3-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 2, inside the Sejong Village Food and Culture Street)

Tori Bakery

Seochon Tori is a small bakery famous for its fermented makgeolli bread. If you visit there, you can see the owner making the bread from one side. Besides fermented bread, white roll cake is also popular with people.

• Address: 30-3 Ogin-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Taste the Egg Tarts at Tongin Sweet

Is there anybody who doesn’t like egg tarts? Tongin Sweet is a one-stop shop for egg tarts and other sweet treats. Small seating areas are available both inside and out. Several programs have highlighted the café.

• Location: Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 50

Suggested Seochon Village Walking Itinerary

If you have around half a day, use this route as a starting point and adjust it to match the places you want to visit.

1. Start at Gyeongbokgung Station: Walk into Seochon’s historic streets.
2. Explore the hanok alleyways: Take your time browsing the neighborhood’s older buildings and independent shops.
3. Visit Tongin Market: Try Korean snacks or plan a lunchbox meal, depending on the current operating schedule.
4. Stop at Daeo Bookstore or Boan1942: Choose one based on your interests and the venue’s opening hours.
5. Finish with a meal or café break: Head toward Sejong Village Food Street or choose a nearby independent café.

Allow extra time if you plan to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace or a museum, as these are separate stops with their own opening schedules.

Seochon Village vs. Bukchon Hanok Village: Which to visit?

Seochon and Bukchon Hanok Village are both historic neighborhoods in central Seoul, but they offer somewhat different experiences. If you have time, visit both neighborhoods to experience different sides of historic Seoul.

Feature	Seochon Village	Bukchon Hanok Village
Location	West of Gyeongbokgung Palace	Between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces
Atmosphere	Local neighborhood, independent shops, galleries, and eateries	Famous hanok streets and traditional architecture
Main experiences	Food, cafés, creative spaces, and alleyway walks	Traditional architecture and scenic lanes
Best for	Travelers who enjoy food, art, and slower neighborhood exploration	Travelers focused on hanok scenery and traditional streets

join an interesting tour in Bukchon Village!

Where To Stay Near Seochon?

There are plenty of places to stay near Seochon and at such great prices. Here are some affordable and traditional yet modern places you can stay during your time in Seochon.

Hanok 24 Guesthouse

Conveniently located right in the middle of Seochon, Hanok 24 Guesthouse, is one of Seoul’s most popular hanok lodgings. The hanok features traditional-style bedrooms with contemporary bathrooms and kitchens, making it ideal for individuals who want a traditional experience with the convenience of modern amenities.

• Address: 27-1, Jahamun-ro 5-ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Phone: 02-732-3000
• Website: Hanok 24 Guesthouse

Supia Guesthouse

A contemporary hanok inn, Supia Guesthouse offers an excellent meal in the morning. Daisy, the hostess, is a delight to be around and extends a warm welcome to all her visitors. The interior and decorations are all well thought of to bring you a traditional Korean hanok experience.

• Address: 17-7 Jahamun-ro 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Phone: +82 70-8957-7660
• Website: Supia Guesthouse

Hanok Guesthouse Nuhadang

In Seoul, Hanok Guesthouse Nuhadang ranks as one of the city’s best. A typical Korean breakfast is served each morning in the hanok by the inn’s proprietors.

• Address: 49-7, Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Gwanghwamun, Seoul, South Korea, 110-805 
• Phone: +82 2-3391-0010
• Website: Hanok Guesthouse Nuhadang

Wrapping Up!

In Seochon, the Joseon Dynasty painters Gyeomjae Jeongseon and Chusa Junghee Kim resided. The city of Seochon was also home to several notable authors and artists, including Noh Cheon-myeong and Yun Dongju. Wander through Seochon’s ancient alleyways to see the relics left by the Joseon Dynasty, the Japanese colonial era, and modern-day artists who formerly called Seochon home. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your belongings, and off you go to Seochon Village!

Frequently Asked Questions About Seochon Village

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