Ikseon-dong, South Korea

Next to Insadong! Seoul's oldest hanok village, lined with unique shops.
Ikseon-dong, adjacent to the popular tourist destination Insadong, is Seoul's oldest hanok village, established around 1920 and packed with approximately 100 traditional Korean houses. The main street is lined with unique shops, restaurants, and guesthouses renovated from century-old hanok houses, allowing you to experience Korean culture while shopping and enjoying Korean cuisine. While weekday lunches are relatively quiet, there are waits at all restaurants for dinner, both on weekdays and weekends, so be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit. Take a short trip from Insadong to Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, a retro spot where the past and present coexist. Getting there is easy: take the subway Line 5 from Jongno 3-ga Station.

Originally, this area was made up of a cluster of traditional Korean houses built around 1920 in the narrow alleys of Ikseon-dong. Since around 2014-2015, restaurants, cafes, and shops have been renovated from old hanok (traditional Korean houses) into modern styles, and the area has rapidly grown into a popular destination attracting many visitors from both Korea and abroad.

In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from Korean to Japanese, Western, and ethnic cuisine, there are also many cafes and bars. While the area is relatively quiet during weekday lunchtimes, there are often waiting lines at most establishments on weekday evenings and weekends. Some popular establishments even have queues that form during lunchtime. It's best to plan your visit with plenty of time to spare.

Post by ss820126 | Oct 31, 2025