Ten Hidden Historical Places in Seoul - Information

We called five major Royal Palaces in Seoul as Deoksugung Palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Chandeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace where most foreign visitors visited or at least knew. But there are ten additional historical places in Seoul which most foreign visitors are not so well known, even sometime Korean. I would like to introduce these ten hidden historical places to all readers as Russia Diplomatic Office Tower, Korea Post Office Center, Gahoi Museum, Mongmyeonsan Bongsudae, Seonnongdan, Jeoldusan Museum, King Sejong Memorial Hall, Seongyungwan, Dongmyeo and Daewongun Byeoldang.

1.   Russia Diplomatic Office Tower Keeping Sad Korean History 

There is a Russia Diplomatic Office Tower keeping sad Korean History which we used to take a walk at Jeondong road side. The King Gojong secretly escaped his palace and moved to Russian Diplomat office right after  Myeonseong Queen, his wife  was assassinated by Japanese assassin  since there was no powerful and reliable solders around him. This office building was one time used for Russian Diplomat Office after Korea Independent but almost destroyed during Korea War and presently remaining bell tower and its basement. There is another first Christian Church in Korea  (Jeongdong Church) which you could meet about middle of the road between Deoksugung Palace and Russia Diplomatic Office Tower and Jeongdong Event Hall well known as Nanta Play. There is no Entrance fee. You could reach there walking to Jeongdong Theater direction through Gate 2 at City Hall Station of Subway Line 1.

2.    Korea Post Office Center Museum Looking Past and Future Post Story

It was first post office in Korea and renovated in 1972 and changed its name as Communication and Postal Memorial Hall. There are many valuables at the Hall like Korea postal card, stamps, passport issued by the King Gojong, Certificate for News Paper Company and so on which are about 300 pieces exhibits. As you look around Postal Park, you could see not only history of Korea postal and communication story but also future communication through internet and telescopic satellite at one spot at there. This building is the oldest one in Korea but palaces which are proved as historical valuables. There are some other nearby Historiucal places like Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung, Chandeokgung where you could easily take walk together. There is no enterance fee. You could reach there about 5 minutes walking after passing Gate 6 at Subway Line 3 where they are opening 9 to 6 o’clock

3.   Gahoi Museum Exhibiting Talisman, Folk Painting and Other Folk related

This museum has been renovated with old traditional house exhibiting human life and spiritual talisman and/or cartoon and others which are 1,500 folk related relics. You still feel this house is like traditional Korea House maintaining principal structure “L” shape, even renovated inner hall. When you enter after shoes off, you would meet guide who is kindly explaining and continue to talisman paint like human shaped or ghost shaped and talisman folding screen. You could take an opportunity to stamp talisman or talisman ghost picture after talisman appreciation. You could reach there walking at direction of Traditional Confectionary Institute after passing Gate 2 at Ahnguk Station in Subway Line 3. Entranced fee is KRW 2,000 and opening hours is from 10 to 6 o’clock.

4.   Mongmyeonsan Bongsudae having some trace of Hanyang Fort Castle

Namsan means south from Palace in Joseon Dynasty which is original name as Mongmyeonsan. There was rebuilt works of Bongsudae at Namsan Mountain referring to Kim Jeongho Records in compliance to Slogan Returning Namsan Original Shape in 1993. The Bongsudae is Beacon Fire Station not only which was a communication system with spreading to 673 location at the country by color of smoke at the Bongsudae Chimney but also which were communicated with any other Bongsudae in the country within 12 hours after transmitting signals. There is Namsan Tower on top which is inclusive of Global Folk Museum at the basement. You could drop there to see various cultures at different countries worldwide. You could reach there  by cable car after getting off at Myeongdong Station in Subway Line 4 and walking to Namsan Cable Car through Gate 3 at Myeongdong Station 12 minutes walking for 792m or taking local 402 at Hilton Hotel Bus Stop at Seoul Station in Subway or Cheungmuro Station Bus Stop at Gate 2 in Subway Line 4. .

5.   Seonnongdan Relating with Seolrongtang Soup

This is the place praying to farming ancestor of Shinnongsie and Hujiksie who developed old inefficient farming to efficient farming and also related with story of Seolrongtang Soup later. Whenever people finished Seonnongdan memorial ceremony, they have always prepared one whole cow and completely boiled it and distributed its soup to everybody participating the ceremony and visitor around. This soup was originated as Seolrongtang nowadays. There is a juniper, another Natural Monument living more than 500 years old which was planted at the time they built Seonnongdan. There are additional memorial praying locations about 10 locations in Joseon Dynasty like Sajikdan, Wongudan and so on. But these praying locations are not so well known to people and not much appreciated nowadays. You could reach there walking about 100m after exiting Gate 1 at Jegi Station in Subway Line 1.

6.   Jeoldusan Museum Possibly Looking Church History

This is the place many Cathodic people were suppression and killed by Joseon dynasty in 1886 as we call Byeongin Sunkyo. The Catholic Church has established the church and memorial hall (Museum) as the 100^th Years Memorial Day. They used 2^nd and 3^rd floor as a museum exhibiting which we could on spot see full process of Korean Church History like related materials to Byeonin Suppression, Shinyu Repression and Byeonoh Oppression at 3rf floor and which we could also see related materials to bishop’s keepsake and history flow of catholic church in Korea. There is Memorial Park in front of the Museum where you could freely take a walk and take a break, You could reach there walking to Hapjeong Market direction for about 15 minutes from Gate 7 at Hapjeong Station in Subway Line 2 or 6. Entrance fee is KRW 1,000 and opening from 9 to 5:30 o’clock. They close every Monday.

7.   King Sejong Memorial Hall  

There was one Great King in Korea who left lot of achievement during his reign in Joseon Dynasty like conquest of Daemado (One of Japan island), Huminjeonum (Korean Letter), Water Clock, rain fall gauge and so on. This museum is one of memorial hall exhibiting some his relic. You could see followings at the Memorial Hall.

l  Sejong Life Story Hall : Sejong portrait, traditional painting expressing his performance records during his 32 ruling years

l  Hangeul Hall : Hunminjeonguem, Hangeul and its related records.

l  Science Hall : Metal Type (1^st development in the world), astronomy tools, maps and so on.

l  Korean Traditional Music Hall : Music instruments, musician, dance costume using at palace and its related.

l  Outdoor Park : Water Clock Model, Memorial Stone and so on

You could take a walk with relax for decorated green trees and lawn.

           You could reach there walking for 15 minutes from Gate 2 at Cheonryangri

Station in Subway Line 1. The opening time is from 9 to 6 o’clock paying entrance fee KRW 1,800-. Every Monday closed. 

8.   Seongyunkgwan Educating Confucianism and Memorial Ceremony to Gongja in Joseon Dynasty

This is place taking care of memorial ceremony to Gongja (leader of Confucianism in Korea) and other ancients in Joseon Dynasty as well as educating Confucianism to the people. When you enter Seonkyukwan University, you could see fence of Confucian Shrine which is divided with two areas, the one for memorial ceremony calling as Daeseongjeon and the other for Confucianism calling as Myeongrundang. The Signboard at Daeseongjeon was written by Han Seokbong, one of great writers in Joseon Dynasty that was coloring with only two colors, red and blue which looks neat and smart.  There is Meongryundang behind the Daeseongjeon constructed with unique and traditional Korean Gambrel roof and gable roof style house. You could sometimes see students learning Confucianism at Meongryundang. Seokjeondaeje, major memorial ceremony to aGonja and ancients has been prayed two times every year in February and August bas in reference to lunar calendar. If you take a chance to go there at this ceremony times, you could learn more about Confucianism. Please note the Seokjeondaeje is keeping original style and form as it is without change which was nominated as Intangible Cultural Asset by the Government and unique Seokjeondaeje in the world. You could go there walking through Gate 1 at Heawha Station in Subway Line 4. Opening time is for 24 hours with no entrance fee.   

9.   Dongmyeo  ; Shrine for Kanwoo at Three Kingdom Story.

This is shrine for praying to Kwanwoo General appearing at Three Kingdom Story in China which was built as per the Myeong’s strong request when they came to Korea for supporting against Japanese invasion as Iemjinwaeran from 1592 to 1598). It was pity Joseon (Korea) could not fight against Japanese invasion alone which called Myeong (China) for taking a part in the Iemjinwaeran war. Myeong requested Joseon to build Kwanwoo shrine for praying their general, Kwanwoo. But it is fact that Korean should not forget this history and always remember what happen when Korea is weak and need other country’s support. This shrine was built in accordance to Chinese style which is different from Korean traditional style. There are many antique shops selling various old stuff on the way to Dongmyeo. You could go there walking for about 50m from Gate 5 at Dongmyeo Station in Subway Line 6 opening from morning 6 to afternoon 6 o’clock with no entrance fee.

10.Daewongun Byeoldang (Villa) who was Queen Min’s Farther- in-Law

There is neat traditional Korean style house less than 30 m², Seokparang Korean restaurant where you could see Daewongun Byeoldang (Villa). All materials and stuff moved by famous calligrapher, the Son, JeYoung which looks very well done in terms of space organization, suitably using wall arrangement, shape of window and final touch. There are square window at right where people is living inside which means origin of universe. This house, older than 150 years was built in compliance to traditional Korea kingdom style which was typical example how higher people was living in Joseon Dynasty and keeping Byeoldang (Villa) for their personal demonstration to others as they were great and different from others. They did not use their energy to their own rather than country pay in Joseon Dynasty. You could go there taking local bus 0212 or 1711 or 7081) and get off at Sangmyeong University Station.