Seochon (Korean : 서촌) is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It translates as "West village" or "Western village" as it is west of the palace Gyeongbokgung. It is also thought that the name could have derived from Mt Inwangsan as the mountain used to be called "Seosan" or "old mountain in the west." [1] Seochon is traditionally associated with the Joseon dynasty and Korean literature.
Seochon is located west of the palace Gyeongbokgung,at the base of Inwangsan. The Fortress Wall of Seoul Wall and the Sajik and Jahamun subway tunnels are the boundaries of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is composed of fifteen smaller neighborhoods called "dong." Seochon is located at 36°39' 25.794'' N 127°24' 4.3848'' E with an average elevation of 33.141 m / 108.732 feet. [2]
Korean literature is filled with references to Seochon neighborhoods. While few original landmarks remain intact,the neighborhood contains many historical signs and is the birthplace of King Sejong. Traditionally,the area is of great significance to shamanists and geomancy,partially due to its proximity to the Inwangsan mountain. The neighborhood also contains the Seoul Sajikdan and Jongmyo shrines,along with the Gyeongbok palace. Protected historical landmarks in the neighborhood also include a cluster of over 600 hanok,the Yi Sang and Yi Sangbeom Houses,and the Pak No-soo House in Ogin-dong,which was recently restored and opened as the Pak No-soo Art Museum.
Located in Hyoja-dong,the Tongin Market dates back to 1941 when Korea was still under Japanese rule. [3] After the Korean War,the market grew,and stalls in the market grew in demand. The market now contains over 70 stores, [4] including several restaurants and a grocery store for tourists.
Sajik Park was designed in the Choseon Dynasty era and opened to the public in 1922. [5] It was built for worshiping the Earth and harvest gods and is one of the oldest parks in Seoul. [6]
Tongui-dong is a neighbourhood in Seochon. During the Joseon Dynasty,High court officials walked through this place to go to work,and merchants and craftsmen set up shops there. [7] It was also the home of several famous historical figures,including the painters Yi Jung-seop and Yi Sang-beom and the poets Yun Dongju and Yi Sang.
The Daelim Contemporary Art Museum is located in the residential area of Tongui-dong,and is near the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Daelim Museum began as a photography museum,eventually widening its scope to include design and a wide range of other art fields. [8]
The National Palace Museum of Korea has a large collection of art and objects from the palaces of the Joseon period. [9] The Museum attempts to raise the public's knowledge of the artistic and cultural legacy of the Joseon Dynasty through its various exhibitions and educational programs. [10]
Gyeongbokgung,also known as Gyeongbok Palace or Gyeongbokgung Palace,was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395,it is located in northern Seoul,South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty,Gyeongbokgung served as the home of the royal family and the seat of government.
Changdeokgung,also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace,is set within a large park in Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). As it is located east of Gyeongbokgung,Changdeokgung—along with Changgyeonggung—is also referred to as the "East Palace".
Sejongno (Korean: 세종로),officially Sejong-daero (Korean: 세종대로) is a street that runs through Jongno District,downtown Seoul,South Korea. It is named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon. The street is 600 meters in length,but due to its central location it is of great symbolic importance. It points north to Gwanaksan and Bukhansan (Mountains),and the Joseon-era palace Gyeongbokgung. It is also of historical significance as the location for royal administrative buildings and features statues of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Joseon Dynasty and King Sejong the Great of Joseon.
Insa-dong (Korean: 인사동) is a dong,or neighborhood,in Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. Its main street is Insadong-gil,which is connected to a number of alleys that lead deeper into the district,with modern galleries and tea shops. Historically,it was the largest market for antiques and artwork in Korea.
Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul,South Korea. It was originally built during the Joseon period (1392–1897) for memorial services for deceased kings and queens. According to UNESCO,the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. Such shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period (57–668),but these have not survived. The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.
Jongno District is a district in Seoul,South Korea. It is the historic center of Seoul that contains Gyeongbokgung,the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty,and the Blue House,the former presidential residence.
Gyeongbokgung station (Korean: 경복궁역) is a subway station on Line 3 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the subway station nearest to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The station is also near the Government Complex–Seoul,the National Police Agency of South Korea,and other administrative buildings in the neighborhood.
Ilmin Museum of Art is a private art museum of South Korea,located on Sejongno street in Jongno District,a central district of Seoul,known for exhibiting mainly Korean art. The museum was established and run by the Ilmin Cultural Foundation (일민문화재단),a non-profit organization founded in 1994 in memory of Kim Sang-man (1910–1994),former president of The Dong-A Ilbo,one of the major newspaper companies of South Korea. Kim devoted his entire life to developing Korean journalism and promoting Korean culture. The museum is named after his art name,"Ilmin".
Ogin-dong (Korean: 옥인동) is a dong (neighbourhood) of Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It is a legal dong,administered under its administrative dong,Hyoja-dong,of which it covers the westernmost part,until the fortress wall of Inwangsan.
Tongin-dong (Korean: 통인동) is a dong (neighbourhood) of Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It is a legal dong administered under its administrative dong,Hyoja-dong.
Doryeom-dong is a dong (neighborhood) of Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It is a legal dong administered under its administrative dong,Sajik-dong. The name is originated from a governmental office named Doryeomseo in the region during the early period of Joseon dynasty.
Chebu-dong is a dong (neighborhood) of Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It is a legal dong administered under its administrative dong,Sajik-dong.
Inwangsan (Korean: 인왕산) is a mountain in central Seoul,South Korea. It is in parts of Jongno District and Seodaemun District and has a height of 338 m (1,109 ft). The name literally means "compassionate/benevolent king" in Korean. The mountain covers an area of 1,086,696.50 m2 and has many huge granite peaks which distinguish it from other mountains in Seoul. Each rock is named after its characteristic form,such as Gichabawi,Chimabawi,Iseulbawi,Mojabawi,and Jiryeongibawi.
Seoul,officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City,is the capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area,encompassing Seoul,Gyeonggi Province and Incheon,emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022,trailing behind Paris,San Francisco,Los Angeles,Tokyo,and New York,and hosts more than half of South Korea's population. Although Seoul's population peaked at over 10 million,it has gradually decreased since 2014,standing at about 9.6 million residents as of 2024. Seoul is the seat of the South Korean government.
Donggwoldo is a representative Korean painting of the early 19th century,depicting the two royal palaces,Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung during the Joseon Dynasty. Donggwol is an alternative name of Changdeokgung,located to the East of the main royal palace of the dynasty,Gyeongbokgung. However,the picture also includes Changgyeonggung,an adjacent palace to the former.
Sajikdan (Korean: 사직단) is a Neo-Confucian altar located in Sajik-dong,Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. It was built and used during the Joseon period to perform rituals related to soil and grain.
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seoul,South Korea.
Tongin Market (Korean: 통인시장) is a traditional market in Tongin-dong,Jongno District,Seoul,South Korea. Established in 1941,the market originally catered for local needs. Today it is home to around 75 businesses,including sit-down restaurants,street food stalls,and stores. The market is located at 18,Jahamun-ro 15-gil,Jongno-gu,Seoul.
Bugaksan (Korean: 북악산) is a mountain in the north of Seoul,South Korea. It famously overlooks the former royal palace Gyeongbokgung as well as the former presidential residence,the Blue House. Bugaksan,along with Inwangsan,Naksan,and Namsan surround the Seoul Basin. The mountain has a bedrock of granite,and is about 342 meters (1,122 ft) high.
Downtown Seoul,also known as Seoul Central Business District or Sadaemun-An is traditional city center and central business district of Seoul,located through Gwanghwamun of Jongno District and Seoul Station of Jung District along the Sejong-daero and Jong-ro. For its time-honored and unique geographic status in Seoul,the downtown is usually just called the Central Business District,or sometimes Gwanghwamun Business District for the landmark 'Gwanghwamun' at the heart of it.
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