Daehangno:place of culture and serenity

Daehangno (대학로) is a representative place for culture and art and is home to more than 100 theatres. One of the highlights of this walking course, however, is Naksan Park (낙산공원), which is a quiet and well landscaped park perfect for walks. The park gained in popularity after being featured in popular Korean dramas such as ‘Lovers in Paris’ and ‘Brilliant Legacy.’ Visitors can even go up the hilltop observatory for an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of Seoul. Another special characteristic of Daehangno is the gourmet restaurants and unique cultural cafés in the neighborhood. There are hundreds of gourmet eateries and romantic cafés; choose whichever one you like the best and spend a quiet afternoon sipping coffee and daydreaming. DIRECTIONS From Exit #1 of Hyehwa Station, make a u-turn and walk 150m in the opposite direction of the exit (towards Nike and Han’s Hair), turning down the first street on your left. The Samtoh Blue Bird Theater (샘터 파랑새 극장) is the vine covered building directly on your right, right off the main road. Turn down the alley next to the theater (the first alleyway on the right) and follow the side street to the end of the block (100m) and around the corner (30m) until you see the Marronnier Park (마로니에 공원) entrance on your right (just around the bend). After exploring the park, go out the same way you came in and continue going straight.

At the second little intersection after leaving Marronnier Park, you’ll see a little podium with a sign saying Naksan Park (낙산공원) (80m). Keep going straight (50m) until the road ends, at which point you’ll want to turn right. Pass a little alleyway on your left and take the next, slightly bigger side street up the hill to the left. Continue following the windy road up the hill (approx. 230m) until it stops/turns sharply in front of a wide set of gray stairs (the entrance to the park). To the right of the staircase is a map of the trails in the park. Circle around the park as pictured, exiting out the back. Once exiting, turn to your right and walk straight until the end of the parking spaces on the right (75m). If you look to your right, you’ll see stairs/a planked walkway. Follow the pathway down the hill, turning right down the first alleyway on your right. Go roughly 100m until you hit a small 4-way crossroads. Go straight across; Ihwajang (이화장) will be on your right (30m). The next stop on your journey is the Lock Museum (쇳대박물관). From Ihwajang, continue going straight until you come out to the main road (60m). Go right and go right again when the road Ts, 75m later. Bear to the left when the road forks (20m) and turn left 65m later at the gray wall marked with a green sign. The path is small, but if you miss it, don’t worry! You’ll just end up going around a small cul-de-sac. Once making your left-hand turn, continue following the main road (200m) until you reach a 4-way intersection. The Lock Museum is the big dark building with a BIG white sign in English that faces out into the intersection. After going to the lock museum, continue going in the same direction you had been going, straight across the intersection. Turn right down the second side street (95m, after the blue PARKING sign, but before you hit the main street). The Arko Art Gallery is the large pink, brick building on the left-hand side. To get to the Arko Arts Theater continue straight (20m) until to you reach a small four-way intersection. (The theatre is on the left-hand side, almost directly across from the Marronnier Park that you visited when you first started your journey). Continue following the road, going straight through each little crossroads. This whole section of the course (500m) is lined with popular coffee shops and restaurants and will loop around so that you come upon the crossroads where you first started your sightseeing at Samtoh Blue Bird Theatre. (In case you forgot, the theater is the vine-covered building across from you on the right.) Turn right, followed by an immediate left. You have now reached the main road from which you can access Hyehwa Station Exit #2 (located down the street to your left, less than a block away).

Exit #1 of Hyehwa Station, Subway Line 4 → Samtoh Blue Bird Theater (샘터 파랑새 극장) → Marronnier Park (마로니에 공원) → Naksan Park (낙산공원) → Ihwajang (이화장) → Lock Museum (쇳대박물관) → Arko Art Gallery → Arko Arts Theater → Daehangno gourmet restaurants & café tour → Exit #2 of Hyehwa Station, Subway Line 4

< About Ihwajang > ☞ Description: Once the private residence of the First President of Korea, Rhee Syng-man (이승만, 1875~1965), Ihwajang has been converted into a Memorial Center. ☞ Location: 750m away from Exit #2 of Hyehwa Station (Subway Line 4), towards Naksan Park ☞ Office hours: 10:00 - 17:00, Lunch hour 12:00 - 13:00 (no exhibitions on holidays) * No admission fee ☞ Contact Information: 02)745-0758 (Korean)  * Reservations by phone must be made at least one day in advance. ☞ Guide service application online: http://dobo.visitseoul.net/  (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (both simplified & traditional)) ☎ 02) 6925-0777 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) * Guide service appliction must be made at least 3 days in advance. Tip>> Hangnimdabang Café (학림다방) The 55-year old Hangnimdabang Café is a virtual time warp, transporting visitors back to the magical decade of the 70s’s with retro memorabilia like old LPs, old-fashioned tablecloths, black-and-white photographs, and more. Thanks to the unique vibe that comes with its retro design, the place has become a popular film set, recently featured in the hit movie “High Kick Through the Roof.” Rumor has it that the various flavors of coffee at the café are just as groovy as its funky interior. ※ Location: 40~50m toward Hyehwadong Rotary from Exit #3 of Hyehwa Station, Subway Line 4, on the 2nd floor of Yinamjang Seolleongtang (Seoul-si Jongno-gu Myeongnyun-dong 94-2) ※ Phone: 02) 742-2877 (Korean) | ※ Website: http://hakrim.pe.kr/ (Korean)