Jeongdong-gil

About this place

Jeongdong-gil is a roughly 900-meter historic walking street that runs from Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate to Sinmun-ro, designated Seoul's first "Beautiful Street for Walking" in 1999. The lane is lined with red-brick landmarks from the Korean Empire era, including Jeongdong First Methodist Church (Korea's first Protestant church), the former Russian Legation, Ewha Girls' High School's Simpson Memorial Hall, and the Deoksugung stone-wall path. Strolling beneath the ginkgo trees, visitors pass buildings where Korea's first diplomatic missions were established and where Emperor Gojong sought refuge during one of the peninsula's most turbulent periods. Each October the street comes alive with the Jeongdong Culture Night festival, offering evening illuminations, traditional performances, and cultural programs.

Good to know

Address

2-1 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hours

Always open

The Jeongdong Culture Night festival is held in October. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Deoksugung's Daehanmun Gate runs daily at 11:00 and 14:00 (suspended Mondays, during extreme heat/cold advisories, and in snow or rain; currently operating at reduced scale during the Deoksugung Woldae restoration works).

Photo spots nearby

• 

  Deoksugung Palace

  7 min by transit

  7-min route →
• 

  Gwanghwamun Square

  10 min by transit

  10-min route →
• 

  Seoul Metropolitan Library

  11 min by transit

  11-min route →
• 

  Cheonggyecheon Stream

  12 min by transit

  12-min route →
• 

  Gyeonghuigung Palace

  13 min by transit

  13-min route →
• 

  Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun Gate)

  17 min by transit

  17-min route →

Transit times by ODsay