Insadong: Galleries, Jogyesa & Bukchon Hanok Village

The headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism sits improbably in the heart of downtown Seoul — two 500-year-old white pine trees shade the courtyard where monks pray and lotus lanterns sway overhead. The Daeungjeon main hall is the largest in Seoul, its interior lined with gold Buddhas and centuries-old paintings. Free to enter at any hour; the temple is most beautiful at dawn and during the lantern-lighting ceremony around Buddha's Birthday (late April–May).

Over 100 commercial galleries are packed within walking distance — the highest concentration of art dealers in Korea. The Insadong 10-gil side alley alone has more than a dozen galleries showing celadon masters, contemporary Korean ink painting, hanji-based sculpture, and international works. Most galleries are free to enter. An afternoon in Insadong galleries gives a more complete picture of Korean visual art than most museums.

Insadong's side alleys hide some of Seoul's best-value hansik (traditional Korean table d'hôte) restaurants — multi-course meals served in lacquered brass bowls with 10–15 side dishes, doenjang jjigae, and seasonal namul. Alternatively, bossam (steamed pork belly with cabbage wraps) or haemul pajeon (seafood scallion pancake) with cold makgeolli is the perfect Insadong lunch pairing.

A spiralling open-air courtyard complex coiling four floors upward around a central performance stage — Insadong's most charming shopping destination. The 70+ independent shops sell hand-poured candles, hanji notebooks, ceramic jewellery, embroidered cloth, and craft supplies. Street performers regularly take the central stage; the rooftop café overlooks the Insadong roofline.

A living neighbourhood of over 900 traditional tiled-roof hanok houses cascading down the hillside between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces. Unlike folk villages, real families live here — which means please walk quietly and respect privacy, especially in the residential alleys. Bukchon 8-Gyewol-gil (8th alley) offers the most famous view: a row of hanok rooflines stacked against the city skyline. Hanbok rentals nearby allow you to walk the alleys in traditional dress.

Several workshops in the Insadong alleys offer hands-on sessions in traditional Korean crafts — hanji (Korean mulberry paper) art, hand-building ceramics, or seal carving (dojang). Most sessions take 60–90 minutes and are accessible without any Korean language. You leave with a finished piece: a hanji-covered journal, a hand-built celadon cup, or a personal name seal in traditional script. Book a day in advance through the workshop websites or on-site.