SEOUL GUIDE
Frieze welcomes you to Seoul!
Seoul is the historic, cutting edge, fast-paced capital city of South Korea, comprised of 25 districts. Some of the main districts located closer to COEX in Gangnam-gu for Frieze Seoul are Yongsan-gu, Songpa-gu, Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, Seongdong-gu and Mapo-gu. We recommend visitors to explore these districts as they are abundant in art, life, food, culture and history.
This guide will provide you with recommendations for navigation, transportation, museums & galleries, history & culture, leisure & entertainment, restaurants & bars, food markets and helpful tips to assist you during your stay. Please use the menu bar above to find varying content sections of information.
Gangnam
Abundance of department stores, trendy restaurants, cafes and bars
The name Gang (river) nam (South) translates to South of the river
Samseong
Concrete jungle, offices, professional environment
COEX complex: Convention & Exhibition Center (Frieze Seoul) and Starfield COEX Mall
Gangnam Station
Area that Seoulites most often refer to as Gangnam
Various entertainment such as restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs, shops and cinemas
Cheongdam & Apgujeong
Generally viewed as one area, right beneath the Han river
Trendy restaurants, bars and nightlife
A rich assortment of restaurants featured on the Michelin Guide Seoul 2022
Sinsa
Similar to Cheongdam & apgujeong with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and nightlife
Streets with various branded stores and stalls that sell small items and jewellery
Yongsan
Comprised of adjacent areas Itaewon and Hannam that offer very different atmospheres
Rich selection of restaurants, bars and nightlife
Itaewon
Bustling area focused on food and nightlife
Known for its international crowd
Wide range of local and foreign restaurants, pubs and bars
Hannam
Modern and sophisticated with well-curated galleries, restaurants, cafes and bars
Fusion of old, low buildings with new and polished interiors
Songpa
Mainly known for Jamsil, a residential and professional area
Offers an abundance of shopping and entertainment
Jamsil
From residential area to shopping & entertainment hub
Lotte World Mall and Lotte World, world's largest indoor theme park
Jung-gu & Jongno
Jongno and Jung-gu are generally grouped together
Heart of art, history and culture; a prominent business centre
Food range from high end restaurants to hole-in-the-wall restaurants
Myeong-dong
Shopping hub with department stores, fashion boutiques and cosmetics stores
International and local restaurants, street food vendors
Euljiro
Trendy and artistic area also known as 'hip'jiro
Art galleries and trendy and unique restaurants and bars
A blend of modern shops and aged supply stores
Dongdaemun
Korea's largest retail and wholesale shopping district
Known for Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), designed by architect Zaha Hadid
Sicheong (City Hall)
Sicheong is the Korean name of 'city hall'
Known for the city hall building and Seoul Plaza (서울광장)
Ikseon-dong & Insa-dong
Traditional art, art galleries, antique pieces, woodcraft, etc.
Assortment of local restaurants and traditional teahouses, often set in Korean traditional houses
Gwanghwamun
Heart of art, history, culture and traditions in Seoul
Ideal for museum and gallery hopping
Royal palaces and charming villages with Korean traditional houses
Gahoe-dong
On the right of Gwanghwamun, full of art, history and culture
Ideal for museum and gallery hopping
Royal palaces and charming villages with Korean traditional houses
Seongdong-gu
Mainly known for Seongsu-dong, an up and coming neighbourhood
Home to some of the most modern and trendy locations in Seoul
Seongsu-dong
Known as Seoul's Brooklyn, relatively less known to foreigners and visitors
Trendy restaurants and cafes in buildings that were once small factories
Transformed by young artists and designers in recent years
Mapo
Home to several universities with a youthful ambience
Wide range of shops, unique cafes and restaurants
Hongdae
Near Hongik University, known for Hongdae club district
Known for its urban arts and indie music culture, local shops, nightlife and entertainment
Streets filled with buskers and dance performances
Yeonnam-dong
Blocks away from Hongdae
Alleyways with cafes and eateries, artisan boutiques, indie bookshops, etc.
Transformed by young creatives, the area has gone from a quiet residential area to once that is youthful and trendy