Seoul/East

The districts of Dongdaemun (동대문), Jungnang (중랑), Gwangjin (광진) and Seongdong (성동) are in the east of the city of Seoul.

High-rise buildings in Seongdong

Get in

By train

Several lines of the city's massive subway and commuter rail systems go to the eastern parts of the city including 1, 2, 5, 7 and the Gyeongui–Jungang and Gyeongchun lines.

By bus

By taxi

From the centre of Seoul to eastern Seoul can cost any where from ₩8,000 to ₩15,000 (2018). Prices late at night can be cheaper as there are fewer cars on the road.

See

• 🌍 Bonghwasan (Jungnang). A 160 m high mountain from where there are good views over the city. The mountain together with the surrounding park is popular place for short hikes. Also worth seeing is the Sasingak Shrine at the southern side of the mountain. (updated Jun 2015)
• 🌍 Seoul Forest (Seongdong). Seoul's own Central Park, at the northern bank of Han. It's composed of five smaller parks, the culture & art park, the natural ecology forest, the natural hands-on experience learning garden, the ecological wetland garden and the Han river waterfront park as well as an outdoor stage and a big playground. (updated Jun 2015)
• 🌍 Geonguk University Museum, 93, Hwayang-dong (Gwangjin). A museum with Korean historical artifacts. The main attraction here is the Donggukjeongun, a set of six books from the 15th century describing how Chinese characters should be pronounced. These were the first such teaching books in Korea. Free. (updated Jun 2015)
• 🌍 King Sejong Memorial Hall, 56, Hoegi-ro (Dongdaemun). Memorial hall dedicated to the culturally most important king in Korean history. (updated Jun 2015)

Do

• 🌍 Children's Grand Park (어린이대공원) (Children's Grand PArk Metro station is close by), ☎ [phone]. 05:00-22:00. Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu. The park was constructed after the decision of the City Planning Facility in 1971 and was opened on May 5, 1973. The park has a zoo, amusement facilities and restaurants. To get there, simply take the subway to Children's Grand Park on line 7. Avoid the weekends as it can get very crowded., (updated May 2015)

Buy

• 🌍 Dongdaemun. An enormous fashion shopping district comprised of not one, not two, not ten, but no less than twenty four large department store-like buildings such as Doota, Migliore, and APM, each with anywhere from two to seventeen stories of trendy shops and stalls grouped together so customers can shop efficiently and save time. This market is of equal historical significance to Namdaemun market, with the obvious difference being Dongdaemun's modernity. Historically, Dongdaemun was a nightmarket, open from 1 am to 1 pm the following day; now it opens midday, but still remains active well into the early morning, with many shops finally closing around 08:00. Some stores are actually open for 24 hours. Come on Friday or Saturday night to see Dongdaemun at its most hectic, with huge crowds of thousands flooding the streets hunting for their next bargain. The energy is almost palpable. 
• 🌍 Techno Mart (Gangbyeon), 546-4 Guui 3(sam)-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (Next to Gangbyeon St.). There are two Techno Marts in Seoul: the original at Gangbyeon station, and the new store at Sindorim station. Both complexes house over 2,000 stores across eight floors that sell a variety of high-tech products. From electrical appliances to computers, you will find everything you need. The first floor has cosmetics, accessories, and stationeries. The second and third floors comprise Korean-made electrical goods, while the fourth and fifth floors sell foreign-made electrical appliances. The sixth floor sells cell phones and their accessories. Computers are sold on the seventh, and on the eighth music and DVDs. Aside from all the high-tech gadgetry, there are over a dozen restaurants on the 9th floor, and a cineplex and arcade on the 10th. 

Eat

• 🌍 Pizza Hill (피자힐) (Close to the Walker Hill hotel in Gwangjin-gu), ☎ [phone]. An excellent pizzeria . As its name implies, the restaurant has a lovely view of Seoul on top of a hill and prices higher than the hill it sits on. Worth a visit if you hit it big at the nearby casino. 

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel. Luxury hotel famous for its casino, swimming pool and seasonal dance parties. Populated with a lively crowd of regular expats. 
• 🌍 W Seoul, 177 Walkerhill-ro Gwangjin-Gu, ☎ [phone]. Trendy boutique hotel in Seoul. Has a good Sunday brunch buffet with two seatings at 11:00 and 13:30. At least ₩140,000/person. 

Connect