Wonseo-dong district in Seoul has plenty of cafés, restaurants, and shopping to be done! Don't overlook this trendy neighborhood the next time you're in Seoul to see what you might be missing out on!
Tucked in the bustling Samcheong-dong and Bukcheon area, there is a quiet neighborhood called Wonseo-dong (원서동). Located beside the beautifully patterned stone wall of Changdeokgung Palace, this neighborhood is where art, design and craft, gastronomy, cafés, and culture come together.
This enchanting Hanok cluster is home to a few artist studios, an art museum, award-winning restaurants, and a few indie brands where you can shop for clothing, bags, shoes, and tableware, or even attend art workshops! It is also the drama filming site for SBS’s popular drama Our Beloved Summer (그해 우리는).
Check out this video if you are interested in finding more about about the SBS series.
While much of Bukchon and Samcheong-dong is becoming more commercial, Wonseo-dong is like an oasis of peace and tranquility. As it is still primarily a residential area, you may see local residents go about their day in this neighborhood that is filled with hanok (Korean traditional houses).
So zen and peaceful that you could feel time passing by really slowly. For me this is what I look for when I discover a new area in the city. I enjoy listening to my headphones, or listening and watching local street performances, and finding a cute quiet café to people watch and pass the time. The old-style Seoul is something that I appreciate a lot more than the mega international coffee shop chains and modernization.
You will also find small little workshops, showrooms, studios, and cafés hidden among these Korean tiled-roof homes. These places are where young artisans and craftsmen set their roots. A visit to Wonseo-dong doesn’t feel like any ordinary “shopping trip”. You actually soak in the serene atmosphere and will be able to appreciate the beauty of slowing down right at the center of Seoul, as if you are part of the community.
A contemporary take on traditional Korean cuisine in a modern Hanok overlooking the beautiful Changdeokgung Palace. Listed on Michelin Bib Gourmand and Blue Ribbon Survey, South Korea’s first and premier restaurant guidebook. With a panoramic view of the palace’s garden, this is one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood to bask in the grandeur of Seoul’s autumn! However, it is possible to enjoy this in the summer too!
Of course, If you’re into indie fashion brands or designer labels, look no further. Wonseo-dong is the perfect place if you are up for some serious shopping therapy with things that you won’t find anywhere else! Whether it is clothing, handmade leather goods, ceramic art pieces for your keepsake, or a gift for someone important, this neighborhood got you covered with its unique list of South Korean homegrown labels.
The final interesting and historical place in this guide for Wonseo-dong is this public laundry site. As Wonseo-dong used to be where the servants of the royal family lived, there is a designated area where the servants of the Joseon dynasty did their laundry. There are also evident that water actually flows from Changdeokgung palace, which is an interesting site if you are interested in the lifestyle of the general public back in the Joseon dynasty.
Will you be visiting this district this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
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