Jong-ro Walk, Seoul, South Korea

Sep 6, 2026 | Asia, City, South Korea - Seoul Area

A walk through Jongno, one of Seoul’s oldest central districts, where historic streets, traditional shops, markets, restaurants, and modern buildings come together. 1278

Gwanghwamun Square: 172 Sejong-daero, Jongno District, Seoul, South
KoreaKyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun: 1 Jong-ro, B1F, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Jonggak Avenue of Youth: Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Jongno Tower: Jongno 1(il)-ga, Seoul, South Korea
Date Picture Taken: Apr, 2026

Near my hotel were many tall office buildings. Around lunchtime, the coffee shops inside these buildings were filled with office workers taking their lunch breaks.

Gwanghwamun Square is a large public plaza in the heart of central Seoul, leading toward Gyeongbokgung Palace. With statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, it is one of the city’s most recognizable public spaces and a symbolic link between modern Seoul and its historic past.

Near Gwanghwamun Square is Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun, one of Seoul’s largest and best-known bookstores.

At Gwanghwamun Square stands a large statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, one of Korea’s most celebrated military heroes, famous for his naval victories against Japanese forces during the late 16th century.

Jongno (종로) is one of the oldest and most historically important areas of central Seoul. Its name means “Bell Street,” referring to the large bell at Bosingak, which was used during the Joseon period to signal the opening and closing of the city gates.

Near the Kyobo Building is the former home site of Park In-hwan, a well-known Korean modernist poet who lived here from 1948 until his death in 1956. The original house is gone, but a historical marker remains to commemorate the site.

I stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch before continuing my walk through Jongno.

Today, Jongno combines old and new Seoul. Historic palaces, shrines, traditional neighborhoods, and markets sit close to modern office towers, shopping streets, restaurants, and cafés. Major places such as Gwanghwamun, Jonggak, Insadong, and Jongmyo Shrine are all within the broader Jongno area.

Jongno is right next to Euljiro, where I was staying, so after my walk I returned to one of the coffee shops near my hotel.

Jonggak Avenue of Youth

Jonggak Avenue of Youth is a lively entertainment district near Jonggak Station, filled with restaurants, cafés, bars, and shops. Located in the heart of Jongno, it becomes especially busy in the evening when office workers and young people gather for food, drinks, and entertainment.