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Photo: Christian Bolz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A center of Seoul. The name came from the main gate of the Gyeongbokgung. The site was a location of the Six Ministries during the Joseon dynasty and was a large motorway since then. In 2009, the middle of the road was opened to the public as a renovation project. It's now home to festivals and events. There are two statues in the plaza: Admiral Yi Sun-sin (a legendary admiral who won numerous important battles against Japanese invaders) and Sejong the Great (the most famous and popular king in Korean history, inventor of the Korean alphabet). The original gate was demolished by the Japanese during the colonial period, but has been faithfully rebuilt in its original location. Today, visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony performed by soldiers of the South Korean military dressed in Joseon-era historical costumes at 10:00 and 14:00 every day except Tuesdays.
Gwanghwamun Square (Korean: 광화문광장), a.k.a. Gwanghwamun Plaza, is a public square located in Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, in front of Gyeongbokgung. Serving as a public space and, at times, a road for centuries of Korean history, it is also historically significant as it is the location of royal administrative buildings, known as Yukjo-geori or Street of Six Ministries. Today, it features statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and of King Sejong the Great.
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대한민국역사박물관
Since its independence from Japan, Korea has experienced a series of political events during a short period. You can see exhibitions that show war, dictatorships, uprisings against dictatorships, and industrialization that happened in South Korea.
국립고궁박물관
세종문화회관
Oldest and one of the largest multi-purpose theatres in downtown Seoul and home of Seoul Philharmonic. The biggest pipe organ in East Asia is in its Great Auditorium, and several video art pieces from Nam June Paik are in the entrance of the auditorium.
경복궁, 景福宮
This is Seoul's grandest Joseon Dynasty-era palace and the seat of power for centuries before it was razed in 1592 by a Japanese invasion (and again by the Japanese in 1910). This was the first palace used by the Joseon Dynasty and was constructed after King Taejo founded the Joseon Dynasty and moved the capital to Hanyang. Large parts have now been restored, and the vast grounds also house the Joseon Palace Museum and the Korean Folk Museum. There's a small corner where you get the chance to try on traditional Korean dress for free after registering. Changing of the royal guard at Gwanghwamun (광화문, 光化門), the elegantly restored main gate to the palace, occurs twice a day at 10:00 and 14:00, as soldiers from the South Korean army dressed in Joseon-era uniforms march with traditional weapons to the tune of drumbeats for 20 minutes.
불교중앙박물관
This place works as a museum at the center of Korean Buddhism, it holds a meaningful special exhibition every year and can feel the traditional culture closer Prepare education.
조계사, 曹溪寺
The chief temple of the Jogye order of Buddhism, the dominant branch of Buddhism in Korea. As such, it is one of the most important modern Buddhist temples in the country. That being said, Jogyesa Temple is rather small, and if time permits, Bongeunsa in Gangnam is a larger and more interesting Buddhist temple.