[2025 Seoul Attraction] Travel Guide for Gwanghwamun Square (Updated Jan)

Gwanghwamun Square (also known as Gwanghwamun Plaza; Korean: 광화문광장) is a public square on Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Serving as a public space and at times road for centuries of Korean history, it is also historically significant as the location of royal administrative buildings, known as Yukjo-geori or Street of Six Ministries; and features statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Joseon Dynasty and King Sejong the Great of Joseon.

#flowerblossom #seoul #100waysoftravel Gwanghwamun Square is a prominent public plaza located in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, stretching along Sejong-ro, one of the city's main boulevards. It serves as a cultural and historical hub, connecting modern Seoul with its rich past. During spring and autumn season, Gwanghwamun Square transforms into a vibrant display of cherry blossoms and azaleas, adding a beautiful contrast to its historical surroundings. The square becomes a popular spot for leisurely strolls, photography, and springtime festivals, attracting both locals and tourists. The blooming flowers enhance the charm of this iconic Seoul landmark, offering a serene escape amidst the bustling city.

If you are heading to Seoul now don’t miss out the 2024 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun. This is to celebrate the beginning of 2024 with light and music at Gwanghwamun Square. Dont miss out this spectacular light show in you happen to be in Seoul now till 21st. Period: Jan 2, 2024 (Tue) ~ Jan 21, 2024 (Sun) # Every Monday to Thursday, only the 'Gwanghwamun Light Show' will be screened (starts on the hour, and lasts for approximately 8 minutes).* Every Friday to Sunday, the 'Gwanghwamun Media Façade Show' will be screened (starts on the hour, and lasts for 35 minutes). #Seoul #winterlights #2024 #hiddengems

1️⃣Bukchon Hanok Village 🏠 Strategy: Check the map in advance and plan your walking route. Mornings are better because there are fewer tourists. Highlight: See traditional hanoks and explore hidden craft shops and art galleries in the alleys. 2️⃣Cheonggyecheon Stream 🌊 Strategy: Walking along the river at night is the most romantic. The lights and art pieces add to the charm of the river. Highlight: Relax and enjoy the peace of the city at a riverside rest area. 3️⃣Hongik University Area 🎨 Strategy: Visit on the weekends. Many street artists and craft markets open at this time. Highlight: Experience the vibrant street culture, local art, and cafes. 4️⃣Gyeongbokgung Palace 🏯 Strategy: Take an English-guided tour to learn more about the palace’s history and architecture. Highlight: If you visit wearing a traditional hanbok, the entrance fee is free and you can take great pictures. 5️⃣N Seoul Tower 🗼 Strategy: Visit around sunset to enjoy the sunset and the city night view. Highlight: Enjoy a 360-degree view of Seoul from the observation deck at the top of the tower.

Welcome to Seoul, the bustling capital of South Korea! You’ll be amazed by the perfect blend of modern and traditional culture. Take a stroll through the tall trees of Gyeongbokgung Palace to experience the grandeur of the Joseon Dynasty. Next, check out the magnificent Gwanghwamun Gate. This iconic gate is where the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place, and its impressive size and elaborate design make it one of the most photographed landmarks in Seoul. For a modern twist, head to Gangnam. This is one of Seoul’s trendiest districts, where you can wander the streets and soak up the latest fashion trends and vibrant atmosphere. And Seoul’s food scene is brimming with flavors, from traditional Korean street food to international cuisine. Try everything and discover your new favorites. Seoul has something for nature lovers, culture enthusiasts, urban explorers, and foodies alike. This is a must-visit destination that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Come to Seoul and discover the vibrant charm of modern Korea! 🌆 #endofweek #outdoortrip

#seoul The 555 meters long and 34 meters wide Gwanghwamun Square is a public square with over 600 years of history, located at the center of Sejong-ro Road, with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bugaksan Mountain in the background. Taking the subway to Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) exit via 1, 2 and 8. The area was once Yukjo-geori ( Avenue of Six Ministries ), the center of Hayang, which was the capital city during Joseon Dynasty. Nowadays, it is home to the Government's major administrative departments. The bronze Statue of King Sejong the Great of Joseon measuring 6.2 meters height and 20 ton. In front of the statue there are small models of a celestial globe, a rain guage and a sundial. The 17 meters high bronze statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin is a 16th century Korean war hero holding a sword on his right hand, with a mini turtle ship in front, which a type of Korean war vessel. Gwanghwamun Square isn't just a historical destination, it's is home to diverse cultural events, concerts and exhibitions like Buddha's Birthday and Lantern Festival.

I often go on outings with my kids to Gwanghwamun^^ So I end up moving along a certain course. 1. Deoksugung 🔹️99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul Deoksugung 🔹️A walk around Deoksugung near City Hall Station 🔹️It's not as big as Gyeongbokgung, so it's good for walking with kids 2. Kyobo Bookstore 🔹️B1, Kyobo Life Insurance Building, Jongno 1, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🔹️Choose a picture book or novel to read. 🔹️There are a variety of children's books 3. Mad for Garlic 🔹️3rd floor, D Tower Replace Gwanghwamun, 17 Jongno 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🔹️It's near Kyobo Bookstore, so it's good to visit right after buying a book #Places to go with kids #Gwanghwamun #Deoksugung #Kyobo Bookstore

#seoul This Square is very accessible as it connected with subway station Gwanghamun. Before or after you visit the palace I recommend stopping by here . The great naval admiral & King Sejong’s statues are prime photography spots.There is also a museum about King Sejong right behind his statue and the entrance is free.It is also bigger than you think and you will be surprised by the large buildings surrounding the area.

The annual light and shadow festival has moved from Cheonggyecheon to Gwanghwamun Square. In addition to tourists, there are also many locals taking pictures. Coinciding with Christmas Eve, there are also different Christmas decorations, which are dazzling. #Korea Attractions #Festival in the Local #Christmas

#yearofrabbit Gwanghwamun Square is located right in front of the Gyeongbokgung palace. It is one of the places that must be visited in Seoul, where there are different sculptures from each other. Since 2023 is the year of rabit, you can see rabbit figures everywhere in the current concept. Wishing you a year full of longevity, peace and prosperity! #newyear #rabbit #koreatravel #seoultravel #asiatrip #travelinspiration

When talking about Chinese restaurant in Korea, many will think off Black Soilsauce noodles and Seafood noodles. This Chinese restaurant in Gwanghwamun called Sandong, serves a variety of Chinese food well liked by the locals. In lunchtime people will flock in to enjoy various dishes. My personal favourite is Jaengban Jjajang (plated Soilbean paste noodles). It usually comes in minimum 2 portions and this upgraded version of Jjajangmyeon comes with pork slices, squid, shrimp and mushrooms. Their specialty dishes such as Dried chilli chicken, Dongpo pork, fried shrimp is also a hit. Do expect some waiting timw during lunch time. #tripblazers

#2023travelwish This year 2022 is the first Christmas whereby reopened Gwanghwamun Square hosted Christmas event, and this year they organized a Christmas Market. There are around 30 stalls selling different items and ornaments and visitors from around the city flocked in to enjoy the lights and decorations. There is a huge Christmas Tree situated in the middle of the square and you also see overseas visitors visiting as year end is also the season of traveling. Though weather is freezeing and frightful but this doesn't stop visitors from flocking in. My 2023 wish is to visit a Christmas Market in England.

to CAST PARK, a space where you can see the unique and attractive products of the CAST business, K-POP performances, and various events at once, which is celebrating its 3rd year this year! TA CAST PARK Period & Venue Event Period | October 22, 2022 (Sat) - October 23, 2022 (Sun) Venue | Gwanghwamun Square Amusement Centre & Yukjo Madang ICAST PARK program CAST PARK STAGE KPoP performance pounding the heart 2 CAST PARK BOOTH Hallyu Icons and Corporate Cooperation Idea Product Exhibition 3 CAST PARK EVENT Exciting experience and gift bomb with Hallyu Icons CAST PARK prepared by 16 companies and Hallyu Icons! #celebratewithtrip

Felt Coffee is found in the basement of the KT Gwanghwamun East building. The staff are kind, polite and cheerful and the coffee is prepared quickly. There is an open space to have your coffee on site but I prefer taking it out and having it along the stream, especially when the weather is good. The decor of the store is very open and airy, with dark subtle tones that remind you of the boldness of their coffee. Their coffee is refreshing, tasty and bold, especially when it comes to their americano. Stop by for a higher than normal priced coffee albeit a tastier and stronger blend than usual! #coffee #explore #cafe #seoul #korea

Gwanghwamun Square is located in 172 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. There are attractions can be found here like The Statue of Sejong the Great, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, Gwanghwamun Gate, Sejong Center, Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin, Seoul Musuem of History, National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, National Folk Museum of Korea, and many more. It is a cultural space for all which linking the past and present. Gwanghwamun Square features a waterway of 630-year history flowing from 1392 when Joseon was founded. The square, which has been expanded and partially refurbished into a park, opened to the public at 11 a.m., according to the Seoul city government. Construction began in November 2020 to expand the square with new historical and cultural attractions. The square is now 2.1 times larger than before at 40,300 square meters after an adjacent road that had been located to its west was covered. Over 5,000 trees have been planted across the square, with around a quarter of it covered by greenery. A performance spot has also been installed in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The square also includes a new 40-meter-long tunnel fountain as well as a 53-meter media wall near the Sejong Center. #fallingforfall #tripblazers #nationalpark #urbanexplorer

Many who previously visited Seoul will definitely drop by Gwanghwamun Square as it is a symbol of heritage and culture of Korea, with the statue of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Shun Shin, but the City Hall has decided to remodel it to extend the pedestrian walkway and adding many amenities. After a 2 year long refurbishment work, the plaza was finally reopened to the public, and it is much more cozy and comfortable to hang out with much more spaces, benches and tables for vositors to hang out. There are alsoany events taking place every weekend to showcase the Korean culture to visitors and tourists, and the walkway to Gyeongbokgung is also fascinating. #fallingforfall#tripblazers#seoultour#MeetSeoul

In Gyeongbokgung, there are too many places and gates but this Gwanghawmun is the first and main entrance located on the south side. It is also the largest gate and you can witness guards changing ceremony here too. If you know a little bit about Korean history or from K-drama, The King Sejong is represented as a statue at Gwanghawmun.So be sure to be there to witness the guards changing ceremony and it is free of charge. It is only when you want to enter Gyeongbokgung that you will have to pay. Otherwise, wear your hanbok and enter for free. Have a seoul-prise in South Korea. #bucketlistreboot #southkorea #seoul #liveyourdreams #takethattrip

#Let's go on a trip #Cafe#Picnic#Terrace#Summer#Outing 22, Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 102ho Hot cafe Stepix located in Seochon, Sajik-dong A space where you can enjoy coffee with a picnic feel in the wide yard in front of the cafe A cafe with delicious coffee and desserts that I really want to recommend A tree standing in the center of the cafe provides shade It feels like drinking coffee in a meadow #Hot place #Cafe recommendation

📚Address: Kyobo Life Insurance Building, B1, Jongno 1, Jongno-gu, Seoul 📚Operating hours: Every day 09:30-22:00 📚Review: Introducing 'Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun', a must-visit course in Seoul filled with the scent of books. Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun is a representative cultural rest area in downtown Seoul and is also famous as a must-visit course in Seoul. It is a bookstore in Seoul that is so loved that many people visit here because the scent of books inside makes them feel at ease. Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun is a complex cultural space that not only has books, but also exhibitions, pop-up stores, and F&B. Highly recommended as an indoor activity in Seoul ;) #Bookstore #SeoulBookstore #SeoulTravel #GwanghwamunMustCourse #Gwanghwamun #SeoulBookstore #KyoboBookstore #DateCourse #GwanghwamunBookstore #PlacesToVisitInSeoul #Bookstore #ComplexCulturalSpace #HotPlace #SafeTravel #VacationTravel

This is a rooftop cafe in Jongno that I found while walking along Cheonggyecheon If you enjoy bakery and coffee on the outdoor terrace with Cheonggyecheon sparkling in the sunlight, where else is this Europe?☕️ In addition, it is a pretty new cafe that is perfect for enjoying leisure in the city center because it has a rooftop surrounded by the forest of buildings in Seoul🥐 You can enjoy the view of Cheonggyecheon from the outdoor terrace, enjoy the forest of buildings in Seoul from the rooftop, and work comfortably indoors I recommend Dalcom Coffee Cheonggye Square in Jongno🌿 📍Dalcom Coffee Cheonggye Square 24-8 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul #SeoulTravel #SummerCapture #JongnoCafe #UniqueCafe #RooftopCafe #Outing #SchoolVacationTravel #SummerCapture #Cafe

Gwanghwamun Square is in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Very easy to get there. During October, The Arirang Festival is held here. #holidayvacation #tripmoments #tripinspired #happynewyear

The Gwanghwamun (or Gwang-Hwa-Mun) Plaza One cannot help but to compare the Gwanghwamun Plaza of Seoul with the Trafalgar Square of London, where The Nelson’s Column was erected to commemorate Admiral Horatio who died in the battle Trafalgar. The imposing status of Admiral Yi Sun Sin, a highly decorated and much revered, or even worshipped Korean naval commander, a legendary national hero, stands majestically at southern end of Gwanghwamun Plaza.  #GiveThanks

The symbols of Korea are present - the most brilliant monarch, with a copper statue of King Sejong the Great, as well as a statue of the loyal admiral Yi Sunshin, which are located in the center of Seoul, in Gwanghwamun Plaza. This was the front gate of the Gyeongbokgung royal palace during the reign of King Taejo of Korea, and is the national gate. Gwanghwamun “illuminates all and civilizes all” and the directly opposite Gwanghwamun Square area is one of Seoul’s most flourishing districts. The city gate tower of Gwanghwamun is clearly in the Chinese style, since over hundred of years, the buildings, writing, culture, and customs have all been heavily influenced by China, and thus received the name of “little China.” Several hundred years have passed quickly for Gwanghwamun Square, which has clearly become a bustling district. Here, we saw an open-air Korean band, using traditional Korean and Western instruments in their performance, which is an entirely different interesting matter.

#newyearnewtrip Year 2025 in Korea is fascinating, and Gwanghwamun Square is very vibrant whete a Winter Festa is being held there. You can see the big girl statue from Squid Game, and the symbolic square, triangle and circle shape from the movie. The continuation of the Christmas Market stretch till New Year, and you can still do some shopping from the stalls over there. There are also small flea markets from small vendors planning to sell their goods over the New Year week, and this festa shall attract the last crowd over New Year.

Had a wonderful 10 days trip to seoul and jeju I’ll share our itinerary for those who need inspirations on where to visit !! Itinerary Day 1 1. Insadong 2. Ssamziegil/cultural street 3. Cafe Onion Anguk 4. Insadong Spa & Sauna 5. Gwanghwamun Square (had christmas market/celebrations) Day 2 1. Personal Colour analysis at mood collect gangnam 2. Styling our hair at Suin Style Hair & Spa 3. Taking dance classes at Bonafide Studios Day 3 1. Haneul park (was underwhelming and quiet, shops were closed and there was no snow, would be better to go during autumn/spring) 2. Yeonamdong (acorn caricature, kiki’s delivery themed cafe) 3. Just Jerk (we took junho lee’s class, so fun!!) Day 4 - 7 (Jeju) 1. Snoopy garden 2. Totoro cafe/shop 3. Osulloc tea museum and cafe 4. Mongle (cute biscuits) 5. Hallasan (remember to bring proper hiking equipment) 6. Jeju Rail Bike Day 8 1. Alpacca world 2. Nami Island 3. Gangchon Rail Bike Day 9 1. Snowboarding at vivaldi Day 10 1. Hiking up Namsan 2. Myeong Dong shopping street 3. Hongdae Shopping Street (street food yums)

If you are in Korea for winter, do not miss this Christmas Festival at Gwanghwamun square! There's craft and food options available as well as Squid Game season 2 mascot display. Take the train to Gwanghwamun station and exit from exit 1 or 2. There is also a light show at the main gate of the palace which is a must-see as well. #travel #southkorea #gwanghwamun #christmas #thingstodo #squidgame

#magicalxmastrip Gwanghwamun Square is a must-visit during the Seoul Winter Festa! Not only is the Christmas market happening, but there are also many other attractions. The facilities here are top-notch, and the square is a great place to feel the pride of Korea. In the evening, the area transforms with a media facade, making it a stunning sight. If you're in the area, it's worth checking out all the attractions around Gwanghwamun Square—it’s a beautiful place to explore! 📍 Location: Sejong Story, 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

#magicalxmastrip If you're in the Gwanghwamun area, be sure to stop by the Noknok Korean Food Festival, which is right next to the Christmas market! It's a great place to grab a quick snack while you explore the festivities. The variety of Korean food available makes it a fun addition to the holiday market. The atmosphere is festive, and it's the perfect spot to take a break from the crowds. You can enjoy delicious treats while soaking in the holiday spirit! 📍 Location: Sejong Story, 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

#magicalxmastrip I visited the Christmas market at Gwanghwamun Square, and it's definitely a place to check out during the holiday season! There are lots of shops inside the market, but it can get really crowded, making it a bit hard to fully enjoy everything. However, the highlight is the Santa Claus on the main tree, which makes for a great photo opportunity! Despite the cold, Santa looked very festive. It’s a fun place to visit if you enjoy Christmas vibes! 📍 Location: Sejong Story, 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul