Insa-dong
A neighbourhood in Jongno District, Seoul, centred on the main street Insadong-gil and the alleys that branch off it. It is known for galleries, antique and craft shops, and traditional tea houses.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 37.5730, 126.9860
Get the Insa-dong stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Insa-dong. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Seoul volume with your photos and a note.
Near Insa-dong
Jogyesa 0.4 km
The chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, in central Seoul. Its building dates to the late 14th century, and it became the order's head temple in 1936. Lantern displays for Buddha's birthday fill its courtyard each spring.
Jongmyo Shrine 0.7 km
A Confucian royal ancestral shrine in Seoul, built in the Joseon period to house the spirit tablets of kings and queens. Its very long wooden main hall is a striking sight, and the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 0.8 km
A contemporary art museum with four branches, the main one set in parkland at Gwacheon south of Seoul. The others are in Deoksugung, central Seoul and Cheongju. It was established in 1969 and shows Korean and international modern art.
Gwanghwamun Plaza 0.8 km
A broad public square on Sejong-daero in front of Gyeongbokgung. It holds statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong the Great, and it is a regular gathering place for festivals, marches and open air events.
Cheonggyecheon 0.9 km
A 10.9 kilometre stream and public space in downtown Seoul. A highway covered it for decades, and it was reopened as an urban stream in 2005. Walkways, bridges and stepping stones run along its length.
Gwanghwamun 0.9 km
The main southern gate of Gyeongbokgung, standing at the north end of Sejong-daero in central Seoul. It was first built in 1395, and the current gate is a reconstruction. Guards in Joseon style costume stand watch in front of it.
Changdeokgung 0.9 km
A former royal palace in Seoul, founded in 1405 as a second residence beside Gyeongbokgung. It is among the best preserved of Korea's palaces, and its rear garden, the Huwon, is a wooded retreat of ponds and pavilions. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Myeong-dong 1.0 km
A neighbourhood in Jung District, Seoul, between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro and Namdaemun-ro. It is one of the city's main shopping and tourism districts, known for cosmetics stores, street food stalls and crowded pedestrian lanes.
More hidden gems in Seoul
Questions
Where is Insa-dong?
Insa-dong is in Seoul, South Korea. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Jogyesa (0.4 km), Jongmyo Shrine (0.7 km), National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (0.8 km).
How do I get the Insa-dong stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Insa-dong and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Seoul volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Insa-dong before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Seoul volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.