Front Street of the Blue House

  The street in front of the Blue House has been open to the public since President Kim Yong Sam was inaugurated in 1993.
It is the street between the Hyoja three-way intersection in Hyoja-dong and the P'alp'an three-way intersection in P'alp'an-dong.
The Hyoja intersection is within walking distance from Kyongbokkung Subway Station on Hyoja-ro Street.
There are Hyoja Sarangbang (A "Sarangbang" is the husband's room of a traditional Korean house where male guests are received for socializing), a fountain, Mugunghwa Garden, Yonmugwan, Taegogak and Yongbin-gwan.
The two-story Hyoja Sarangbang contains exhibits on the Seoul Metropolitan Government's activities and Seoul's 600-years of history on its first floor as well as the central government's activities and gifts to the President from foreign dignitaries on the second floor.
In the back yard of the building are pergolas where visitors can rest. Taegogak is a pavilion where a drum is hung. The drum was made to commemorate the Shinmun-go (In the past, the Shinmun-go was hung at the gate of the royal palace for commoners to appeal directly to the king about irregularities committed by government officials.) and was presented to President Kim. Yonmugwan is a gymnasium where the Presidential security guards practice martial arts.

  Built in July, 1993 to replace the so-called "safety house," Mugunghwa Garden (Mugunghwa means the rose of Sharon) contains a symbolic well, a mini fortress made of natural stones, and resting areas. Just behind the Mugunghwa Garden are the Embassy of the Vatican and Ch'ilgung Palace.
The front street of the Blue House is lined with tall trees which provide pleasant shade. A beautiful flowerbed adds to the pleasure of walking along the street. The Blue House is situated across from Shinmumun, the north gate of Kyongbokkung Palace.
Ch'unch'umun, the press conference hall of the Blue House, is located towards the end of this street.
From there, walking along the Samch'ong-dong-gil Street to Konch'unmun, the front gate of Kyongbokkung Palace, one can find Kukje Gallery, Gallery Growrich, the French Cultural Institute and Gallery Hyundai. Chin Gallery is located on Hyoja-ro Street.

• Location: 150, Hyoja-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul
• Nearby tourist spots : National Museum, National Folk Museum, Kyongbokkung Palace

Transportation

Division	From	To	Duration	Remarks
City bus	City Hall "	Chokson-dong National Museum	5 mins. 5 mins.	Nos. 89, 150 Nos. 6, 8
Subway	*	Kyongbokkung	*	Line 3

National Theater

The National Theater opened in Oct., 1973 at the eastern foot of Mt. Namsan. It consists of a grand theater, a small theater and Nori Madang, an outdoor performance ground. The grand theater is a three-story building with 1,518 seats. It has a total floor space of 9,700 square meters on a site of 15,200 square meters, and supports itself with 38 pillars, each two meters in circumference. Its unique classical and modern beauty blend harmoniously. The small theater has 454 seats. Six exclusive organizations operate from the theater : the National Drama Company, the National Folk Opera Company, the National Ballet Company, the National Dance Company, the National Chorus and the National Opera Company.

• Location : San 14-67, Changch'ung-dong 2-ga, Chung-gu, Seoul
• Information : Tel. 82-2-274-1151-8, 82-2-274-1172/3
• Information by ARS (Audio Response System) : Tel. 82-2-266-0201/2
• Parking lot : 500 car capacity
• Nearby tourist spots : Changch'ung Park, Changch'ung Gymnasium, It'aewon, Namsan Park

Transportation

Subway
Line 3 stops at Tongguk Univ. Station.

Division	From	To	Duration	Remarks
City bus	Chongno 1-ga Ulchiro-ipku Tongdaemun	Changch'ung Gym. " National Theater	20 mins. 15 mins. 10 mins.	Nos. 154, 155 Nos. 33, 74 No. 17
City express bus	Seoul Sta. Chongno 2-ga	Changch'ung Gym. Changch'ung Gym.	25 mins. 20 mins.	No. 774 No. 732

• The theater operates shuttle bus between T'aeguktang Bakery outside the Tongguk Univ. Subway Station and the theater from 1 hour before to 20 minutes before the performance begins. It takes about 15 minutes by walking.

• The theater also operates return buses after the performance. The buses runs on five different routes. They are as follows
  • No. 1 Theater - Changch'ung-dong - Kwanghwamun - Nokpon Subway Station (Line 3)
  • No. 2 Theater - T'oegyero 4-ga - Ehwa Women's Univ. - Kangso Police Station
  • No. 3 Theater - Kwanghui-dong - Hanyang Univ. - Ch'onho-dong Intersection
  • No. 4 Theater - It'aewon - Noryangjin - Youido Apt.
  • No. 5 Theater - Taehakno Street - Taeji Teater - Nowon-gu Office

Seoul Arts Center

Location : 700, Soch'o-dong, Soch'o-gu, Seoul

Facilities

Concert Hall Floor space : 19,569 square meters. Four stories and one basement level. Concert hall : 2,600 seats. Recital hall : 400 seats. (Tel: 82-2-580-1410/9) Calligraphy Hall Floor space : 8,531 square meters. Four stories and one basement level. Ten exhibition rooms and two galleries. (Tel: 82-2-580-1510/6)

Hangaram Art Gallery
Floor space : 15,462 square meters. Four stories and one basement level. Five exhibition halls, lobbies, an art shop, and a storage room
(Tel: 82-2-580-1610/9)

Arts Library
Floor space : 11,698 square meters. Holdings : books, printed materials and audio & video materials about arts. Open to the public.
(Tel: 82-2-762-5231)

Opera House
Floor space : 43,434 square meters, 2,340 seats. Play house (Towol Theater) : 710 seats. Studio theater : 300-600 seats for more experimental and small-scale performances.
(Tel: 82-2-580-1810/4)

Information

• Representative 82-2-580-1114
• Publicity Department 82-2-580-1130/4
• Ticket Office 82-2-580-1451/3

Restaurants

• Iga 82-2-562-3220~1
• Isu Kalbi 82-2-594-0269
• Samhakto 82-2-584-4700~1
• Moranjip 82-2-573-9464~5
• Yedang 82-2-587-0029

Korea House

  At the Korea House, traditional Korean culture and life style come alive. The Korea House opened in 1981 and covers 7,153 square meters. Three single-story buildings with a basement are in strict accordance with traditional Korean architectural design and have a total floor space of 2,460 square meters.
Here, one can appreciate the beauty of traditional Korean architecture and living spaces, exquisite handicraft furniture, art works, folk music and dance - all in one location.
For foreigners who are interested in traditional Korean customs, foods and life style, the Korea House has become an important stop, even for those on a short visit to Korea.
Visitors are also invited to enjoy a traditional Korean wedding held every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the Korea House courtyard.
Replicas of Korean cultural properties, paintings, postcards and books about Korea and its traditional culture are available at reasonable price at the souvenir shop in the main hall of the Korea House.

• Location : 80-2, P'il-dong 2-ga, Chung-gu, Seoul
• Tel: 82-2-266-9101~3

Transportation

.

Dovosion	From	To	Duration	Remarks
City bus	Kwanghwamun Namdaemun Mkt.	Taehan Theater "	15 mins 15 mins	No. 20 Nos. 56, 76, 77, 81, 81-1, 139,361
City express bus	Kwanggyo	Taehan Theater	10 mins	No. 732
Subway		Ch'ungmuro		Line 3 or 4, then 5 minute walk

Performance

Time
19:10, 20:30 (Apr., May., Sept., Oct., Nov.) 20:30 (the other months)

Price(Won)
15,400

Contents
drum dance, Salp'uri(shaman exorcism dance), T'aep'yong-mu (court dance), Kanggangsu- wollae (circle dance), fan dance, mask dance, Shinawi (an ensemble of eight traditional musical instruments)

Remarks
Performance hall: 169 seats

korean food

(Unit=Won)

Time	Price(Won)	Contents	Remarks
Lunch (12:00-14:00) Dinner (18:00-21:00)	19,800 22,000 60,500 49,500 38,500	Korean style buffet Korean style buffet S-type Hanjongshik (full course) A-type " ( " ) B-type " ( " )	2 buffet halls, 6 rooms

Restaurants

Name	Tel.
Songjuk Chukchip Yangp'yong Sutpul Twaeji Kalbi Hangukchip Somunhoegwan Yukmijip Komsotchip Ojangdong Hungnamjip Namp'o Myonok Komgukshijip Changan Samgyet'ang Haenyodo Omakchip Shinjong	82-2-265-5129 279-1777, 3261 778-6259 755-0897, 4645 773-4402 756-4094 266-0735 777-2269 756-3249, 3250 753-5834 273-7879 275-8837~8 776-1464

Other Information

The Korea House is open to the public as a place for traditional Korean wedding ceremonies. Inside the building, there is an exhibition hall where traditional folk arts and handicrafts are displayed and sold.