Seoul/Jongno



Jongno (종로) is in Seoul, and constitutes the northern half of the historic core of Seoul, along with Jung, the southern half. As the soul of Seoul (to coin a phrase), Jongno is home to a plethora of beautiful Joseon Dynasty palaces, shrines, temples, parks, historic neighborhoods, and other traditional sights.

Jongno holds four of the five Grand Palaces of Seoul: Gyeongbok-gung, Changdeok-gung, Changgyeong-gung, and Gyeonghui-gung. It also has Jongmyo Shrine, the headquarters of the Korean 'Seon' Buddhist Order Jogyesa Temple, the Bukchon Hanok village, Insadong antiques through-way, the former Presidential Palace Cheongwadae, the National Folk Museum of Korea (formerly the National Museum of Korea), and Hyehwa, a district filled with small, independent theaters.

Understand
Jongno-gu, Seoul is a special district in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and is a neighborhood rich in history and culture.

It is known for its traditional Korean architecture, palaces, temples, and shrines, as well as its courtly food and traditional arts.

Jongno-gu is home to historical attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Jongmyo, and Deoksugung Palace, and you can enjoy traditional arts, crafts, and food in places like Insadong and Bukchon Hanok Village.

Jongno-gu is also home to modern commercial and nightlife districts, making it a unique neighborhood where old history and modern culture coexist. A visit here will allow you to experience and understand the many facets of Korea.

History
The history of Jongno-gu is known for playing an important role in the history and culture of Korea. The following is a brief description of some of the key historical moments and features of Jongno-gu:
 * Center of the Joseon Dynasty: During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), when Seoul was chosen as the capital, Jongno-gu became the center of the Joseon Dynasty. Royal palaces such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Jongmyo, as well as places for rituals, were located here.
 * Gyeongbokgung Palace: Located in Jongno-gu, Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most important palaces of the Joseon Dynasty in South Korea. The palace was the residence of the kings of the Joseon Dynasty and features beautiful traditional architecture and gardens.
 * Insadong: Insadong is one of Jongno-gu's main cultural districts and is a center for traditional arts and crafts. Here you can take photos in traditional hanbok or enjoy traditional Korean food and art.
 * Jongmyo: Jongmyo is the site of the Joseon Dynasty's ritual sacrifices, with large-scale festivals held every year on the full moon (Chuseok).
 * Modern and contemporary history: In the 20th century, Jongno-gu witnessed important scenes in Korea's modern history. Events such as the Korean independence movement, the April 19 Revolution, and the May 18 Democratization Movement took place here.

Climate
Seoul/Jongno experiences a typical climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and dry,

with temperatures in January ranging from -8°C to 1°C. Summers are warm and humid, with July and August being the hottest months with temperatures reaching up to 29°C.

July receives the most precipitation, with 318 millimeters of rainfall. Snow is not common in Seoul/Jongno.

Get in
The main metro stations serving Jongno are Gyeongbukgong (line 3), Anguk (line 3), Jongno-3ga (line 1, 3, 5) and Gwanghwamun (line 5). From Jung, walk along Sejong-daero, a busy road that passes Gwanghwamun Plaza. The plaza has statues and monuments honoring Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Joseon dynasty.

Palaces


An Integrated Ticket of Palaces that covers the five Great Palaces of Seoul and Jongmyo Shrine costs ₩10,000 and lasts for 3 months from the time of first entry. All of them have a thicker, more informative pamphlet for ₩500, which is more useful when walking in the palaces. Worth checking out.

City gates
Seoul has many historic city gates. Two of four great gates can be found in Jongno. (Namdaemun can be found in neighboring Jung)



Museums




Do






Connect
As with anywhere else in Seoul, there are plenty of PC rooms ('PC Bang') available to go online for a few hours on a good machine for only a few thousand won.