Recently Viewed
Bukchon History Tour: Seoul's Cultural Heart
5.0
15 Ratings
Unni-dong
Introduced in February 2025, this walking tour guides participants through Bukchon, the center of Korean politics, economy, and culture from 1392 AD to the 1980s. Led by a storyteller who was born and raised in Bukchon, and is now a filmmaker and university screenwriting professor, participants will discover the rich history of Seoul on foot.
Introduced in February 2025, this walking tour guides participants through Bukchon, the center of Korean politics, economy, and culture from 1392 AD to the 1980s. Led by a storyteller who was born and raised in Bukchon, and is now a filmmaker and university screenwriting professor, participants will discover the rich history of Seoul on foot.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Unhyeongung - When the king passes away without a crown prince, an 11-year-old royal boy, born and raised here, ascends as the 26th king of Joseon. For the following decade, the boy’s father governs the nation from this location. Discover the captivating history of Unhyeonggung Palace and admire the remarkable architecture of the era.
- **Cafe…
- Unhyeongung - When the king passes away without a crown prince, an 11-year-old royal boy, born and raised here, ascends as the 26th king of Joseon. For the following decade, the boy’s father governs the nation from this location. Discover the captivating history of Unhyeonggung Palace and admire the remarkable architecture of the era.
- Cafe Onion Anguk - Appreciate historic architecture from 600, 100, and 50 years ago and uncover the stories behind them.
- Bukchon Cultural Center - Explore and value the hanoks of the Yangban, the ruling class, who typically resided in Seoul.
- Seokjeong Boreum Well - Hear stories about the wells familiar from childhood and what history has unveiled about them.
- Choong Ang High School (Location for Winter Sonata) - This high school is renowned for being the filming site of numerous dramas and music videos, yet it is a historic venue that contributed to shaping Korea into its present form. Discover the story behind its hidden history.
- Samcheongdong / Bukchon - Follow the dramatic rise and fall of influential politicians and business magnates who once owned land in Bukchon — a district selected as the capital based on feng shui principles. Esteemed as a favorable site, this sought-after land became both the source of their wealth and influence, and the setting for their eventual decline.
- Bukchon Hanok Village - The individual who transformed the landscape of Bukchon in the 1920s and 30s.
What's Included
- Traditional Korean handicraft experience (Plus Tour only)
- Professional guide from Bukcheon
- Traditional Korean handicraft experience (Plus Tour only)
- Professional guide from Bukcheon
What's Not Included
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel pick-up service
- Personal expenses
- Tea and coffee
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel pick-up service
- Personal expenses
- Tea and coffee
Location
Anguk Station Exit 4
Meet in front of Exit No.4 of An Guk Station on Subway Line 3
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(15 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
David_j
Mar 5, 2025
Exploring 600 Years of History in Bukchon - 600 years of history and people in Seoul's Bukchon district and a guide Dong introduced me to many buildings with interesting storytelling and it was very fun. In particular, it was good to see the depth of the history of Seoul, the capital of Korea.
Review provided by Viator
Emily_s
Mar 5, 2025
A Fascinating Tour on Feng Shui in Bukchon - Among the various stories about Bukchon in Seoul, the most interesting one on this tour was the story about feng shui. It was interesting to learn that feng shui is very important to those who gain power, prosper or destroy a country, and make people die or live. It was a very fun and informative tour.
Review provided by Viator
Heather_c
Feb 18, 2025
Unexpected Journey In Seoul - The trip to Bukchon was unexpected and despite the cold weather, I was impressed with the many sights and history explained by our enthusiastic guide Dong.
Review provided by Viator
Marie_k
Feb 18, 2025
Amazing storytelling in every corner of Bukchon - I found it fascinating to learn that almost all of Korea's history has taken place in Bukchon over the past 600 years, and that every building or place name has its own story that only a guide from Bukchon would know. I loved most of the Korean stories and things to see.
Review provided by Viator
James_o
Feb 12, 2025
Discovering Seoul’s History Through the Eyes of a Local - This was my first time in Korea, and I had the opportunity to join the Bukchon Alleyway Tour. I thought it would be a great way to experience Korea’s rich history and culture up close.
The tour started at Unhyeongung, where our guide, Dong, shared a fascinating story. A baby born here—not as a prince but as a member of the royal family—eventually became the emperor of Joseon, while his father ruled the country for ten years.
Walking through Bukchon, we encountered architecture spanning 500 years, from traditional hanok houses to modern Korean landmarks. We also saw traces of Korea’s independence movement during the Japanese colonial period. As I wandered through the narrow alleyways, I began to understand why Bukchon is such a symbolic part of Seoul.
What made this tour truly special was Dong’s storytelling. Having been born and raised in Bukchon, he shared stories that you wouldn’t hear anywhere else.
If you want to truly understand Seoul, I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator