Neighbourhood guide

Itaewon

Seoul’s most international district

Séoul

The vibe

Restaurants from all over the world, bars, shops and views of Namsan: Itaewon is Seoul’s cosmopolitan crossroads. The nearby streets of Hannam-dong add galleries, concept stores and the Leeum art museum.

Good to know

The sloping streets behind the main road hide the best restaurants; avoid packed alleys on big party nights.

When to go

In the evening, for dinner and a night out.

Getting there

Subway to Itaewon or Noksapyeong (Line 6).

The story

How the neighbourhood came to be

Long the neighbour of the large US military base at Yongsan, Itaewon grew around foreign soldiers and then international communities. Korea’s first mosque, the Seoul Central Mosque, opened here in 1976.

Did you know?

1The Seoul Central Mosque, opened in 1976, is the country’s first mosque.
2The Leeum museum shows both ancient celadon and contemporary art.

Want to explore further?

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