A Different Side of Dongdaemun 🇰🇷 | Hidden Seoul Walk Beyond DDP

Most visitors know Dongdaemun for DDP and shopping, but there’s a completely different side of this neighborhood just a short walk away. In this video, I explore some of the lesser-known places around Dongdaemun and Changsin-dong — from an old stationery and toy street to hillside neighborhoods, a former quarry, panoramic views of Seoul, Naksan Park, Ihwa Village, and a proper local Korean lunch. If your trip to Seoul isn’t too short, this is a great walking route to see a more local and unexpected side of the city. 🏷️ Places Visited 1. Changsin-dong Stationery and Toy Street 📍 21-1, Jong-ro 52-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🕒 08:00–19:00 ✅ Opening hours vary by store. 2. Changsin-dong Dolsan Village A hillside neighborhood with narrow alleys and great views over Seoul. 3. Sanmaru Playground 📍 39, Changsin 6ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🕒 Tue–Sun 09:00–19:00 ✅ Closed Mondays and public holidays. 🚌 Take Jongno Village Bus No. 03 from Dongdaemun or Changsin Station, get off at Naksan Samgeori, then walk about 700 m downhill. 4. Changsin Sungin Quarry Observatory / Cafe Nakta 📍 51, Naksan 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 🕒 Tue–Sun 10:00–22:00 ✅ Closed Mondays 5. Naksan Park 📍 41, Naksan-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul A beautiful place to enjoy city views and walk along the Seoul City Wall. 6. Ihwa-dong Mural Village 📍 70-11, Ihwajang-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul A quiet hillside neighborhood with small alleys and a very different atmosphere from central Dongdaemun. 7. Heunginjimun Park 📍 70, Jongno 6-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul This was a completely different side of Dongdaemun. No huge shopping malls. No famous K-pop stores. And hardly any of the places most first-time visitors usually see. Instead, we found old toy streets, hillside neighborhoods, a former quarry, incredible city views, the Seoul City Wall, and even a very affordable local Korean lunch. That’s what I enjoy about walking around Seoul. Sometimes, the most interesting places aren’t the ones on your original itinerary. If you have a little extra time in Seoul, why not explore this side of Dongdaemun? Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one! #Dongdaemun #SeoulTravel #KoreaTravel #HiddenSeoul #NaksanPark #ChangsinDong #IhwaVillage #SeoulWalkingTour #SeoulCityWall #KoreaTravelGuide