Introduction
World Food Street, Hamilton Hotel, Art Museum, nightclubs, Antique Furniture Street, etc.
Itaewon was the first special tourist zone in Seoul, designated in 1997. It is a multicultural place where over 20,000 foreigners live and is widely recognized by international visitors.
The name Itaewon started to spread worldwide in the 1980s, when Korea hosted the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as many international conferences. Since then, Itaewon has become a popular travel destination. Clothes and accessories with unique designs, and leather products in particular are famous. This is a go-to place for both shopping and entertainment. The street is crowded with shopping malls selling clothes and bags, as well as hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities and travel agencies. With about 2,000 shops and stores lining every street, visitors can experience a multicultural atmosphere. Also famous in the district is Antique Furniture Street where more than 100 shops selling furniture and antiques stretch from Hamilton Hotel toward Bogwang-ro.
Travelers can taste authentic cuisine and experience culture from around the globe on the World Food Street where there are 40 restaurants operated by foreigners. Since the late 1990s, an increase in the number of tourists from Southeast Asia and the Middle East has transformed the streets from being US Army-oriented into culturally diverse. Varied performance and events are held in the area. In particulary, Itaewon Global Village Festival, held every October, is a famous festival. Tourists can pay in US dollars, Japanese Yen or another currency freely. In addition, visitors can use various languages like English, Japanese, and Chinese with the sellers.
* Current State of Itaewon Special Tourist Zone
1) Districts Covered: 1.4 km-long street stretching from Itaewon-ro to Hannam-dong Community Center
2) Total Area: 383,292㎡
3) Designated on September 29, 1997 (Seoul’s first special tourist zone)
* Tourist Attractions
World Food Street, Hamilton Hotel, art museum, nightclubs, Antique Furniture Street, etc.
Current Status
Special Tourist Zone designation date: September 29, 1997 (First designated zone in Seoul)
Parking Facilities
Public parking lots (fees apply)
6 parking lots around the hotels
Limited spaces at shopping malls and restaurants are available.
Interpretation Services Offered
Tourist information centers offer travel maps in English, Japanese and Chinese. Travel information is posted on the website in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Baby Stroller Rentals
Not available
Pets
Pets are allowed in the streets and shopping malls. Some restaurants do not allow pets.
Directions
[Subway] Itaewon Station / Noksapyeong Station / Hangangjin Station (Seoul Subway Line 6)
※ Source: Korea Tourism Organization(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr)
