To fully comprehend what a mammoth and expensive effort it was to resurrect Cheong-gye-cheon, Seoul’s long buried east–west stream, pay a visit to this excellent museum. It's also a good starting point for a walk along the revitalised waterway – 2.5km west to Dongdaemun Market. Don't miss the Cheong-gye-cheon Cardboard House museum opposite, a wooden shack typical of the slum housing that sprawled along the stream after the Korean War.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Cheong-gye-cheon Cardboard House

0.01 MILES

This 'cardboard' slum house, typical of the wooden shacks that lined the Cheong-gye-cheon after the Korean War, has been preserved to give a sense of life…

2. Seoul K-Medi Center

0.62 MILES

Learn about the history and practice of traditional Korean medicine at this impressive facility styled to resemble Bojewon, a clinic from the early Joseon…

3. Yeonghwiwon and Sunginwon

1.26 MILES

Set in a tranquil, well-tended plot, this pair of royal burial mounds dates to the very end of the Joseon dynasty. Yeonghwiwon, the larger of the two, is…

4. Dongdaemun History Museum

1.38 MILES

Attached to the DDP, this museum makes up a part of the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park and features archaeological remains from the Joseon dynasty…

5. Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial

1.42 MILES

Forming part of the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, this engaging museum relives key moments from the former stadium’s history. Built by the Japanese…

6. Heunginjimun

1.43 MILES

The Great East Gate to Seoul’s City Wall has been rebuilt several times in its 700-year history and, after recent renovations, it's looking majestic. It's…

7. Hongneung Arboretum

1.48 MILES

A hidden gem, the National Institute of Forest Science opens its idyllic grounds to the public on weekends. A forest pathway winds for a few kilometres…

8. Gwanghuimun

1.49 MILES

The 'southeast gate' of Seoul's fortress wall, Gwanghuimun is far smaller and more modest than Heunginjimun. It was rebuilt in 1976.