Seochon Village

Seochon ("West Village") is the residential neighborhood between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Inwangsan, less photographed than Bukchon but considered by many Seoulites the more authentic surviving low-rise quarter in central Seoul. Joseon-era court painters lived here, and the streets still hold a careful mix of hanok houses, mid-20th-century brick villas, small art galleries, and independent cafes that resist franchise creep. Tongin Market — famous for its do-it-yourself "lunchbox" tradition where you exchange tokens for dishes from individual vendors — anchors one corner. Allow two hours for a slow loop. Pair with Gyeongbokgung Palace next door and the Suseong-dong Valley walk up Inwangsan.