Itaewon
이태원
Why go
A neighborhood where the missions of more than 40 countries and foreign residents' homes come together in a mix of cultures. In 1997 it became Seoul's first Special Tourist Zone, and you can walk its street of food from around the world and its antique furniture street.
13.0%Share of foreign travelers to Seoul who visited the Itaewon, Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan-gil area — 2025 Seoul Tourism Survey (foreign visitors), places visited, multiple answers allowed
Highlights
History
In the Joseon era, Itaewon (梨泰院) was one of the lodgings near Seoul where people traveling on official business stayed. With the textile boom of the late 1970s it grew into a shopping area selling cheap, distinctive non-brand clothing, and through the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics its name became known around the world.
In 1997 it was designated Seoul's first Special Tourist Zone. From the late 1990s more visitors came from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and in the late 2000s exotic restaurants and cafes moved in, making it a multicultural street. On October 29, 2022, the 10·29 disaster took place here.
The Special Tourist Zone spans three stops on Subway Line 6, from Noksapyeong Station through Itaewon Station to Hangangjin Station. Yongsan-gu presents it as a space of human rights and peace where different cultures support one another.
Getting there
Where next
Tips
- There are tourist information centers inside Itaewon Station and at the station entrance.
- At Halloween in 2024, the Seoul city government advised people to avoid the crowds by using Hangangjin or Noksapyeong Station instead of Itaewon Station. Check how crowded it is first on the crowd-detection screens on the street.
- Each shop keeps its own hours and days off.
Show details
- Address
- 서울특별시 용산구 이태원로 일대