Insa-dong

S h y numis · CC BY-SA 4.0

The street of hanji paper, ink brushes and tea — the one place in Seoul where even the Starbucks sign is written in Korean.

Insa-dong has been Seoul's antiques and craft street since Joseon times, when impoverished officials brought the contents of their houses out to sell. The main run is about seven hundred metres, lined with hanji paper shops, potteries, brush makers and traditional tea houses set back in courtyards. District rules require every sign on the street to be written in hangul — foreign chains included — which gives the whole stretch its own visual rhythm. Ssamziegil, a building you climb by a spiral ramp rather than stairs, gathers the small craft studios. At weekends the main street closes to traffic and turns into an open-air stage.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Insa-dong?

Year-round

How long do you need at Insa-dong?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Insa-dong?

The street is always open; shops generally run 10:00–21:00. At weekends the main street is closed to cars and becomes pedestrian-only

Did you know

Seoul's oldest antiques and calligraphy quarter.
Jongno district requires shop signs on the street to be written in hangul.
The Ssamziegil building is climbed by a spiral ramp, with no main staircase.
The main street is closed to vehicles at weekends.

Travel tips

Turn into the side lanes — the best tea houses and potteries are tucked out of sight.
Try omija five-flavour tea or jujube tea at a traditional tea house.
Weekends are festive; weekdays are easier going.

Source: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=111926

Updated: 2026-08-04