Samcheong-ro, Footpath in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Samcheong-ro is a street in the Samcheong-dong neighborhood of Seoul, running from the area near Gyeongbokgung Palace up to Samcheong Tunnel. Along the way, old hanok houses stand beside newer buildings that hold art galleries, cafes, and small shops.
The area around Samcheong-ro sits close to Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in the 14th century as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty, which gave the neighborhood its historic standing from early on. In more recent decades, galleries and cafes gradually moved in, shaping the street into what it is today.
The street is known for its art galleries, including Gallery Hyundai, which has shown contemporary Korean art for over 50 years. Further along, the road becomes what locals call Cafe Street, where small shops and cafes sit inside buildings with traditional tiled roofs.
The street is best explored on foot, starting from the Gyeongbokgung Palace wall and walking north toward Samcheong Tunnel. The ground rises gently as you move away from the palace end, so starting from there makes the walk easier going downhill on the way back.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art on this street was once a military site, and its grounds still feature a large open lawn at the center that visitors can walk through. Many people do not expect to find this much open outdoor space inside a museum complex in the middle of the city.
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