Seoul Searching: Top 9 Korean History & Culture Experiences in Seoul

Seoul may be known for its vibrant cosmopolitan scene and as the home of all things K-Wave, but its colorful culture and history should not be overlooked on any visit. Fortunately for tourists, Seoul offers many attractions and activities to aid every traveler’s discovery of Korea’s rich history. From national museums to traditional cuisine, here are some amazing experiences you can’t miss in Seoul:

The National Museum of Korea is the largest national museum in the country, with its own outdoor exhibition and park. That said, you can already assume that you’ll get your culture fix in one visit! It houses the best collection of artifacts in the country spanning thousands of years, telling the tale of Korea from ancient to modern times. They also make use of VR technology for several exhibits to allow for a more vivid experience! 

If your visit falls on Chuseok, among other national holidays, you might even get to indulge in one-off exhibits showcasing the best of Korean culture and history!

Surely this experience grabbed your attention right away! 

For the uninitiated, the DMZ is a designated area at the border of North and South Korea known as the most heavily armed frontiers among all countries. While the turbulent history between the two sides is no news, tourists will learn more about the Korean War and The Cold War through this experiential tour.

As part of the itinerary, guests will walk through key sites such as Imjingak, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, and even access panoramic views of North Korea from the Dora Observatory. Nonetheless, this thrilling experience will be a memorable one and afterwards, you can actually say that you’ve stepped foot into this part of history.

Seoul is home to many historical attractions so it may be quite daunting to decipher which ones to visit during your stay. That said, we’ll be highlighting three of Seoul’s most poignant historical sites - which can all be accessed in an assisted walking tour you can pre-book on Klook!

Travel back in time and step into the Joseon Dynasty of Korea at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It’s been declared as the largest remaining palace among the Five Grand Palaces so you will surely have a lot to cover in this site alone. To enter for free, rent a traditional hanbok before your visit!

The abundance of temples across the country signifies the role religion plays in Korea. At least for Seoul, Jogyesa Temple is considered the center of Korean Buddhism. During your visit, you may come across various ceremonies and events such as the annual lantern festival.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a quaint neighborhood in the heart of Seoul that is lined with traditional Korean homes called hanoks. While many of these are still used for residence, many of the hanoks in this area have been internally renovated to fit a restaurant, boutiques and the like. Nonetheless, this area of Seoul is unique and one you’ll find yourself wanting to revisit. 

Taekwondo is a national sport in Korea and is often seen in Korean movies and dramas. Immerse yourself in culture and try a taekwondo class for yourself in a pre-booked session led by a professional instructor! 

While eating Korean food is one way to honor Korean culture, making it is just as enjoyable! We’re sure you’ve watched enough Korean dramas to realize how important food is to Koreans; so during your trip, be sure to put aside some time to actually learn how to make some of these dishes!

Klook is offering a traditional Korean cooking class that caters to students of all experience levels, so you don’t need to be a pro to join this class! Participants will be taken to a nearby market to shop for the meal that you’ll be making for the day (do note that the dishes change depending on the schedule you choose) first and afterwards, off you go to learn the art of Korean cooking - from Kimchi, Ddeokkbeokki, Korean pancakes and more!

Hanboks are the traditional Korean attire from the Joseon Dynasty, and fortunately for history buff tourists, there are many rental studios available in Seoul! Choose from an array of colors, styles and patterns and live out your K-Drama fantasies as you walk through the palaces! 

Seoul has a unique drinking culture, and one of the more popular alcoholic beverages is Makgeolli or traditional Korean rice wine! While other cities offer wine tasting tours or even brewery tours, here in Seoul you can learn about the process of brewing Makgeolli from scratch! After the wine-making experience, you’ll be able to taste your creations with banchan such as scallion pancakes to compliment the wine. 

Food is definitely an experience in Seoul, which is why you shouldn’t miss out on a traditional Korean meal during your visit - and no, we don’t mean KBBQ!

A traditional Korean royal court meal is exactly that - a meal prepared for the royal court. If you’re an avid K-Drama watcher, you may have seen scenes of tables covered with banchan (side dishes) and a variety of dishes including rice and soup. It is said that the preparation for Korean royal court meals are much different and that the chefs that prepare these adhere to recipes from royal transcripts. If this doesn’t pique your interest - we don’t know what will!

On a quest to know Seoul inside out, you’ll find yourself richer with knowledge and even more cultured!