The upcoming Jeongdong Culture Night (정동 야행) this weekend (May 11-12, 2018) had inspired me to walk the streets of Jeongdong earlier this week before the place will be filled with festive people bent on enjoying the days and nights of Jeong-dong culture.

I was delighted to have my husband in this walk since Monday, May 7, was a red-letter day here in Korea. We started at the main gate of Deoksu Palace. I went inside the palace last week with a university professor who gave our group valuable insights we would normally take for granted, so we skipped going inside this time.

Jeongdong-gil starts right beside the Deoksugung gate and follows the palace walls. It is a stretch filled with history and in harmony with nature. I made a mental note of walking this street again in Autumn when the ginko trees graciously lining up will produce resplendent yellow leaves. Don’t forget to look down, you’ll see this tiled photos of important places along Jeongdong-gil.

Those tiled photos have the Deoksu Palace, the Deoksu Palace walls, the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, the Seoul National Museum of Arts, the Appenzeler/Noble Museum, the Ewha Museum, the remains of the Russian Legation building and the first Methodist Church.

The first Methodist Church built here in Korea is currently being renovated. I didn’t take photos or stopped in some of the historical spots but if you can, it will be great. You can also just opt to feel and listen to the sounds around. A walk along this street during lunch time and afternoon will make you find some talents bringing along their instruments and singing. Some are Koreans but last Monday, we saw two foreigners in separate spots. To each his own.

On the other side of the Methodist Church, the gigantic flowers beckon.

Follow the narrow path just a little uphill and you’ll be welcomed with the stately facade of the Seoul Museum of Art. This used to be the Supreme Court and was only turned as the current museum in 2002.

Ongoing exhibition when we visited is a collection of the museums’ New Acquisitions under the theme “Heaven, Earth & Man”  which runs from April 17 – May 20, 2018. “With Weft, With Warp” is another ongoing exhibition with the central theme “thread” which threads on weaving, knitting, and embroidery deemed as women’s work. This runs until June 3, 2018.

The Jeongdong Theater, a historical place for the performing arts having held critically-acclaimed performances is located right here in Jeongdong-gil.

The narrow road beside the Jeongdong Theater leads to the bittersweet historical remains of the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a place known to Koreans as where the Eulsa “Unwilling” Treaty was signed. It was here that Korea was coerced by Japan to sign the treaty placing Korea as a protectorate of Japan.

Jungmyeongjeon Hall – signing of the Eulsa “Unwilling” Treaty

This heavy piece of history takes on a lighter mood when we went back to the street. Right outside is the not-so-long row of cafes and restaurants with just the relaxing ambiance. I love it! And we made sure to sit down and relax right here after our walk. But that’s getting ahead.

 

This short row of cafes and restos along Jongdong-ro is ♥… Went there for a walking tour before it will be filled with people this coming Friday and Saturday for the festivities. After our own walking tour in the area, hubbydoo and I relaxed over a cup of coffee before we went back in time for our sons to go home from school. #Jongdong #culturestreet #CafesinSeoul

A post shared by Wendyflor (@wendyflor_40) on May 9, 2018 at 4:19pm PDT

And when I had my first glimpse of this building, I knew this holds an important place in history.

Annex Building of former Shinailbo (New Asia Daily) in Seoul

This building is a Registered Cultural Heritage No. 402. This was used as the office of Singer Corporation in the 1930s… The foyer on the first floor together with stairs, balconies, inner columns, floor structure and fireplace still retain the original historical appearance.

The Ewha Woman’s University started here in Jeongdong-gil as Ehwa Girls’ High School 이화여자고등학교. It still stands there today as a private high school for girls. This is an important landmark in women’s education.

Across the narrow road lies the protected Pagoda Tree, now over 560 years old! It is especially fenced in front of the Canadian Embassy. This tree had been designated as a protected tree on October 12, 1972. Its sturdy trunk makes it an imposing presence winter, spring, summer and fall.

Following the winding street beside the building housing the Canadian Embassy will bring you to the unintentionally hidden Jeongdong Park with this lovely, white gazebo:

 

Me in this lovely, white gazebo. But look up and see what remains of the white building up the hill. It is the remains of the former Russian Legation, designated as Historic Site No. 253. I had a very relaxing day strolling with hubbydoo today, discovering parts of Seoul we oftentimes overlook. #Jongdong #whitegazebo #russianlegation #koreanhistory #historicsite @#discoverseoul #discoverKorea #learnhistory

A post shared by Wendyflor (@wendyflor_40) on May 7, 2018 at 2:22am PDT

What comes to mind when you see a white gazebo?

I’m old school and this is a giveaway to my generation… I can’t stop humming The Sound of Music’s “I’m sixteen, going on seventeen…” minus the rain, of course!

But on top of the hill behind the white gazebo is a dramatic picture of the remains of the Russian Legation. It stands tall. The building was destroyed during the Korean War and what remains today is a majestic reminder of the once proud and mighty protector of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty. This is where the King took refuge after his wife, Queen Min, was assassinated by the Japanese forces.

We ventured some more towards the end of Jeongdong-gil. Across the street from the top end of Jeongdong-gil, the Seoul Center of Architecture and Urbanism building was inviting us to take a closer look. We allowed ourselves to be lured and discovered the new (and is still a work in progress) outdoor museum, the Donuimun Museum Village. This deserves its own blog post.

We followed the same path of cobblestones we took and ended where we started, the main gate of Deoksugung Palace. Aside from coffee, you know what’s the best way to end your walk?

Take that queue by the waffle place just right beside the palace wall and have your fill of its famous… waffles!

How to go there?

Get out of Exit 1 of Seoul City Hall Station. Right outside is the main gate of Deoksu Palace.

Take a walk with me in this video:

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