A city, its architecture and its history: 15 must-see attractions in old town Seoul Through the Joseon Dynasty (1392?1910), Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War, industrialization, and democratization movements, countless stories of the changing times have been engraved in the nooks and crannies of Seoul. This book is a retrospect of the forgotten city of Hanyang (old Seoul), reviving the history once lived within the four ancient great gates. Many of the places covered in this book are among Seoul’s most famous landmarks and popular tourist attractions, yet the sagas unraveled at each destination impart an unconventional perspective. The author’s remarkably discerning eye notices and depicts the minute details most would miss around the city. In the district of Jongno, the author weaves tales from the past and present as he guides readers from Bosingak Bell, which served as an official clock during the Joseon period, through Tapgol Park, Seoul’s first public park and the epicenter of the March 1 Independence Movement, to the commercial centers where large-scale booksellers engage in never-ending battle and the city’s best jewelers congregate. The author’s remarkably discerning eye notices and depicts the minute details most would miss around the city, capturing the charms of even the smallest stone animal figures on the roof of Gyeongbokgung Palace. For those unmoved by the textbook photographs and dry histories of existing guides to Seoul, this book’s intimate charm is sure to please. The ever-changing city of Seoul: Sites and stories unfamiliar even to locals It would be an understatement to say that this book is only dedicated to tracking down the historical traces of Seoul. As the author says, “Seoul isn’t an antique?it’s an ever-changing organism.” He discusses the recent changes that have proven significant to the city: Gwanghwamun Square, the new Seoul City Hall, the Statue of Peace facing the Japanese embassy, and contemporary installations at Cheonggye Plaza. Introducing hidden attractions around the city, from an ecological park on a skyscraper rooftop to evidence of historical figures cleverly hidden in amongst the buildings, Seoul Historic Walks in Sketches contains extraordinary and unmatched insight into the city.

Chapter 01 Gyeongbokgung Palace Chapter 02 Myeong-dong Chapter 03 Susong-dong Chapter 04 Hyoja-dong Chapter 05 Gwanghwamun Plaza Chapter 06 Jongno Chapter 07 Cheonggyecheon Stream Chapter 08 Jeong-dong Chapter 09 Hyehwa-dong Chapter 10 Gyeonggyojang House Chapter 11 Dilkusha Chapter 12 Insa-dong Chapter 13 Sungnyemun Gate Chapter 14 Hwangudan Altar & Seoul City Hall Chapter 15 Seoul City Wall