SEOSULLA-GIL

Seosulla-gil Street, Where Patrolmen Did Their Rounds during the Joseon Period

Despite its location in the heart of Jongno, Seoul, Sulla Street is unknown even to the residents of Seoul and offers a tranquil landscape. At the back of busy Jongno 3-ga, Seosulla-gil Street, where patrolmen used to make rounds in the Joseon period, continues along the ancient walls of Jongmyo Shrine where the evidence of time is present. The back of Jongno Jewelry Alley, newly occupied by cafés and restaurants, is becoming a hot place nowadays. Enjoy a quiet walk along the stone-walled street that connects the present to the past, following the footsteps of the patrolman.

Road along the West Wall of Jongmyo Shrine

In the bustling heart of Jongno, there’s a remarkably serene area where time seems to have come to a standstill. The area consists of Jongmyo Shrine, where ancestral tablets of the kings of the Joseon Dynasty are set up, and Seosulla-gil Street, which continues along the shrine’s west wall. With Jongmyo Shrine at the center, the road to the east is called Dongsulla-gil Street and the road to the west is called Seosulla-gil Street, both originating from Sulla, the patrolling system of patrolmen in the Joseon Dynasty.

This historic walkway is not very well known because Kwonnong-dong and Bongik-dong of Jongno-gu, where the road passes by, formed an area with a government office and fields that provided vegetables to the palace in the Joseon era, and the residents of the area were the palace staffs, such as eunuchs and maids. However, after the Joseon Dynasty had fallen, the neighborhood deteriorated while going through the Japanese occupation. Around 1995, nearby areas were developed for city maintenance and the street was rebuilt, becoming the current Seosulla-gil Street.

Craftsmen and Cafés Gathered under Quaint Old Walls

Seosulla-gil stretches from 45-4 Jongno 3-ga to 26 Gwonnong-dong. At first, the newly established street did not receive much attention and workshops of jewelers in Jongno, lapidary workshops and small jewelry shops filled the street.

A Quaintness That Goes Together with Low Buildings, Floor-to-Ceiling Windows and Stone Walls

Although close to Anguk Station and Jongno 3-ga Station, Seosulla-gil Street presents a world far from the hustle and bustle. Along this tranquil 1 kilometer-long street connected to the high walls protecting Jongmyo Shrine, the studios of young jewelry designers showcase exquisite works created with their fresh ideas. Cafés and restaurants are never higher than two stories because of a height limit, but the low height has made them blend harmoniously with the stone walled street.

Each store maintains the charm of the street through an interior that emphasizes the natural beauty of the materials such as wood, bricks and roof tiles. Since the street is facing the stone wall, most of the stores feature floor-to-ceiling windows in front to ensure their patrons fully enjoy the charm of the walls of Jongmyo Shrine and the tranquil atmosphere of the street.

Address│Gwonnong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Way to go│5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Jongno 3-ga Station, Seoul Subway Line 1 or 3

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