5 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

Ever since this massive, spaceship-like cultural center opened in 2014 it’s become a quintessential sight in Dongdaemun and is visited by an average of 30,000 people per day. The futuristic Zaha Hadid–designed structure is clad with 45,133 aluminum panels and hosts more than 100 exhibitions and events each year. There are also architectural tours, a rooftop garden, kids’ art classes, restaurants, cafes, and shops to keep you occupied for hours.

Designed by prominent Korean architect Kim Swoo-geun, the ARKO Art Center was established in 1979 under the direction of the Arts Council Korea, also known by its acronym, ARKO. Kim's goal was for his architecture to represent a poem written by light and bricks. He achieved just that, as the center's red brick is an iconic symbol of Hyehwa-dong. The building consists of an exhibition space, archive, cafe, and other facilities dedicated to showcasing Korean contemporary art and supporting emerging Korean artists. Most exhibitions are free.

Housed in the previous train station, Culture Station Seoul 284 is an arts complex that often hosts performances, exhibitions, and events. The building, originally Gyeongseong Station in 1925, was renovated several times before opening in its current iteration in 2011, but many of the rooms have the look and feel of early modern Korea. The station’s Central Hall has a striking glass ceiling worth admiring, and the former barbershop has been converted to a small exhibition center showcasing the building’s restoration.

This seven-story multicultural complex houses several galleries, a concert hall, a movie theater, and a stationery and design store. The building, which stands prominently at the end of Picasso Street, is easily recognizable for its unique, irregular flower-pattern design. Two highlights of the space include the movie theater, which often has art films with subtitles, and the stationery store. The latter is a great place to pick up souvenirs for friends back home.

One of Seoul’s finest examples of urban regeneration, the Oil Tank Culture Park is an art complex built in five former oil tanks. The oil depot, which originally opened in the mid-1970s, was shut down in 2000 ahead of safety concerns, and after being abandoned for more than a decade, its current iteration was decided on by a public idea contest. Art exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical performances are often held here, but regardless of the park’s schedule, the venue is worthwhile for its unique atmosphere. Take time to explore the outdoor theater built behind T2 tank and don’t miss the chance to take artsy photos at the rooftop opening of T6, a tank that was built from steel plates found on T1 and T2.