Hyehwa

Understand

Hyehwa-dong, an administrative neighborhood located in Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City, derives its name from the Hyehwamun Gate located within the area. Legally, the district includes Hyehwa-dong, Myeongnyun 1-ga, Myeongnyun 2-ga, Myeongnyun 3-ga, Myeongnyun 4-ga, and part of Waryong-dong. The commercial district of Daehangno extends across both Hyehwa-dong and Ihwa-dong.

The Hyehwa-dong Community Center is well-known for being housed in a hanok, a traditional Korean building. The original community center was located along the main street of Daehangno, but in November 2006, it was relocated to its current hanok building. After remodeling, the former community center building became home to the Seoul Theater Center.

There is a "Philippine Village" in Hyehwa-dong, where many Filipinos reside. This community began forming in the 1990s, as Filipinos living in Korea started gathering every Sunday to attend Mass in Tagalog, celebrated by a Filipino priest at Hyehwa Catholic Church. Over time, as the Filipino population grew, a Sunday market catering to them was established, eventually leading to the formation of a village. For example, the Hyehwa-dong branch of Woori Bank, located at the Hyehwa-dong rotary, has been open on Sundays for a long time to handle remittances to the Philippines.

Get in

By bus

Many buses operate in Jongno-gu, facilitating smooth transportation throughout the district.

By Subway

Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 is available for use.

Currently, it is the station with the highest number of passengers on a single line within Jongno-gu. In the past, there was a significant gap compared to Jonggak Station, but starting in the late 2010s, the difference narrowed to a very small margin. Since 2021, the recovery of ridership after the decline due to COVID-19 has been faster, allowing it to overtake Jonggak Station. However, this applies only to single-line stations. When considering stations with multiple transfer lines, it still falls short of the dominance of Jongno 3-ga Station.

Do

• 1 Aruto Small Theater (아루또 소극장), 4F, Yeongyeong Building, 48 Daehak-ro 8-ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ☏ +82 2-6012-2511. 10:00-18:00. Located in the Daehak-ro district, Aruto Small Theater is known for staging romantic comedies. Since 2023, the theater is showcasing the play "De-minus Back to Fall in Love," a lighthearted romantic comedy. This small venue offers a cozy setting for audiences to enjoy live theater in an informal atmosphere. (updated Sep 2024)

Buy

• 1 Hyehwa Philippine Market (혜화 필리핀마켓), 288, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Hyehwa Filipino Market is a local market in Seoul that takes place on weekends, offering a variety of Filipino goods, food, and products. It's a popular spot for the Filipino community and visitors to experience authentic Filipino cuisine and culture. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Sister Shin’s General Store (신자매만물상), 188-4 Myeongnyun 4-ga, ☏ +82 507-1345-7406. 13:00-21:00. Sister Shin’s General Store is a shop that offers a wide range of goods, from household items to unique gifts. The store is known for its eclectic selection, catering to customers looking for everyday necessities as well as special finds. (updated Sep 2024)

Drink

• 1 Goen (고엔), Myeongryun 2-ga 8-30, ☏ +82 507-1319-5042. 16:00-1:00. Goen in Hyehwa is a Japanese restaurant that offers a variety of dishes, including sushi, sashimi, and other traditional Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is known for its fresh ingredients and authentic flavors, providing a comfortable dining experience in a casual setting. 25000₩. (updated Sep 2024)