Exploring for Korea’s unique cultural identity!
Tour features Gyeongbokgung palace - the most beautiful place and best architecture, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gwangjang market, N Seoul Tower, Hongdae street.
Guide share information of Korean culture that helps guest fully appreciate beauty and value of Gyeongbokgung but entire Korean traditional culture.
Gyeongbokgung is the most beautiful place and must-see architecuture that represent Korea's traditional culture.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Gwanghwamun square
- Meeting and greeting and sharing of brief context about Korean traditional culture & history.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Geyongbokgung is highlight and essence to showcase the authentic palace architecture of Confucianism.
National Folk Museum
Folk Museum features Korean Folk culture of four seasonal customs and traditional life passsge.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village is unique and attractive destination that shows traditional landscape in the middle of highly urbanized metropolitan environment.
Gwangjang market
Gwangjang market is the oldest traditional Korean market, where we can experience traditional Korean food at food stands.
N-Seoul Tower or National Museum of Korea
N Seoul Tower, which seats on the top of Namsan mt., provides panoramic view of Seoul. Fortress wall from N Seoul Tower to South Gate can be included as an option.
National Museum of Korea is largest and most prestigious museum with attractive huge outdoor garden, exhibiting about 10,000 pieces on display.
Hongdae steet
Hongdae is vibrant and trendy area featuring young & modern culture & atmosphere of Korea
End of tour
Tour ends at Hongdae street
Ending Point
Hongdae
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
meal/lunch, entrance fee for N Seoul Tower, transportation.
* Entrance fee for palace is 3,000Kor.Won. It will be bought at palace.
Our tour to explore Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty!
Center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Confucianism is the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Confucianism is Korea's cultural identity, that is reflected on palaces and traditional architecture.
I am the only Confucian culture tour curator and docent guide in Korea who introduces Korean traditional Confucian culture. Tour and information based on Korea's unique Confucian culture will help you discover joy and wonder of unique Korean culture.
Gyeongbokgung is the most beautiful place and 1st must-see architecture in Korea. Gyeongbokgung represents Korea's cultural identity. Gyeongbokgung was built in 1395 as main palace and monumental architecture that represents Confucianism, and it is largest palace and the only palace built on flat land and according to traditional palace structure.
Bukchon Hanok Village is Korea's traditional house village with long history. It is unique and attractive destination that seamlessly blends traditional landscape with highly urbanized metropolitan environment.
Gwangjang market is the oldest traditional Korean market, where we can experience traditional Korean food at food stands.
Namsan mt. is situated in the center of Seoul, and N Seoul Tower, with panoramic view of Seoul. Visitors can see the beautiful scenery of Seoul at N-Seoul Tower. N Seoul Tower was selected as one of the world's top 500 tourist destinations in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.
National Museum of Korea is the largest and most prestigious museum in Korea.
Hongdae is vibrant and trendy area featuring young & modern culture & atmosphere of Korea, offering performance & singers, showing K-Pop culture and full of boutique shops, trendy cafes and restaurants.
Tuesday is closed at Gyeongbok Palace
My primary tourist destination is Seoul and metropolitan area, consisting of 5 palaces, Royal Ancestral Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village, National Museum of Korea, War Memorial of Korea and other museums & galleries and contemporary architectures, and Namsan Mt. with N-Seoul Tower, traditional & trendy market places such as Gwangjang market & Hondae street, and also Korean Folk Village & DMZ tour.
Hello everyone, I am Paul, a state-licensed English tour guide in Seoul. I am professional tour docent with proven record track of over 200 tours for international tourists.
Seoul is a fascinating destination that seamlessly blends the traditional with the modern.
My tour is to explore Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty!
Center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, but are just fascinated by its superficial beauty.
Confucianism is the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Confucianism is Korea's cultural identity, that is basis for Korean traditional architecture.
Based on understanding of Confucianism, your appreciation will create intense impression and long-lasting memory of your tour in Korea. I am the only tour docent-guide in Korea who introduces Korean traditional culture based on Confucianism.
My primary tourist destinations are focusing on Seoul and metropolitan area, consisting of 5 palaces, Royal Ancestral Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village, National museum of Korea, War Memorial of Korea, other museums & galleries and contemporary architectures, and Namsan Mt. with N-Seoul Tower, traditional & trendy market places such as Gwangjang market & Hongdae street, and COEX-Starfield library & Bongeunsa Buddhist temple & Sunjeongneung Royal Tomb in Gangnam area, and also Korean Folk Village & DMZ tour in neighboring cities.
Alongside, I am specialist for hiking to Bukhansan Mt. and Inwangsan Mt. that are located in downtown Seoul, where you can enjoy beautiful natural sceneries and stunning view of Seoul.
With my hands-on experiences and deep knowledge of Korea's culture & history, you can discover true discoveries in Korea.
Thank you for your interest!
As your guide, I hope to see you soon in Seoul!
Albertus S.
“Full day tour with Paul”
Paul is very knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of his country and he gave us a profound introduction of Confucianism.
Paul K.
Appreciation of traditional architecture, works of art and crafts require background knowledge. Based on the background knowledge of Korean traditional culture, your appreciation can create an intense impression and long-lasting memory of tour. I introduced core ideas of Confucianism and the Confucian principles that are the basis of Gyeongbokgung architecture. I am only tour docent in Korea who introduce Korean history and culture based on Confucianism.
Josh W.
“Paul was an outstanding guide!”
When Paul started put with a lesson in Confucianism and the history of Korea, my wife and I didn't quite know what to think. When we got to the first palace, everything came together and made great sense. Our day with Paul was educational (a tenant of Confucianism), fun, and delicious. It was a great way to start our journey.
Paul K.
The center of culture and center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. Confucianism was the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Confucianism culture of Joseon Dynasty is unique characteristic of Korean culture, compared to Chinese, Japanese and European culture. Tourist information is based on Confucianism for your full appreciating of entire Korean architecture and cultural places.
Sandra M.
“2 day Tour of Korean culture Highlights”
My husband and i had a short visit to Korea at the end of a cruise and booked Paul to show us the highlights of the city in 2 days. Paul was very knowledgeable about the Korean culture and history with regard to confucius culture. This information gave us a better understanding of the sights that we visited. Paul was very punctual and got us around the city with confidence. We visited two places, the secret gardens, two museums, Seoul Tower and experienced tradition Korean street food as well as a restaurant. Our tour was busy and we did a lot of walking as well as using the train system, which is amazing, and we also used the bus. Overall we got a great taste of Seoul in a short time. There is so much more to see and do, perhaps on our next visit. Thank you Paul
Paul K.
Guest's good review is great rewarding to my dedication to tour and my study. Appreciation of architecture, art and craft requires background knowledge. We can see as much as we know about background knowledget. Confucianism is Korea's culturual identity. Korean traditional culture as well as Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces represent Confucianism. I appreciate Sandra's full appreciation of Korean traditional culture. Paul
$250/ per group