Short answer
Seoul is divided into 25 districts, called gu: 14 north of the Han River and 11 south of it. A typical first trip covers only five or six of them, usually Jongno, Jung, Mapo, Yongsan and Gangnam. Use the checklist below to see which ones you have been to and where to go next. TapSeoul's My Seoul map lets you fill them in by hand, with a one-time location check, or from the photos of trips you have already taken.
Quick facts
- Districts (gu) in Seoul
- 25
- North of the Han River
- 14 districts
- South of the Han River
- 11 districts
- Myeong-dong is in
- Jung-gu
- Hongdae is in
- Mapo-gu
- N Seoul Tower is in
- Yongsan-gu
How many districts does Seoul have?
Seoul has 25 districts, called gu (구). Each gu is split again into smaller neighborhoods called dong (동). Fourteen districts lie north of the Han River, the older side of the city with the palaces and markets. Eleven lie south of it, including Gangnam.
A few things that confuse visitors:
- Gangnam is both a district (Gangnam-gu) and a loose name for the whole area south of the river.
- Hongdae, Myeong-dong, Itaewon and Seongsu are neighborhoods, not districts. They sit in Mapo-gu, Jung-gu, Yongsan-gu and Seongdong-gu.
- Dongdaemun-gu is a district, but Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is actually in Jung-gu.
North of the Han River: 14 districts
| District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|
| Jongno-gu 종로구 | Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Bukchon, Insadong, Gwangjang Market | Anguk |
| Jung-gu 중구 | Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung, DDP | Myeong-dong |
| Yongsan-gu 용산구 | Itaewon, N Seoul Tower, National Museum of Korea | Itaewon |
| Seongdong-gu 성동구 | Seongsu-dong cafés and pop-ups, Seoul Forest | Seongsu |
| Gwangjin-gu 광진구 | Konkuk University area, Ttukseom Hangang Park, Children's Grand Park | Konkuk Univ. |
| Dongdaemun-gu 동대문구 | Gyeongdong Market and the herbal medicine market, Kyung Hee University | Jegi-dong |
| Jungnang-gu 중랑구 | Jungnangcheon stream and its rose festival, Mangu History and Culture Park | Mangu |
| Seongbuk-gu 성북구 | Seongbuk-dong's quiet hillside streets, Gilsangsa temple, Korea University | Anam |
| Gangbuk-gu 강북구 | Bukhansan National Park trailheads, Suyu | Bukhansan Ui |
| Dobong-gu 도봉구 | Dobongsan mountain hiking | Dobongsan |
| Nowon-gu 노원구 | Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, Hwarangdae Railway Park | Gongneung |
| Eunpyeong-gu 은평구 | Eunpyeong Hanok Village, Jingwansa temple | Gupabal |
| Seodaemun-gu 서대문구 | Seodaemun Prison History Hall, Yonsei and Ewha universities | Dongnimmun |
| Mapo-gu 마포구 | Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, Mangwon Market, World Cup Park | Hongik Univ. |
South of the Han River: 11 districts
| District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|
| Gangseo-gu 강서구 | Gimpo Airport, Seoul Botanic Park | Magongnaru |
| Yangcheon-gu 양천구 | Mokdong, a calm residential area | Omokgyo |
| Guro-gu 구로구 | Gocheok Sky Dome, Guro Digital Complex | Guro Digital Complex |
| Geumcheon-gu 금천구 | Gasan outlet malls | Gasan Digital Complex |
| Yeongdeungpo-gu 영등포구 | Yeouido, The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido Hangang Park | Yeouido |
| Dongjak-gu 동작구 | Noryangjin Fish Market, Seoul National Cemetery | Noryangjin |
| Gwanak-gu 관악구 | Gwanaksan mountain, Seoul National University, Sillim | Gwanaksan (Sillim Line) |
| Seocho-gu 서초구 | Express Bus Terminal, Banpo Hangang Park, Seoul Arts Center | Express Bus Terminal |
| Gangnam-gu 강남구 | COEX and Starfield Library, Bongeunsa temple, Garosu-gil | Samseong |
| Songpa-gu 송파구 | Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park | Jamsil |
| Gangdong-gu 강동구 | Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site, Gwangnaru Hangang Park | Cheonho |
Which districts do most first-time visitors see?
A classic first trip to Seoul tends to follow the same path: palaces in Jongno, shopping in Jung-gu (Myeong-dong), nights out in Mapo (Hongdae), Itaewon and the tower in Yongsan, and an afternoon in Gangnam or Songpa. Add Seongdong if you went to Seongsu's cafés. That is five or six districts out of 25.
So if you are planning a second or third visit, there is a lot of Seoul left.
Districts most visitors miss (and why to go)
- Eunpyeong-gu: Eunpyeong Hanok Village sits right under Bukhansan's peaks. It is quieter and far less crowded than Bukchon.
- Seongbuk-gu: Hillside lanes, old houses turned into cafés and Gilsangsa temple. It makes a good half day after Jongno.
- Nowon-gu: The Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail turns an old railway line into a long walking path.
- Dongdaemun-gu: Gyeongdong Market and the herbal medicine market are a very local slice of Seoul.
- Gangseo-gu: Seoul Botanic Park, with its large glass greenhouse and gardens, is close to Gimpo Airport. It works well on an arrival or departure day.
- Dongjak-gu: Noryangjin Fish Market, where you choose seafood downstairs and have it prepared upstairs.
- Gangdong-gu: Gwangnaru Hangang Park and the reconstructed prehistoric huts at Amsa-dong.
- Gangbuk-gu and Dobong-gu: The trailheads for Bukhansan and Dobongsan, two popular hikes you can reach by subway.
Every one of them is on the subway, and a T-money card covers the whole ride. See the T-money card guide if you need one.
How do I track which districts I've visited?
TapSeoul has a My Seoul map with all 25 districts drawn to their real shape. It counts as you go, for example 6 / 25 places visited, and fills in each district you have been to.
- By hand: tap a district, choose Date unknown or Today, and tap I’ve been here.
- From photos: tap From photos and pick All dates to bring back districts from earlier trips. TapSeoul reads only where and when each photo was taken, on your phone, and asks you to review the places before adding them.
- On the spot: tap I’m here now to check your location once and confirm the district.
Tap a district to see the dates you were there, then Share map to send the map as an image. The full how-to, including the rest of Korea, is in Map every place you've been in Korea.
FAQ
How many districts are there in Seoul?
Twenty-five. Fourteen are north of the Han River and eleven are south of it. Each district is called a gu.
What does "gu" mean in a Seoul address?
Gu (구) means district. It is the main administrative division of Seoul, such as Jongno-gu or Gangnam-gu. Each gu is divided into neighborhoods called dong.
Which district is Myeong-dong in?
Jung-gu, the central district that also includes Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Is Hongdae a district?
No. Hongdae is the area around Hongik University. It is in Mapo-gu, the district that also includes Yeonnam-dong and Mangwon.
Which district is N Seoul Tower in?
Yongsan-gu. Namsan mountain is shared with Jung-gu, but the tower's address is in Yongsan-gu.
Is Gangnam a district or an area?
Both. Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 districts, and "Gangnam" is also used loosely for the whole south side of the Han River.
TapSeoul is an independent app by gatepop inc. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by T-money.
No account. Cards and visited places are stored only on your phone. Photos are processed on the device and never uploaded. Optional analytics stays off until you opt in.
Sources