[Cultural Excursion] Myeong-dong, Hoehyeon, and Namdaemun Market Museum Walk

TITLE: 'Myeong-dong, Hoehyeon-dong, and Namdaemun Market Museum Walk' LEADER: Jun YG SHIN DATE: Saturday, August 8, 2026. 11:00 AM\~3:30 PM DESTINATION: Jung-gu area in Seoul COST: W10,000 for RAS Korea lifetime and annual members; W15,000 for Non-members (The cost of the foods and drinks is not included in the excursion fee.) MEETING POINT: Inside Exit 1 of Hoehyeon (Namdaemun Market) Station (회현(남대문시장)역, Subway Line 4) This museum walk will explore the Myeong-dong, Hoehyeon-dong, and Namdaemun areas of Jung-gu, where the intertwined histories of Korea, China, and Japan can still be seen today. The second installment in our summer museum walk series, it offers a chance to escape the summer heat by visiting three museums, enjoying Korean food, and socializing with fellow RAS Korea members. We will begin in Hoehyeon-dong with a visit to a 400-year-old ginkgo tree before touring the Woori Bank Museum and Money Box Gallery. Here we will learn about the development of modern banking in Korea, explore Gwangtonggwan—the country’s oldest surviving bank building—and view a fascinating collection of money boxes and piggy banks from around the world. Next, we will browse the Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center, known for its LP records, vintage stamps and currency, cameras, and antiques, before stopping for refreshments at the Shinsegae Department Store food court. From the rooftop garden of Shinsegae Department Store—once a gathering place for the “Modern Boys” and “Modern Girls” of the colonial period—we’ll enjoy views of Namsan while learning about the history of the surrounding Japanese district, Shinsegae Department Store, the Central Post Office, and the Daeyeongak Hotel. Our second museum is the Korea Postage Stamp Museum, where we’ll explore the history of postage stamps in Korea and around the world. Participants can compare stamps from their own countries and discuss the historical events commemorated on Korean stamps. Afterward, we’ll walk through nearby Myeong-dong Chinatown to learn about its history and architecture before taking a short café break. Our final museum stop is the Bank of Korea Money Museum, where we’ll trace the history of Korean currency from the Joseon Dynasty’s Sangpyeong Tongbo coins to the present day, while comparing currencies from participants’ home countries. We’ll finish at nearby Namdaemun Market with classic Korean street foods—including bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), and sundae (Korean blood sausage)—accompanied by makgeolli (rice wine) and good conversation. Those who wish can then continue to nearby OB Bear, a historic Euljiro beer pub featured in Liron Shalit’s documentary Living Euljiro (which was screened at his lecture on July 14) for an informal end to the outing. This walking excursion will set off at 11:00 am from exit 1 of Hoehyeon (Namdaemun Market) Station (회현(남대문시장)역, Subway Line 4), and will finish near the same station. REGISTRATION: RSVP by August 6 (Thursday) with payment of the fee via bank transfer. Please register one RSVP at a time. RSVP: [https://forms.gle/Xp6PMoVFcbqZYhf3A](https://forms.gle/Xp6PMoVFcbqZYhf3A?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWGZNSDBvcGtrdVVVQUtvWXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7Hx21i8dw2LZEXKJshWweHo4w2tUXx4BXM2Rd7bQJuxb8SmPq18QrDgTZ4eA_aem_x6cN_heXkTJSOvhtg0SwaQ) ☞Payment to be remitted to the following account: SHINHAN BANK ACCOUNT # 100-026-383501 (RAS-KB) \*Reservation is not confirmed until payment has been received by RAS Korea in advance of the event.