Its main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a number of alleys that lead deeper into the district,[1] with modern galleries and tea shops.

[3] Stretching across 12.7 hectares (or 31.4 acres),[4] the district is bordered by Gwanhun-dong to the north, Nagwon-dong to the east, and Jongno 2-ga and Jeokseon-dong to the south, and Gongpyeong-dong to the west.

[7][5] During the Japanese occupation, wealthy Korean residents were forced to move and sell their belongings, at which point the site became an area for antiques trading.

[citation needed] After the end of the Korean War, the area became a center of South Korea's artistic life and cafe culture.

[6] In recent years the backstreets of Insadong have continued to be gentrified with cafes, garden restaurants, and traditional pension-style accommodations.

[12] It contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere and is a "unique area of Seoul that truly represents the cultural history of the nation.

There is also an express bus to the resort island of Namiseom where the popular Korean drama Winter Sonata was filmed.

[21] In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation published free guidebooks in three languages: English, Japanese, and Chinese (simplified and traditional), which feature eight tours as well as recommendations for accommodations, restaurants, and shopping centers.