Jongno-gu is a district in central Seoul, South Korea, the name Jongno translating to “Bell Street”. Established by the Joseon Dynasty 600 years ago, Jongno District constitutes one-half of the historic heart of Seoul and is home to wonderful attractions which include a plethora of palaces, temples and government buildings. It is often referred to as the face and heart of South Korea.

Besides being home to Cheongwadae, the South Korean president's current residence, the area also houses a number of former palaces. These include Changdeok Palace built by King Sejong in the mid-15th century, Changdeokgung Palace and Unhyeon Palace, later renovated into a grand, palace-like house under the order of Queen Mother Jo. Jongno-gu is more than just its majestic palaces, as the Jongmyo Shrine is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.It is home to a variety of museums, including the Ilmin Museum of Art that offers historical and cultural insight into the location. For those in search of a local shopping experience, the nearby Namdaemun Market sells a variety of clothes, toys, fine arts, accessories, carpets, flowers, ginseng and imported goods, and is open throughout the day. It is also Korea’s largest traditional market. There is also Dongdaemun Market, made up of local markets and shopping centres that cover the entire area around Dongdaemun Gate, and is Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping district featuring 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops and 50,000 manufacturers.

Seoul has a very well organised public transport system. The subway route map consists of colour-coded routes that clearly display the metro lines and routes to Jongno-gu as well as different coloured bus routes all traversing the area. There are various taxis available, including regular, deluxe and limousines, the latter two offering a higher but more expensive standard of service.

In the late 19th century and after hundreds of years of isolation, South Korea opened its doors to foreigners in its quest to adjust to modern life. Many government offices and organisations established their administrative centres in the Jongno district, which is now headquarters of both the Ministry of Unification and Ministry of Security and Public Administration.