Ghost Stories, Folklore & Dark History Walking Tour Seoul

Jongno and the alleys around Anguk

Jongno is the historic heart of Seoul, the district where the Joseon kings built their palaces and where nobles, officials and merchants lived for more than five centuries. Around Anguk Station, narrow lanes of tiled hanok houses climb towards Bukchon, and the stone walls of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces run beside quiet tree-lined streets. By day these are some of the busiest sightseeing areas in the city; at night they become calm and full of atmosphere.

The Thursday, Saturday and Sunday walk starts at Anguk Station exit 2 and focuses on dark history: intrigue at the old royal court, scandals, crimes and the ghost stories that grew around them. If you are looking for a Seoul night walking tour that goes beyond the usual photo stops, this route shows you familiar streets through the eyes of a storyteller.

Gwanghwamun and the streets of central Seoul

Gwanghwamun is the great main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the wide plaza in front of it has been the stage for many of the most important public moments in modern Korean history, from celebrations to mass protests. Government buildings, old streets and the palace walls meet here, making it a natural place to talk about the political upheaval that shaped the twentieth century in Korea.

Depending on the route and the length of the walk, your guide weaves through the streets around Gwanghwamun and its neighbouring alleys, telling true stories that are rarely included in standard Seoul tours. The square is beautifully lit at night, and it is a good place to pause and photograph the palace gate against the mountains behind it.

Seodaemun, the city's older west side

Seodaemun takes its name from the old West Gate of Seoul's city wall. The district holds some of the heaviest memories of the last century: near the station lies Independence Park, where the former Seodaemun Prison, now a history hall, recalls the years of colonial rule. Around it are older residential streets, small parks and hillside lanes that feel far from the neon of the city centre.

The Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday walk starts at Seodaemun Station exit 4 and concentrates on Korean ghostlore and urban legends: the restless spirits of traditional belief, eerie tales passed down for generations and places where locals say strange things have happened. It is the route to choose if you are most interested in Korean ghost stories rather than crime and scandal.

Korean ghostlore and beliefs about spirits

Korean folklore is rich in spirits. The best known is the cheonyeo gwishin, the ghost of a young woman in white with long black hair, said to linger because of unfinished business in life. There are mischievous dokkaebi goblins, household guardian spirits and the messengers who guide the dead to the afterlife. Many of these beliefs come from shamanic traditions that still survive alongside Buddhism and modern life in Seoul.

Your guide explains how these ideas shape customs around death, ancestral rites and even everyday superstitions, such as avoiding the number four. Understanding this background makes the stories on the walk far more meaningful, and it gives you a new perspective on the temples, palaces and old houses you may visit during the day.