Seoul City Hall, at 110 Sejong-daero in central Seoul, pairs a curved glass-and-steel annex with the older city hall building, now the Seoul Metropolitan Library. Step into the lobby to see the seven-storey Green Wall, an indoor garden of more than 70,000 plants, then head downstairs to Seoul Gallery for free exhibitions, including a detailed model of the city. The building is close to Deoksugung Palace and Seoul Plaza, so it fits easily into a downtown walk. Public access is limited to designated areas.
The new annex and the older city hall
Seoul City Hall is the main building of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu. Its modern annex stands beside the former city hall, now the Seoul Metropolitan Library. Together, the two buildings bring different architectural periods into view: the library has a stone exterior, while the newer structure is defined by curved glass.
The annex’s wave-like façade draws on the shape of the eaves of traditional Korean houses. Its glass surface rises above the older building, creating a clear contrast between the two. From outside, Seoul Plaza and the library help put the architecture in context; inside, the lobby gives a closer look at the building’s design.
The Green Wall and the public areas
The annex’s Green Wall covers a tall section of the interior and contains more than 70,000 plants across 14 species. It spans seven storeys and covers 1,516 square metres. The planted wall is part of the building’s eco-focused design and helps filter contaminants and fine dust from the indoor air.
A light-art installation hangs in the lobby. A coffee shop on the ground floor has a robot that prepares and serves coffee. These details make the public interior worth seeing alongside the building’s exterior, though access is limited to areas open to the public.
Seoul Gallery underground
Seoul Gallery occupies basement levels of the city hall and has free public exhibitions. One display, “My Friend Seoul,” uses a detailed model at a scale of 1:1,600 to depict the city. Touchscreens and projection mapping present major future development projects. Other exhibits include material about Seoul and an interactive play area for children.
The gallery gives a closer look at the city beyond the architecture upstairs. Exhibition content can include models and interactive displays, so allow time to explore the basement if those are of interest. The building’s public areas and exhibits make a natural stop before or after nearby Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza or Namdaemun Market.
Häufige Fragen
Is Seoul City Hall free to visit?
Seoul Gallery has free admission. Public access is limited to designated areas of the building.
What can you see inside Seoul City Hall?
The public areas include the Green Wall, a lobby light-art installation, and Seoul Gallery in the basement, with exhibitions and a detailed model of Seoul.
Is the Sky Observatory open at weekends?
The Sky Observatory is reported closed on weekends. Access to other parts of the building is also more limited then.
What is near Seoul City Hall?
Deoksugung Palace and Seoul Plaza are nearby. Cheonggye Plaza and Namdaemun Market can also be combined with the visit.
