Some decades ago from the ‘60s, Mullae-dong became one of the central hubs of steel manufacturing here in Seoul. The area then went on to great success before transforming into a convergence of the old, the new, and the retro! Coined as "Mullae Changjak Chon," or Mullae Art Village, paintings and drawings can be found throughout both the Art Village and across the street in the café and restaurant-filled alleyways. It’s a fantastic chance to walk around exploring the hidden art works while taking a peek at all the different businesses and eateries nearby! Once we have the pandemic behind us and you make your way to Seoul, stop on by and see if you spot where these murals are located!

Following the steel industry’s success in the area in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the economic tides started to turn and the neighborhood had to find a way to reinvent itself. During this period of transformation, artists would often set up shop in some of the emptied, once booming steel business lots because they needed the space for their workshops. Nowadays, the neighborhood has become a perfect of harmony of the hard-working steel craftsman that remain, together with the nifty and trendy cafes, restaurants, and galleries hidden across the area. Explore to your heart’s content!

Just across the street from the Mullae Art Village, you can find a diverse layout of backstreets with more murals and an endless buffet of holes-in-the-wall cafés, eateries, and more! You’ll want to explore every nook that you possibly can to make sure you don’t leave a single spot untouched!