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As of 2023, Seongsu-dong has firmly established itself as Seoul's most influential trendsetting district. Top brands eagerly set up pop-up shops and flagship stores, attracting a diverse crowd of style-conscious individuals to this vibrant neighborhood. Once called the Brooklyn of Korea, Seongsu-dong now seems to have reached a point of shaking off its rivals. Let’s explore this neighborhood's past, present, and future.

A Reconciliation of Old and New

Seongsu-dong

In the past, Seongsu-dong was an industrial complex that housed shoe factories, printing factories, and factories for auto repair supplies.

Once an area packed with some 3,000 manufacturers and their factories, Seongsu-dong developed into a rare semi-industrial district with venture businesses and small-scale manufacturers joining the cluster after the '90s. Due to a shifting global industry, manufacturing started to go downhill, and factory machines gradually became idle. As factories and warehouses gradually shut down, Seongsu-dong appeared to be on the decline. Nevertheless, in the mid-2000s, the area began undergoing urban renewal projects, signaling the start of a transformative, new chapter.

Abandoned factories and warehouses became unique stores, select shops, workshops, and culture complexes. Young artists gathered to paint murals and individuals in touch with their artistic side began to spark different trends in the area and enjoy them. By galvanizing their respective narratives, old-established spaces developed into iconic locations. With the determination to become a landmark of Seongsu-dong, a world-renowned luxury brand proudly stands out. Let’s explore the essence of Seongsu-dong's unique character by exploring these iconic spots appealing to locals and visitors alike.

Revitalized Spaces of

Onion Seongsu & Seongsu Yeonbang

Onion Seongsu is an illustrative café that steered the "regeneration" trend at Seongsu-dong. The café now occupies the space of a '70s-era factory, retaining the building's original aesthetic with its decaying red walls, weathered tiles, and rusty steel doors. It even kept the factory’s name, Shinil Metal, in its original form. Upon its opening, the distinctive ambiance with a structure unique to regenerated spaces and the juxtaposition of the past and present created quite a buzz. Today, Onion Seongsu has settled in as a symbolic location in the neighborhood.

Onion Seongsu's appeal lies in the distinctive atmosphere in various sections throughout the venue. Another attraction is its delicious bread, which makes it a must-visit for any bread lovers out there. From its beginning as a supermarket to a restaurant, residential home, repair shop, factory, and bakery café today, Onion Seongsu's history spans a lengthy five decades that have quite a story to tell about the Seongsu-dong area.

• ○Address: 8, Achasan-ro 9-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

• ○Instagram: @cafe.onion

Seongsu Yeonbang is a shabby chemical factory that has been regenerated into a cultural space. Seongsu Yeonbang aims to serve as a platform for living, culture, and societies, targeting individuals with unique personalities, skills, and stories. It is a fascinating place with different spaces, including lifestyle shops, cafés, restaurants, a brewery, and more. A popular venue for various pop-up stores, events, and markets, Seongsu Yeonbang also drew attention when an event was held there to celebrate BTS member Jimin’s birthday.

From the red U-shaped brick buildings to the garden sitting in between, Seongsu Yeonbang is also a sought-after photo spot. Bask in the spring sunshine at Seongsu Yeonbang and indulge in a unique blend of familiarity and novelty.

• ○Address: 14, Seongsui-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

• ○Instagram: @seongsu_federation

Capturing the Time & Tide of Master Artisans

Seongsu Handmade Shoe Street 

The Handmade Shoe Street began at Yeomcheongyo Bridge, Seoul, in the 1960s. The street lived through the Myeongdong Era during the golden age of handmade shoes, then relocated to the Seongsu-dong area we know today. At one point, 80% of the shoes hand-made in Korea were produced on this street, housing nearly 1,000 shoe factories.

However, as the market for handmade shoes dwindled, the street faced a crisis. Seoul’s urban regeneration project, however, helped bring the seemingly languid street back to life. In the course of regenerating the entire Seongsu-dong area, people started to shed new light on the history of Handmade Shoe Street.

Seongsu Station was designated as a shoe-themed station with a dedicated space for shoe-related exhibitions. In addition, Seoul Metropolitan City opened the Hope Platform for showcasing and enabling people to experience handmade shoes and also created the Shoes Theme Park, where visitors can relax while enjoying shoe sculptures.

The Handmade Shoe Street has a shared shop where handmade shoes crafted by great shoe masters are offered at reasonable prices. Plus, workshops are available for making or purchasing leather accessories. While strolling along the street, you can also enjoy the lovely murals painted by young artists. Get yourself a pair of handmade shoes for a perfect fit that will take you to beautiful places.

• ○Address: 15, Yeonmujang 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

• ○Website: See more

Seoul’s Iconic Green Refuge

Seoul Forest

Seongsu-dong is a mixed zone of factories, residential areas, and commercial districts in downtown Seoul. In addition to the gray concrete, red bricks, mixed-used buildings, and exclusive flagship stores that lure visitors inside for a peek, Seoul Forest is yet another attraction of Seongsu-dong.

Once a royal hunting ground, the place served as the site for Seoul’s first water supply source, before being subsequently used as a horse racing track and golf course. In 2005, it was renovated into Seoul Forest, the first public park to engage the public in different parts of its operation. The vast greenery of Seoul Forest is divided into four themed zones. The Culture & Art Park offers a range of activities, including cultural and arts experiences. The Eco-forest Park is an eco-zone with a natural eco-forest home to wild animals and a pedestrian bridge leading to the Hangang Riverside Park. At the Educational Experience Park, visitors can gain knowledge of and experience natural plants, and at the Wetlands Ecological Field, they learn about nature by observing birds and plants. Seoul Forest has several facilities, including an open stage, the Seoul Forest Square, and an eco-playground.

The roughly 285-acre park is home to wild animals, including spotted deer, elks, and rabbits. Seoul Forest provides a tranquil oasis where city dwellers can unwind and enjoy the lush greenery, making it an essential stop during your spring adventure in Seoul.

• ○Address: 273, Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

• ○Website: See more

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