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Dragon is a mystic animal with celestial power that appears in myths or legends of both the East and the West. Yongsan is a name derived from a record that two dragons apparently appeared in the Hangang River. As its name, Yongsan is a special neighborhood. It’s where you can meet the history and representations of Seoul, as it’s where the National Museum of Korea and The War Memorial of Korea are located. It’s also where Itaewon, the little global capital in Korea where people from all over the world gather, is located as well. Among the neighborhoods in Yongsan, Hannam-dong is one of the wealthiest places in Seoul. Hannam-dong is not only filled with streets of culture and art with art museums and galleries but also in the frontline of trends, where the latest trending pop-up stores and flagship stores open. With the Hangang River in the front and Namsan (mountain) in the back, Hannam-dong is well-known for being the residential area for many Korean celebrities. As such, it’s also known for its restaurants and special places that these celebrities frequently visit. Let’s find out the charms of Hannam-dong, the neighborhood that Hallyu stars adore.

Just in time for the festival season, the 2023 Seoul Beauty Travel Week will be hosted in the Yongsan-gu area for seven days, from October 3^rd to October 9^th. Under the themes of “Revive, Refresh, and Rejuvenate,” the event offers various beauty experiences for visitors to enjoy. While enjoying the 2023 Seoul Beauty Travel Week, you can also relax with the beautiful nature of Yongsan-gu’s parks, such as Korea Yongsan Family Park, Ichon Hangang Park, and Namsan Park, etc. You can also indulge in the pleasant experience of enjoying healthy food in various restaurants and cafes in Yongsan-gu that are recommended by Beauty Travel Week. Not only that, you can appreciate the culture and art of Yongsan-gu with its National Museum of Korea, National Hangeul Museum, galleries, bookstores, etc. After that, take some time to recharge through activities such as running, yoga, and trekking in areas of Hangang Park, Nodeul Island, and Hanyang City Wall. With all these various things to do, you’ll be able to enjoy a fascinating trip where you get to discover the beauty of Yongsan-gu and Seoul.

For more information on the 2023 Beauty Travel Week, visit the Beauty Travel Week website (https://www.seoulbeautytravel.com/) and its social media accounts.

With that being said, let’s find out more about Hannam-dong, the neighborhood beloved by the stars.

Hannam-dong is called the Beverly Hills of Korea, as it is where the luxurious housing estates are gathered. It’s where fine dining places and sensible shops are located and where streets of culture and art are established with many art galleries. In Hannam-dong, where trends and sophisticated tastes coexist, what adds more decency is the premium lifestyle platform Gourmet 494 Hannam. Let’s find out more about this place. 

Gourmet 494 Hannam is already famous for being the place frequented by Hallyu stars, including actor Dong-won Gang, and RM of BTS. And Nine One Hannam, where Gourmet 494 Hannam is located, is famous for being the apartment complex where many celebrities and influencers live in.

 It’s especially popular because it’s where you can find all the restaurants that Hallyu stars love, such as Blue Bottle, OUR Bakery, and SURIN HANNAM. There are also shops for those with sophisticated taste, such as high-end living select shop, premium grocery store, etc. There even are places where you can enjoy your hobbies, such as Gana Art where you can comfortably appreciate art pieces that show professional specialty and represent what is popular for the public, and La Cuisine, a cooking studio for those who are very interested in cooking. 

Let’s have an enjoyable gourmet experience and find out new preferences at the premium lifestyle platform Gourmet 494 Hannam.

• ○Location: 91, Hannam-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

• ○Operation Hours: 10:30 - 20:00 (Closed 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month)

• ○Phone Number: 02-6905-4940

• ○Website: Click here
  

Time flies by when you are traveling or just spending your days in a city. Sometimes, it makes you miss the time of relaxation when you can just walk around a quiet street, eat delicious food, and look at or appreciate favorite items. What if there was a space where you can earn new inspiration and also enjoy some quality relaxation somewhere nearby where you don’t have to invest much time or money? There’s a secret place amid the forest of tall buildings in Seoul. It’s SOUNDS Hannam in Hannam-dong, a resort in the center of a city. 

SOUNDS Hannam is a complex culture space with the meaning that various voices coexist. SOUNDS Hannam, which kind of looks like a small village, presents the fun of exploring all parts of the space with the building primarily made of bricks, windows that are all located in different places in different shapes, and irregular placement of green plants. SOUNDS Hannam pursues being an urban resort, and it is comprised of residence, office, and commercial space.  

At the commercial space of SOUNDS Hannam, there is a culture space, where you can find a gourmet space, bookstore, and premium sound movie theater, and many distinct shops. SOUNDS Hannam is well-known for its unique and fun spaces that are great for taking photos to share on social media. It’s also a place where it’s not a surprise to run into celebrities such as actor Seo-jun Park and influencers, as they frequently visit. Since various events and pop-up stores open at SOUNDS Hannam, it would also be a good idea to enjoy them as well.  

How about enjoying a vacation in the center of Seoul by visiting an urban resort SOUNDS Hannam, where you can enjoy not just delicious food but also culture and art as well?

• ○Location: 35, Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

• ○Operation Hours: Daily 09:00 - 22:00 (Vary per store)

• ○Phone Number: 02-511-7443

• ○Instagram: @sounds.hannam

 Hannam-dong is an area in the forefront of trends in Seoul. The streets are crowded with show windows showcasing trends, constantly opening pop-up stores, and people who enjoy them. As all trendy cities, Seoul is also a bit noisy and busy. Here we introduce to you a special place that enriches your cultural senses while calming you down from the city’s hustle and bustle that unconsciously quicken your pace.

Located on a hill lined with Hannam-dong’s luxury residential houses and high walls, Leeum Museum of Art is one of Korea’s leading art museums featuring high-quality collections and exhibitions. Designed by world-class architects Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas, Leeum Museum of Art is a work of art for the building itself as well as its world-class collections. It carried out another space renovation in 2021, evolving into a convergence art museum that transcends the East and the West, the past and the present, and eras and genres.

Leeum Museum of Art is also well-known for being a place of artistic inspiration to famous K-pop starts such as ROSÉ of BLACKPINK, V of BTS, and Key of SHINee. It also grabbed attention recently when RM of BTS, a lover of art, visited Kang Seo Kyeong’s “Buddle Book Valley” exhibition sponsored by the world-renowned fashion brand Bottega Veneta. 

Let’s relish this autumn by enjoying the culture offered by Leeum Museum of Art, enriching our creative sensibilities through high-quality curation

• ○Location: 60-16, Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

• ○Operation Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Closed Mondays)

• ○Phone Number: 02-2014-6900

• ○Website: Click here

 To Koreans, chicken is always the right answer. Koreans eat chicken because it’s a good day and because it’s not a good day. They eat chicken while making a toast to celebrate good news and also to wash off their fatigue after a long day with fried chicken rich in protein with ice cold draft beer. There are so many places in Seoul that sell chicken, which can be stated as the soul food of Koreans. Let’s find out about Hannam-dong Hanbang Chicken, the chicken joint beloved by foodie K-stars and influencers among all those countless chicken places in Seoul.

 Hanbang Tongdak has been one of the top restaurants in Hannam-dong, a neighborhood well-known for being home to so many delicious restaurants, for a long time. Unlike fried chicken made with fried coating, Hanbang Tongdak sells a different kind of chicken. It sells whole chicken that is directly roasted with oak wood, which is effective in removing the chicken smell and making the chicken tender. It is roasted with glutinous rice, dates, garlic, and licorice stuffed inside the chicken just like samgyetang until its grease is removed, so you can enjoy eating this nutritious whole chicken without worrying about calories. You can also enjoy the special delicacy of eating kimchi that is served and the glutinous rice stuffed inside the roasted chicken together. The “crispy on the outside and moist on the inside” Hanbang Chicken is well-known for being one of the favorite places frequented by famous stars, such as singer Xia Junsu, actor Keun-suk Jang, as well as the Korean figure skating gold medalist Yuna Kim, actor Jong-suk Lee, actress Hyo-joo Han, etc.

Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak is famous for its fresh and delicious draft beer thanks to its fast-paced atmosphere. Now is just the perfect time to enjoy the season outside. Let’s indulge in savoring chicken and beer along the cool autumn breeze at Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak.   

• ○Location: 38, Daesagwan-ro 34-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

• ○Operation Hours: 16:00 - 00:30 (Closed Sundays)

• ○Phone Number: 02-797-8677

• ○Instagram: @hannamdonghanbangchicken