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Trendy alleyways
The new year is here and yet, a stop has been put to travels to faraway places. However, spending all of our time at home has left us feeling deeply frustrated. Now, the general trend is the “slipper areas” where one can enjoy free time and convenience facilities in their slippers. It’s a way of traveling without the need for heavy preparations. Let’s take a walk through alleyways that are packed with the charms of everyday life in comfortable clothes. We’d like to introduce 10 ‘hip’ alleyways of Seoul that are secluded but filled with things to see.
When we hear the word “museum,” we tend to think of elegant attire and formal etiquette, and picture pieces of fine artwork that hang on white walls. However, our preconception of museums was shattered when we visited StreetMuseum in an alleyway in Pil-dong, Chungmu-ro. As a non-profit gallery, StreetMuseum in Pil-dong transformed all of Namsangol Hanok Village, starting from Pil-dong, Jung-gu, into a cultural space. There aren’t any fancy buildings, but the area is packed with impressive works. StreetMuseum is organized of eight spaces. Created under the themes of “Corner, Well, Connect, Alley, Nest, Space, Container, and Wall,” each subject exhibits its unique charms. The artwork is fascinating as they are exhibited in the forms of paintings, installation art, media art, murals, and more. The fiercest artwork we saw was the self-portrait of artist Kang Hyung-koo, who is well known for his Self Portrait. The powerful shades of red and his unique features had us captivated and feeling overwhelmed. Such an emotion is one that can be felt while casually walking down an alleyway of Pil-dong, Chungmu-ro. An alleyway with displays of works seen with every step you take is what we might call a romantic place.
#ChungmuroMuseum #ChungmuroExhibition #ChungmuroPhotoSpot #StreetMuseum #ChungmuroDateCourse
A guaranteed hot place in Seongsu-dong is the 500-meter street from Exit 3 of Ttukseom Station to Salgoji Bridge, which is known as Ttukseom Station Shopping Street. Seongsu-dong in Seoul is a place that encompasses the history of economic growth in Korean. In the 1960s, Seongsu-dong was an active subindustry zone with clusters of manufacturing factories, but the area eventually declined in the 1990s. In 2005, the Seoul Forest was formed in the vicinity and the area slowly became revitalized. Presently, the old and rusty manufacturing factories were transformed into hip cafes and shops to attract the younger generation. Along the two-lane roadsides of the Ttukseom Station Shopping Street are small and big shops. Next to a lovely café is an old industrial company, and next to a popular restaurant is an old print shop. The charms of the new and the retro create a harmonious balance in the area. Salgoji Bridge was used during the early Joseon dynasty as the main passageway that connected Hanyang and the southeast provinces. Living up to its name as the playground for the younger generation, the Ttukseom Station Shopping Street regularly holds various events like Neighborhood Market Outing as well as sketch contests, a flea market, and hands-on workshop experiences.
#SeongsudongTouristSpot #SeongsudongHotPlace #TtukseomStationAlleyway #SalgojiBridge #TtukseomStationCafe
In Changsin-dong today is a painful history that remains in the form of gray cliffs. During the Japanese Colonial Era in the 1910s, Japan began building stone buildings in Seoul that were made from granite. At the time, the Japanese became aware that there was a large supply of granite in Changsin-dong, and they built a quarry in Changsin-dong. The granite quarried from Changsin-dong were used to build the Japanese General Government of Korea, the old Seoul City Hall, and Seoul Station. People began to gather in Changsin-dong after the Korean War. The majority of the population that settled around Changsin Market and Dongdaemun Market were those who were searching for a place to do sewing work. Changsin-dong was designated a Seoul New Town in 2007 and was to be transformed into a field of apartments, but the area was ultimately designated the first urban regeneration area in 2014 after the opposition of the residents. Thanks to this change in plans, the story of Changsin-dong continues to be told today under the gray cliffs. The Quarry Observatory sits at the very top of the former quarry rockface. Visitors can order a cup of coffee and stand at the top of the gray cliffs to see a full view of Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, and Seoul’s skyline spread out under their feet.
#ChangsindongCliffAlleyway #CliffView #SeoulObservatory #RebirthOfaQuarry #PopularGraniteSite
Eulji-ro cannot be left out when discussing ‘hip’ alleyways. The newtro mood (new+retro) fills every single alleyway. One alleyway that stands out is the street that starts from Chungmu-ro 11-gil and goes past the Euljiro Nogari Street to Chungmuro 9-gil. This is the alleyway where the ‘Eulji-ro Shutter Gallery’ is located. This alleyway is home to tool, pottery, and tile shops with a 50-year history. At 6:00 p.m., the shop owners, who have completed their work for the day, pull down their shutters and head on home. This is then the opening time for the Eulji-ro Shutter Gallery. On the 43 old shutters of the 24 shops, visitors can appreciate drawings by young artists of items that are sold at these shops. Thanks to this exhibition, the street is active around the clock. The alleyway is filled with the sound of machines from morning to evening and later packed with visitors checking out the drawings on the shutters at night after the sun has gone down. One shutter has a full bloom of nine lilies while another tells the story of the shop with pottery, pliers, and power drills. The old, grayish alleyway found its aesthetic spirit thanks to the colorful drawings by artists.
#Euljiro #Hipjiro #EuljiroShutterGallery #AfterWorkHotSpot
Manhattan is home to Broadway, and Seoul is home to Guroadway. Also known as the International Culture & Arts Street, Guroadway stretches from Exit 2 of Sindorim Station, past the UNESCO APCEIU, and to the International Food Street. Sculptures, lighting, photo zones, and cultural and artistic features were placed through the congested area around the subway station with crowds of people, shopping malls, markets, parks, and convenience facilities. There is a total of 13 locations that are considered a part of Guroadway, including Sindorim Opera House, the UNESCO APCEIU, the international organization with 47 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and ‘Culture Railway 959,’ a cultural space at Sindorim Station. Visitors can follow the guide in front of Exit 2 of Sindorim Station to embark on a fun course. As an essential part of any course, Guroadway offers the fun of eating delicious food. At the International Food Street across the street from the UNESCO APCEIU are barbeque restaurants, bars, pig’s trotter restaurants, raw fish restaurants, and more.
#Guroadway #GuroStation #InternationalFoodStreet #SindorimOperaHouse
If you prefer low-built homes over tall buildings and a quiet neighborhood over bright sceneries, Huam-dong might be the place for you. The Huam-dong alleyway formed by small shops that merchants opened among low-built houses to avoid high rent prices in nearby Itaewon and Gyeongnidan-gil is known as the Second Gyeongnidan-gil. In addition to the friendly alleyway atmosphere, Huam-dong is even more special thanks to Namsan Mountain that stands in front of it. The tall Namsan Seoul Tower stands as a guide like a milestone. Walk from the Huam-dong Bus Terminal to the Namsan Mountain Trail and into the road that leads to Sowol-ro to arrive at Haebangchon’s 108 Steps where there are both stairs and an elevator next to each other. Things that have become harder to find in Seoul, like old laundromats, hair salons, and supermarkets, are the small things that make Huam-dong shine.
#HuamdongWalk #SecondGyeongnidan-gil #NamsanMountainTrail #HomelyVibe #SeoulStationTouristSpot
The younger generation began crowding towards the Hangangno 2-ga alleyway between Sinyongsan Station and Samgakji Station after the opening of the new Amore Pacific Headquarters. Small cafes and restaurants that began to remodel and open in nearby houses became known as ‘Yongnidan-gil (Food Street).’ The way to enjoy Yongnidan-gil is easy. Come out of Exit 1 of Sinyongsan Station and explore the restaurants in the narrow alleyway. If you’re looking for something more than an epicurean tour, visit the Holy Place of Waegogae (presently the Cathedral of Military Ordinariate of Korea) where clergymen and believers who were martyred the Byeongin Persecution are buried and step by Hwarang Street near Samgakji Station. In the vicinity of Exit 1 of Samgakji Station is a street known for cod soup with a 40-year history.
If you want to take a break from the business of the city, walk about 5 minutes from Yongsan Station Plaza of Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. If you see low buildings that are different from the shopping malls around Yongsan Station and hear the sound of bells, you have arrived near your destination. The train that passes by on railroad tracks while ringing the sound of bells reminds us of a scene out of a movie. The official name of this crossing that is also called Ttaengttaeng Street is the Baekbin Railroad Crossing. The name comes from the court lady of the family of Baek who lived near this area after leaving the palace during the Joseon Dynasty. The drama “My Mister” and other dramas were filmed at the old railroad crossing of Ttaengttaeng Street. It won’t be hard to miss the sight of a train passing by as over 300 trains pass over the railroad crossing every day.
#YongsanTtaengttaengStreet #RomanticPhotoSpot #PhotosofSeoul #MyMisterFilmLocation #BaekbinRailroadCrossing
Walk up the hill of Haebangchon and see the sign of Haebangchon Sinheung Market just when you’re about to break out in a sweat. At the market are noodle restaurants, butcher shops, and raw fish restaurants, but the market has an interesting formation. At one section of the market are leather workshops, a Russian bar, and a tattoo sticker shop. There is also an arcade, handmade jewelry shops, and a one-table party room. Sinheung Market, which was the base of Vietnamese migrants after the war in 1953, was newly decorated into newtro restaurants and romantic cafes. Visitors will find some restaurants especially familiar. Sinheung Market appeared in Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant and as a filming location for When the Camellia Blooms. The market is small enough for visitors to circle the entire market in under 5 minutes, but it will certainly take longer when you check out each of the unique shops. Visit the market at sundown to see the night view of Seoul with the nearby Haebangchon Ogeori and Namsan Tower from the alleyway.
#HaebangchonMarket #NewtroVibe # WhentheCamelliaBloomsFilmLocation #HaebangchonJunction #NamsanTowerViewBonus
Bangbaesai-gil, or Bangbae-ro 42-gil, certainly lives up to its name in that it is packed with things to see between the alleyways. The short, 300-meter street between the main roads are not only cafes and restaurants but also clothing stores, a cooking studio, workrooms/art shops, and workshops that are in business. Visitors can start at “Café Sairo” and enjoy their popular ice cream made with organic milk from Bumsan Dairy Farm. The café also sells warm-colored furniture like hardwood desks, stools, and storage closet for ice cream refrigerators. Don’t miss out on the showroom of the petite boutique Gurm By H. The showroom features elegant clothes to all kinds of daily goods and cosmetics. Visitors can end their tour of the area at the veteran shop of Bangbaesai-gil, Ceci Cela Factory. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Ceci Cela has an established reputation for its delicious carrot cakes. The cakes sold at all Ceci Cela branches throughout the country are made at this branch. Orders for whole cakes, and not slices, can only be made at this Bangbae branch. A cup of aromatic Americano and a slice of carrot cake will drive all your troubles away.
#BangbaeOuting #BoutiqueStreet #OrganicIceCream #ShoppingSpree #TastyCarrotCakeCafe
#RomanticSeoulAlleyways #AlleywayWalks #HipSeoulAlleyways #SlipperAreas