KF뉴스레터-Rejuvenating Seoul with the Spirit of Youth

Rejuvenating Seoul with the Spirit of Youth

In cities around the world, young creatives are transforming gritty, often neglected neighborhoods into thriving spaces of culture, cuisine, and commerce. Seoul has been no exception. Throughout the city, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs are bringing life to industrial districts and run-down residential zones. Let’s take a look at some of these rejuvenated hot spots.

Sangsu-dong

Not long ago, the Sangsu-dong district was a quiet residential neighborhood. That was before artists, musicians, and other creative types, fleeing skyrocketing rents in the nearby Hongdae club district, began setting up shop here. Now it’s one of the hottest spots in the city, its alleyways lined with trendy cafés, unique eateries, and stylish bars and lounges. A number of cafés and bars also host live music performances, film screenings, and other cultural events.

Yeonnam-dong

Like Sangsu-dong, Yeonnam-dong was once a quiet, working-class residential quarter not far from the bustling Hongdae district. It has a large Chinese community, too, and a Chinese school. Young chefs and shop owners, attracted by the lower rents and the vintage charm of the alleyways, have been opening up restaurants, independent bookstores, boutiques and guesthouses, transforming the previously sleepy neighborhood into one of the most Instagrammed spots in Seoul. The neighborhood also hosts a popular flea market. The Chinese community is still here, too, so you'll find some of the city’s most authentic Chinese restaurants.

Gyeongnidan-gil

Climbing the southern slopes of Mt. Namsan, Gyeongnidan Road is one of several neighborhoods around the multicultural Itaewon district to take off in recent years. Like some of the other places profiled here, Gyeongnidan was quiet and residential, but the cheap rents and large number of international residents made it an attractive location for young business owners, including many foreign-born ones. Now Gyeongnidan is practically a byword for trendy, lined end to end by popular restaurants, bars and cafés. The American craft beer boom has taken hold with a vengeance, too—you can’t walk 100 meters without passing a place selling craft IPAs and pizza.

Seongsu-dong

Labeled the “Brooklyn of Seoul,” Seongsu-dong is a little piece of hipster heaven near Konkuk University. An older industrial zone of warehouses and small-scale factories, the neighborhood has welcomed an influx of young artists, fashion designers, and social entrepreneurs who have helped rejuvenate the area. Interspersed amid the factories are design studios, artists’ collectives, trendy galleries, artisinal restaurants, and, of course, cafés. Long a center of shoe production, the neighborhood is still a great place to pick up handmade shoes, and its veteran cobblers have been joined by a younger generation of shoe designers.

Mullae-dong

Located in the industrial Yeongdeungpo district, Mullae-dong is home to hundreds of small metalworking shops. Since 2000, artists and designers have been moving in, too, transforming old factories into studios, galleries, and cafés. Colorful wall murals add a touch of color to the metallic gray. One space in Mullae-dong, an old flour factory, even hosted the trade show section of the most recent Seoul Fashion Week. Seoul Art Space Mullae, operated by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, serves as a joint workshop, exhibition space, and support center for neighborhood artists.