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Features
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
Hongdae’s Timeless Icons Hongdae has undergone significant transformation due to rapid commercialization, but many establishments of the early days remain, preserving the area’s identity and drawing a steady stream of locals and tourists alike. Homi Art Shop stands as a witness of half a century of transformations in the Hongdae area. The founder’s son took over the business in 1987, and the grandson now also lends a hand. The shop’s logo was designed in the late 1970s by a regular customer, then a graduate student at Hongik University. The name “Homi” means “art is eternal.”#Hongdae
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
College Town Turned Trendsetter Hongdae, an area in northwestern Seoul taking its name from Hongik University, is far from an average college neighborhood. Over the last sixty-odd years, it has become a cultural bellwether, boasting an incredible diversity of creative activity and spaces. To identify the budding trends that may soon ripple throughout Korea, spending time in Hongdae is a must. Starting point of the mural alley opposite Hongik Culture Park. The murals painted on this wall of Hongik University, created as part of the Hongdae Street Art Exhibition, recently disappeared due to construction of the university’s underground campus. However, those on the opposite side still remain.#Hongdae
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
Adding New Lines to Publishing One of the many facets of Hongdae is its innovative publishing culture. The area is home to both large and independent publishers, design houses, and book cafés. The synergy of the community and publishing scene allows even smaller, independent bookstores to thrive. THANKSBOOKS is a pioneering neighborhood bookstore. Most customers are people in their 20s and 30s who work in the arts and culture industry. The owner is a former designer whose tastes are reflected in the store’s sophisticated selection of books. © THANKSBOOKS#Hongdae
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
The Heart of Korea’s Indie Music When discussing Korea’s indie music, one thing that can’t be left out is the live music clubs in the Hongdae area. They began to appear one by one in the early 1990s, introducing new forms of music. They also served as platforms for the debuts of indie bands and for musicians to mingle and share ideas that would redefine the Korean music scene. The quartet Dabda performing at Club BBang on Live Club Day in October 2023. Live Club Day is a music festival where one pass gives access to multiple clubs. The scheme is possible thanks to the dense cluster of live entertainment venues in Hongdae, a notable feature of the area. © indieinsomnia#Hongdae
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
Community Chronicler Street H celebrates its 15th anniversary this year as the community chronicler of Hongdae. Although gentrification has reshaped the neighborhood, Jung Ji-yeon, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine, believes the spirit of Hongdae is still very much alive. After working for magazines and publishers for over 15 years, Jung Ji-yeon developed an interest in community magazines. In 2009, she started her own, Street H, to track the trendsetting changes in Hongdae.#Hongdae
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Features 2024 AUTUMN
Cultural Hub Adapts to Changing Times Until the 1980s, the area surrounding Hongik University had the look and feel of a typical college town. But the open-minded and progressive atmosphere of the 1990s led to creative experimentation and innovative endeavors across various fields. In the process, the neighborhood developed a unique identity that became known as the “Hongdae culture.”#Hongdae
