KOREA FOUNDATION
Features
-
Features 2024 WINTER
Traditional Homes Open Doors to the Past Seochon is home to one of Seoul’s most iconic hanok villages. Some of the traditional homes of the neighborhood have become public hotspots, offering opportunities to stay overnight and explore Korean culture. A view of the inner courtyard at Seochon Lounge, a renovated two-story hanok that is open to the public. People accustomed to modern apartment living can experience life in a traditional Korean residence. ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Government#hanok #Seochon
-
Features 2024 WINTER
A Slow and Simple Way of Life Fashion designer and business owner Kim Woo-Jung makes simple, comfortable clothes using natural fabrics. Five years ago, after trying out many different parts of Seoul, she finally settled down in Seochon. Her designs are often praised for reflecting the spirit of the quaint neighborhood. Fashion designer Kim Woo-Jung, who has lived in many neighborhoods throughout Seoul, set up her studio in Seochon five years ago and quickly grew attached to the neighborhood. Last year, she relocated to a house with a stunning view of Mt. Inwang and is now thoroughly enjoying the Seochon lifestyle.#Seochon
-
Features 2024 WINTER
In the Mountain’s Embrace Mt. Inwang with its beautiful scenery is a Seochon landmark and featured in many traditional landscape paintings. During the Joseon Dynasty, the mountain was where scholars recited poetry and enjoyed other artistic pursuits. Today, people take to its trails for hikes and leisurely walks. View over central Seoul from Mt. Inwang. To defend the capital city, then called Hanyang, Yi Seong-gye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, had fortress walls built connecting the ridges of four surrounding mountains: Bugaksan, Naksan, Namsan, and Inwangsan. Standing between five to eight meters high on average, the city wall stretches 18.6 km. ⓒ Korea Tourism Organization#Seochon
-
Features 2024 WINTER
Strolling Through Artistic Alleys Exhibition spaces are scattered throughout the Seochon area, covering the spectrum from quirky non-profit spaces to commercial galleries displaying and selling works by contemporary artists. Walkie-talkie-shaking was among the 2022 exhibits at the arts and culture hub BOAN1942. It explored the essence of communication, drawing inspiration from walkie-talkies. Opened in 2007, the Seochon venue displays creative and experimental works of various genres, including photography, painting, installation art, and video art. ⓒ Goh Jeongkyun#Seochon
-
Features 2024 WINTER
Seoul’s Oldest Hotspot In the heart of Seoul, just west of Gyeongbok Palace, lies Seochon, the “west village.” The neighborhood has a long, rich history. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was home to members of the royal family, aristocrats, and the literati, and in the modern era, many prominent writers and artists have left an indelible footprint there.#Seochon
-
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
