Every Corner of Korea

Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea - Go back to Changsin-dong Alley where Park Soo-keun and Nam June Paik lived

Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong are the outer villages of Hanyang Castle

Go back to Changsin-dong Alley where Park Soo-keun and Nam June Paik lived

Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

The house where Seo Min-hwa, Park Soo-geun lived, and the house where video artist Nam June Paik lived are in Changsin-dong. Seo Min-hwa walks Park Soo-keun along the alleys of Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu, outside of Dongdaemun, Hanyangdo Castle.
It is a half-day trip to the Dongmyomun Design Plaza (DDP), where you can enjoy the night view of Heunginjimun Gate and alleys.
The marketplaces and alleys of Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong resurrect as cultural streets
Changyang-dong and Sungin-dong, a town outside Dongdaemun, Hanyang Castle
Exit through Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1) and go up Dongdaemun Castle Park. The neatly finished Hanyang Castle is a symbol of the Joseon Dynasty in 600 years. If you continue along the castle road, you can climb to the top of Naksan Castle, and the Hanyangdoseong Dulle Road is connected to Ewha Mural Village, which attracts domestic and foreign tourists.
Hanyangdoseong Museum is located at the top of Dongdaemun Castle Park.
The Hanyangdoseong Museum is located at the top of Dongdaemun Castle Park, and you can see the Heunginjimun Gate at a glance. The Dongdaemun Shopping Town is lively, with the Heunginjimun as the center, and the outer diameter of DDP stands out as the former Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium. Heunginjimun and DDP's night view, which is popular as a date course for families and young couples, will meet at sunset, and they will set the course at Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong, the lower villages of the castle.
Heunginjimun and downtown view of Dongdaemun intersection from the view of Seongseong Park
Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong are the villages outside the city where the common people lived outside the city of Hanyang. As soon as you descend the castle and turn around, the trails are well maintained outside the castle and the Changsin-dong alleys are connected. Changsin-dong is still a cluster of 2,000 sewing factories. As you walk in the alleys, you will hear a sewing machine sound through the window frame of a small sewing factory between a steep hill and a curved alley. Recently, as a part of the city's urban regeneration project, themed alleys will be built around the sewing alleys and the sewing museum will be built.
Changsin-dong Plush Alley under Naksan
If you step down to the Changsin-dong Alley, you will find the Changsin Market Taste Alley, where the pace of finding restaurants is increasing. You can get a glimpse of the hanok between the alleys. Now exit the market alley and down the street. In front of Woori Bank, you can see the signpost of Changshin Market, exit 3 of Dongdaemun Station (Lines 1 and 4). Turn left into the small alley and you will see Seongjin Super on the corner. It is a raw garter (197-33, Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu) by video artist Nam June Paik (1932 ~ 2006).
Changsin Market's Alley with Food and Old Scenery
500m from Nam June Paik's Garter to the house
Unfortunately, Nam June Paik's house was torn down in the 1950s and operated as a restaurant until recently, but it was bought by the city of Seoul in August to create a cultural exhibition space to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Nam June Paik's death next year. Nam June Paik was born in Changpo and lived in Changsin-dong until he was 18 years old. Nam June Paik's house, which had a total area of 9,900m², was a hanok, a rich house with a cadillac, which was the only two in Korea. He finished his work in 2004 after finishing his last presentation. In an interview at the time, he said, "I want to go to Changsin-dong where I grew up." I can't look inside the house, but I'm glad that it will be a new cultural space next year.
Garter of Nam June Paik
Now, he goes back to Changsin-dong Station Alley and visits the house where Seo Min-hwa artist Park Soo-geun (1914-1965) lived. If you are with children, Changsin-dong Station Alley is a must. This alley is nothing short of Treasure Island in the eyes of the children who hold the hands of mom and dad on the weekend. Princesses who can't keep their eyes in front of large dolls and princes who hold their toy cars and howl are making memories forever.
Changsin-dong Station Alley is a must for children
Crossing the crossing in front of Dongmyomae Station Exits 2 and 3, the starting point of Dongmyo Flea Market is on the left, and the left side of Park Soo-Keun painter's house (393-16, Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu) is located. Currently there are restaurants and authorized brokerage offices and there are no milestones. However, someone wrote 'Park Su-geun's house' in small letters on the wall.
Changsin-dong House where painter Park Soo-keun lived
It's a pity, but if you illuminate Park's life, its meaning comes to me. Park Su-geun, who is considered to have the strongest Korean colors, is accompanied by a qualifier called 'Sum Minhwa'. His masterpieces, including Wells, Washer, and Roadside, were all born in Changshin-dong. He drew common people who sat in alleys and markets. The old man squatted with children and the peddlers were models. Park Soo-geun lived in Changsin-dong from 1952 to 1963 and portrayed many common people until he died of illness.
A small sign written by someone who paints Park Su-geun like hope
The alleys and marketplaces of the common people drawn by Park Soo-keun
Park Su-geun, a poor painter who loved the common people, walks to Sungnye-dong Dongmyo Flea Market. The Dongmyo Flea Market, which is held only on weekends, retains the alleys and marketplaces of old times, and has recently attracted attention as a new cultural playground. Dongmyo is located in the center of the marketplace, and it has been called Dongmyo Flea Market. The tomb is the shrine of Confucius. The market place runs like a spider's web in a small alley, centering on the tomb and the main street. On weekends, young couples holding their hands, lovers on a date, and blue-eyed foreign tourists who are interested in our culture are common. As you slowly look around the marketplace, you can see the people in the paintings. It overlaps with the faces of the alleys that the poor painters faced.
Dongmyo flea market scenery attracts people every weekend
To find the Dongmyo flea market, all you need is a light pocket and a bit of snow. For a thousand won, you can taste a cup of warm Americano, a king-headed dumpling with a little boy's face, or you can pick up your style without having to notice it. A young dad holding a child's hand and going on a holiday outing says about Dongmyo Flea Market.
Tourists visiting Dongmyo in the center of Dongmyo Flea Market
“The playground is easy to reach by public transport and enjoyable with curious children. I find mystery items at my disposal so I can buy them cheaply. It is the best holiday holiday destination. ”
Changsin-dong Alleys and Marketplaces
Don't miss the tombs in the center of the market. Dongmyo is located in a relatively spacious space, so it's enough to take a break.
Heunginjimun, DDP, Dongdaemun Shopping Town
From the Soong-dong house of Park Su-geun to the Changshin-dong house of world-renowned video artist Nam June Paik, it is only 500m away. Walking along the alleyway where two artists representing 20th century Korean art lived, and looking around Heunginjimun Gate and DDP Night View at dusk, a one-day Seoul outing is enough.
Night view of DDP, popular as a date course for lovers
Travel info

Hanyang Doseong Museum
Address: 283 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Contact: 02-724-0243

Dongmyo Flea Market
Address: Dongmyo Park, 84, Nangye-ro 27-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Exit 3, Dongmyomae Station, Subway Lines 1 and 6)
Opening hours: Weekdays from 2pm to sunset, weekends from 10am to sunset
Contact: Jongno-gu Office 02-2148-1114

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Address: 281 Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Contact: 02-2153-0000

http://www.ddp.or.kr/MA010001/getInitPage.do


1. Nearby restaurants

Okcheon Royal Foot: Spicy Foot / 23 Jongno 51na-gil, Jongno-gu (Changsin Market Alley) / 02-3672-7168
Fried meat: Fried meat and vegetables / 7, Jibong-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu (Dongmyo Market)
Miso Restaurant: Noodles, sandwiches, Americano / 22, Jongno 58-gil, Jongno-gu / 02-2254-1005
Biscuits: D.I.Y.Juice / 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu Dongdaemun Design Plaza B1 / 02-2153-0740


2. Accommodation

Dongdaemun Hotel: 286, Jongno, Jongno-gu / 02-741-7811

http://hoteldongdaemun.com/
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square: 279 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu / 02-2276-3000
Hotel Gaon Golden Park: 77 Jongno 44-gil, Jongno-gu / 02-741-5071
Dongdaemun Hostel: 21 Jong-ro 44-gil, Jongno-gu / 070-4149-8159

※ The above information was written in October 2015. It may change afterwards, so please check before you travel.
※ The information such as text, photos and videos used in this article is copyrighted by Korea Tourism Organization, so unauthorized use of the article is prohibited.