Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea - Journey through the alleys of the city center
Bangbaesai-gil Art Map <Photo courtesy of Kim Hee-Jung>
Journey through the alleys of the city center
Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea
I think of traveling far away. However, it is urban travel that is becoming a new trend of travel for modern people who can hardly find a trip. Among them, a trip to an alleyway centered on a particular street brings new pleasures. Bangbae-dong in Seoul reminds us of a cafe alley, but there is a new way. Let's take a trip to fall with the 'Bangbae-dong Sai-gil', which is frequented up and down recently.
Bangbae-ro 42-gil, Seocho-gu, named 'Bangbaesai-gil'
The name 'bangbaesai-gil' is unique. The word "sai", meaning liver, means two or more relationships. It will be time and space to define between. In that sense, calling 42-gil as 'sai-gil' by Bangbae means not only spatial (geographical) relationship but also cultural and social relations among the people living there. Of course, '42' can be read as '시', so you can call it that way.
Saigil began to be known to the world when ten people who nested in this place tried to make the streets of culture and art. In less than two years, it has grown to a group of more than 30 people, and members participate in the form of talent donation. A representative example is the Saigil Art Map. It is the work of Kim Hee-jeong, a designer of a specialty packaging company called 'Aurum'. 'Saigil Map', drawn by hand, embodies the ideal of this street.
Quiet and secluded Bangbae-dong, what is it like?
Recently, many roads between Bangbae-dong have been reported through the media. On the holiday of the New Year's Day, I ate a late morning and went to Sai Gil. You can see signs such as 'Bangbae-dong 42-gil' and '1 ← 72' on the wall.
Different people have different tastes. Some people like crowded places, while others like quiet and secluded places. Garosu-gil was initially a secluded street, but now it's a good place for people who are turning into a complex street and want to look away. If you express Garosu-gil as a 'prose', you can say that Sai-gil is a poem. It is so quiet and secluded that it provides a space of thought.
Bangbaesai Road Signpost Address Sign
The Saigil Flea Market is held here every month from 11:00 to 5:00 on the second Saturday.
The 5th Bangbaesai-gil Festival Poster
Let's make your own creative work in the handmade workshop
As I walk down the street, I can see 'Perfume Studio'. A couple of college students appear to be counseling.
Perfume Base Showcase
When I open the door slightly and enter, I am making a fragrance for my girlfriend for my birthday. From over 100 bases and over 20 natural oils, perfume designers help design and name their own fragrances.
Perfume workshop products sold at flea markets
The second place to visit is Ceramica Paint, a ceramic hand paint workshop. As you enter the entrance, you'll find a wide variety of ceramics in different colors and shapes. Cerawalk not only offers pottery classes, but also theme-style birthday parties.
Cerawalk's colorful ceramics
You can also make your own pottery as a souvenir or gift. Draw a picture on the pottery, apply glaze and bake it in a hot kiln of more than 1,000 degrees. All of this is done in stores. On the other side of the store, you can buy pottery while making pottery.
Participants Hand Painted Porcelain Figurines
When I enter a la main, a leather workshop, I can hear the sound of a hammer. You can make your own leather bags, wallets and more to suit your style.
Leather Craft Workshop
There are also many workshops where you can make sewing classes and dolls.
Sculpture dolls on display at handmade
`` Suemade '', a custom-made jewelry shop and a needlework doll workshop, and `` le conte '', a handmade accessory shop with an eco-friendly sewing story, is recommended for children as well as adults.
Children in class
Home design shop that makes our home happy
There are many trendy European shops on the road, not only antique antiques. The home interior design editorial shop which is full of famous brands
One of the major stores is 'Ruming', which specializes in North European home interior accessories. Looking through the window, the interior of the store
Lumming's Interior Props
Also attracting attention is “Eight Colors”, which displays and sells products such as House Doctor, which is popular for kitchen and furniture accessories, and Meri Meri, which specializes in house party and children's products.
Kitchen utensils displayed on 8 color
Marmelo, a recently established import home and design company, is home to some of Europe's most famous wallpaper, fabrics and cushions.
Eco-Products
'Naenggigi', a kitchenware K-tableware specialty shop located in an imported brand shop, is unique. At the entrance of the store, chandeliers made from dozens of ceramics welcome guests. A single-use cup set that promotes a healthy diet is good enough to contain only what you need for both adults and children. Cold season
Cupboard ceramic chandelier
A step away from Bangbae-sai Road, you will find 'Iim Design', a home fashion design shop such as bedding, curtains and cushions, and 'Aurum', a gift and souvenir packaging craft design company. Ideal for special guests or events.
Cold set
Rest in a small alley gallery
Sometimes smaller but more secluded galleries can blow away the stress of urban life. There are many galleries such as Bangbae-gil. 'A factory' thinks about what kind of factory it is just by its name. Maybe a stands for art
a factory exhibit
Mina Atelier is small but can interact with the artist and appreciate the exhibits.
Mina Atelier exhibits
When you stop by Lisa and Jamie Atelier, the studios of two sisters who have gone on separate paths as singers and jewelry designers, I recommend you to buy a mobile phone case printed with the artist's work.
Lisa & Jamie Atelier Cover
You can feel the warmth and enthusiasm like the bread just saved from the toaster and the gallery toast, which plays a role as a discharge channel for young artists, is also a good place to visit.
Yoo Seong-sun Solo Exhibition at Toaster Gallery
Restaurants like galleries add to the fun of eating
Walking between two or three hours will leave your boat. I'm worried about what to eat. “Kelly Gallery & Restaurant” is eye-catching. As with most shops, the interior view through the window is a fascinating attraction. The interior is more of a gallery than an ordinary restaurant. The walls are filled with paintings, and both the table decoration and the layout are as pretty as the paintings. Ordered today's menu, duck kimchi fried rice and oil pasta. Each grain of fried rice is seasoned evenly with spicy flavors. Pasta feels alive and chewy. The combination of rich olive oil flavor, shrimp and garlic is also excellent.
Interior of Kelly Gallery Kitchen
There are pretty and delicate cakes on the cake showcase that are really questionable.
Cake made with Sugarcraft Craft
Nearby is Lari Café, a popular cake shop since 1992. The shops, like a living room in a fine English home, are comfortable and antique. Made with the finest ingredients, Lari cake melts like a snowflake the moment it is put in your mouth. I ordered a chiffon cake with half the sugar content.
Chiffon Cake and Coffee
The combination of moist and soft creamy taste and Americano using the finest beans creates a wave of emotion. Every time a coffee asks for a refill, it brings it to a new cup with a different design. In addition to the coffee, the cup tastes good.
Lari's Coffee
Bread lovers can't miss Lee Boulanger's French bread bakery. Baking fermented bread using flour and natural yeast imported from France without artificial additives. Representative bread is germinated brown rice bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The kitchen is open, so it's fun to see the bread making process.
Gerlan Brown Rice Bread
Those who want to make cakes or macaroons can take a baking class at the Donna L. baking studio run by Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie. It is a great place to make and present special cakes for your children or special people.
Baking studio at patissier from le cordon bleu
Travel info
Bangbae-dong
-Location: Bangbae-ro 42-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
-How to get there: Located near Bangbae-dong Hamji Doctor Street or Seorae Elementary School
Subway: Take village bus No. 13 or 14 from exit 2 of Isu Station (Line 4) and get off at Hamji Doctor Street
Bus: 142, 148, 406 (Seorae Elementary School)
※ The above information was updated in March 2017 and 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.