Walking trip "Where Past and Present, Art and Culture Mix"

Seoul is rapidly changing into a megacity of the future. However, there are still areas with a history and culture. This walking tour shows how the old areas of the city are undergoing new changes.

The Changsin-dong and Dongmyo areas are located in the center of Seoul and very active neighborhoods that still retain the old Seoul. It is the area behind Dongdaemun Fashion Town, where small sewing factories are gathered, and it is also the place where the largest flea market in Seoul is located.

The history of the Dongmyo Flea Market began after the Korean War. Many refugees built shantytowns along Cheonggyecheon and started bartering daily necessities here. It is now the largest flea market in Seoul with everything you need.

The Sindang area behind Cheonggyecheon where Dongmyo is located was originally famous for selling used kitchenware, and furniture for self-employed people. It was a place you had to come to if you wanted to do business in Seoul.

However, Changsin-dong, Dongmyo Flea Market, and Sindang area are rapidly being redeveloped. New buildings are continuously being built. What’s interesting, however, is that young artists and youth are also infiltrating the area. Shindang, where many art spaces have been created, has become a hip area in Seoul these days.

In this walking tour, you can experience how the underdeveloped areas of Seoul are changing through the eyes of artists. You can see how history, culture, and art are mixed in the past and present.