Seochon: Wandering Seoul's Last "Untouched" Neighborhood

In this excursion, we will explore the Seochon (West Village) neighborhood of Seoul that sits between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Mt. Inwangsan. Composed of 13 small administrative districts called "dongs," the neighborhood is a showcase of the layers of 20th-century urban history. Korean-style houses (hanok) and winding alleys represent the 1930s-1950s, markets, commercial strips, and two-story houses the 1960s-1980s, concrete-tile residential buildings represent the 1990s-2000s, and new galleries and cafes represent the present.

We will begin the excursion at the entrance to Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station and explore the alleys of Tongui-dong, which include an eclectic mixture of hanok, Japanese colonial-period houses, and modern museums and galleries. In recent years, the area has become one of Seoul's newest art districts, and will drop into a few galleries along the way. From Tongui-dong, we will follow alleys through Changseong-dong on our way to Hyoja-dong where will visit the Sin Ik-hui's house. Sin was a politician in the 1950s and his house is an attractive example of a mid-20th-century hanok.

Moving across Jahamunno, the main street in the area, we will visit the Tongin Market, one of the most active open markets in Seoul. From here, we will walk to Nusang-dong, an area crowded with four-story multi-family residences, stopping by several interesting buildings on the way. Next, we will wander through alleys in Nuha-dong and stop at the first hanok renovated with support from the city of Seoul under a renovation program that began in 2010. We will wander more alleys lined with hanok and make our way to Chebu-dong where we will explore some of the most interesting alleys in Seoul. On the way, we will visit several hanok and other interesting sights in the alleys. We will end our excursion at the "Yi Sang House," an art space in a house on the site where the early 20th-century poet Yi Sang lived.

Please make your reservation before Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

To make a reservation, email the following information to royalasiatickorea@gmail.com

TO: R.A.S.

PLEASE RESERVE SPACE ON THE SOCHON EXCURSION IN SEOUL, SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012 FOR THE FOLLOWING:

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