If Dorothy once followed the yellow brick road in search of meaning, young Koreans have been following the red bricks of Seongsu, Seoul in search of new enjoyment. They have found themselves an entertainment hub amidst buildings built from leftover red bricks from past demolished factories. Though these buildings look similar from the outside, the exterior holds great meaning to the Seongsu community. Each newly-renovated red brick building with its different purposes, allow for old locals to reminisce about the small-scale factories that once filled the streets, and for new visitors to learn the history of the area. Everyone visits Seongsu for different reasons: to dine in contemporary casual restaurants, take memorable photos against local backdrops, shop for unique items, and many more. With something for everyone, Seongsu is the perfect place to drop by on a lazy Sunday.

GROUND SEESAW SEONGSU

Ground Seesaw Seongsu is a gallery that exhibits both local and worldwide cultural and arts intellectual properties. The gallery aims to allow visitors to find inspiration through the unique perspective offered by each exhibition. It has been one of the most visited galleries in Korea for over six years and has been holding exhibitions such as Photographs by Yosigo (2021) and the Vivian Maier Photo Exhibition (2022). Within the gallery grounds are the Ground Seesaw café and Ground Seesaw shop. The café offers delicacies and coffee mugs in line with the theme of running exhibitions and the shop showcases a variety of interesting items which are hard to miss. The next exhibition, Photographs by Natalie Karpushenko, is expected to demonstrate the “raw, real, natural” reflections of Mother Nature and human figures. Guaranteed to provide visitors with the most pleasant experience, Ground Seesaw Seongsu is where you should be if you are a lover of the arts or looking for a visual adventure.
 

SEONGSU NAKNAK (FOOD NAKNAK)

Koreans are never more serious than when choosing what to eat. Famous for being food lovers, local foodies often head towards Seongsu NakNak to grab a quick bite or enjoy a full meal. The food court with its soothing eco-friendly interior design as well as unique dining spaces offers dishes from all over the world such as Indian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines. Seongsu NakNak is home to many popular restaurants and café chains in Seoul such as Delhi Curry, Maragongbang, Crystal Dragon, Gontran Cherrier, Hoho Banjum, and more. The food court is especially busy during lunch hours as tourists come in for a food break after visiting the Seongsu area, while office workers come in to enjoy their lunch. Make sure to visit the food court when in the area!
 

GOOWOL CABINET (9WOL GALLERY & SHOP)

Goowol Cabinet is a small-scale complex cultural space that showcases traditional Korean household goods with a modern twist. The space structure is similar to a real home with a living room, kitchen, and bedroom. Each space tells its own story, with different lighting, choice of furniture, and decorative items. Everything shown is a piece of art but also products one can purchase and take home. The living room is especially memorable with its brilliant usage of space and traditional Korean furniture, perhaps similar to a house shown in classic K-dramas. Goowol Cabinet is also known to often hold flea markets as well as ceramic and pottery workshops. As there is no entrance fee, the showroom is definitely worth the visit if you are in the Seongsu area.