Of various locations many Koreans visit to play, Hyehwa Dong remains a popular choice among youth. Located next to Hyehwa Station on Metro Line 4, this town starkly contrasts with other regions of Seoul commonly known including Yongsan and City Hall. The streets flood with young artists and performers with creative plays, busking, and dance performances. Inside these streets are groups and crowds of young Koreans enjoying their day. As such, Hyehwa Dong is a major hub of artists and youth in South Korea. Let’s dive further into its history, attractions, and whether the region is fit for you, as a foreign traveler, to take a visit or not.
Hyehwa Dong was named after the Hyehwa Gate in Hanyangdoseong* after King Tae-jo of the Joseon Dynasty. Even though most of the castle and walls have been demolished, parts remain along modern Hyehwa Dong. In the 1900s, various famous universities including Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University were constructed in this area. With a sudden influx of students in the town, the town underwent an ‘artistic boom’, where young artists started to perform in this area. However, unlike modernized towns like Apgujeong, the town did not go through as strong of a change, which led to the town harboring its old, traditional atmosphere.
Many young, student artists have their first public performance in Hyehwa Dong - specifically Daehakro. This makes the town great for watching or listening to amateur plays and busking performances in streets and small theaters. Fortunately, the number of performances in the town increased once again after a dip since COVID-19. In terms of nice places to visit in the town, MarronnierMarronier Park is a famous meeting hub for Koreans visiting Hyehwa Dong. Various cafes are unique and enjoyable, one of which is jazz cafes, where jazz artists and bands perform at night in nice cafes and restaurants. At night, Naksan Park is also famous for watching Seoul from a bird’s eye view at night.
Hyehwa Dong is worth visitingworthy of a visit for foreign travelers to Korea. The town is enjoyable for its traditional architecture and relatively old buildings with unique atmospheres, as well as modern, creative performances and artwork. Of course, to visit a town less known for foreigners and more chosen by locals is challenging and a dare for many. Still, part of fully enjoying a country lies in being surrounded by the local atmosphere and people and having a try at these local areas. If you fit into this daring category of visitors who seek to fully experience South Korea, Hyehwa Dong is worth a try.
6/9/24
Joy Kim