One of the many reasons South Korea is attractive as a tourist location is because of the coexistence between traditional and modern culture. Before its rapid development led by former President Park Chung-Hee during the Saemaul Undong (새마을운동) — a policy to greatly modernize South Korea’s underdeveloped territory — the country was largely agrarian. Many citizens would buy food from traditional markets, where farmers and fishermen would lay out their harvests or fish for sale. In the early 2000s, President Lee Myung-Bak initiated further modernization policies that removed Pojang Machas (street snack markets). Though effective in cleaning out the country’s roads, these modernization policies led to many streets in Seoul losing their unique traditional atmosphere. However, Cheongnyangni is one of the few older towns that still harbors this traditional atmosphere that many tourists may be curious about.
Cheongnyangni’s name originates from Cheongnyangsa Temple. The temple was named after the Korean word for “pure” and “clean”, as the temple was known for always having refreshing breezes and clean streams During Korea’s fast progress of modernization with the construction of railroads and highways, one of the very first train stations was built in Cheongnyangni, where the National Railroad (국철) and Line 1 passed at the time. Even after its initial construction, Cheongnyangni Station remains one of the largest and most intricate stations in South Korea, not only connecting four metro lines but also connecting KTX, which is South Korea’s express train connecting various parts of South Korea.
One of the characteristics of towns and regions that were first modernized by the government in history is that they are not further renovated nowadays. This means that many parts of the town remain as it was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. As a result, these towns harbor an interesting, unique atmosphere that is a combination of underdevelopment and tradition. Cheongnyangni is not an exception. Near Cheongnyangni Station, many traditional markets still exist, which are not as common in modern-day Seoul. These markets are especially major visit locations for Koreans during traditional holidays including Seollal and Chuseok. This is because these traditional markets are the original sellers of traditional Korean snacks and food. For tourists, visiting these traditional markets might be a unique experience, as you get to experience the traditional Korean atmosphere while also enjoying the unique foods they offer.
Interestingly, Cheongnyangni’s attraction does not simply end from its traditional markets. In the past couple of years, major franchises and modern stores started to settle within or near these markets, creating a unique atmosphere that many Koreans are going to enjoy. A great instance of this is Starbucks in Kyeongdong Market. Unlike most other Starbucks stores in Korea that are located in conventional, modernized buildings, the Starbucks store in Kyeongdong Market takes place at an old, closed theater. Instead of completely renovating the space, Starbucks decided to keep the old, cozy atmosphere of the space, making it one of the prettiest, most attractive Starbucks stores in all of Seoul.
Cheongnyangni is a town that may be limited to modern attractions. Indeed, the old nature of the town makes it less looked upon by foreign tourists - especially the young who want the most fun from their trips. Nevertheless, the town is a great option to not only fully enjoy the traditional markets and atmosphere of Seoul but also enjoy the small, interesting attractions and locations that are worth a visit and a photo.