I had heard that for a night on the town in Seoul, one of the places to visit is the Insadong area of the city in South Korea — the main street is its focal point of the lively area, which is only for pedestrians, as no motor vehicles are permitted — and this area is crammed with modern galleries and shops which sell pottery, tea, handmade hanji paper, and other traditional goods.
Sunday Morning Photograph May 1 2022: Insadong at Night in South Korea.
What might have seemed strange several years ago appears to be unfortunately be considered normal today, as an unidentified woman loosely wears a mask on her face as she shops the wares of one store.
Although they can also be found on the main street, look down some of the alleyways to find tea houses; cafés, and dining establishments which specialize in serving traditional Korean cuisine.
Insadong originally was comprised of two towns whose names ended in the syllables In and Sa — which were at one time divided by a stream which ran along the current main street — while dong is generally a neighborhood in Seoul — hence its name.
Its rich history dates back to at least the twelfth century — but today, Insadong is a popular place in Seoul where one can shop, dine, browse art — or simply watch people as they go by.
Final Boarding Call
Insadong is conveniently located near at least three different subway stations, several famous traditional temples, and Bukchon Hanok Village, where one can stay overnight in a traditional hanok — such as the hanok in which I stayed.
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All photographs ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
