Street famous for its traditional attractions, including galleries, souvenir shops, and restaurants, is accessible directly from Jongno (Jongno 3-ga). Insadong originally comprised two towns whose names ended in the syllables 'In' and 'Sa'. They were divided by a stream which ran along Insadong's current main street. Insadong began 500 years ago as an area of residence for government officials. During the early period of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), the place belonged to Gwanin-bang and Gyeonpyeong-bang - bang was the name of an administrative unit during the time - of Hanseong (old name for the capital, Seoul). During the Japanese occupation, wealthy Korean residents were forced to move and sell their belongings, at which point the site became an area of antique trading. After the end of the Korean War, the area became a center of South Korea's artistic life and cafe culture. It was a popular destination among foreign visitors to South Korea during the 1960s, who called the area 'Mary's Alley'. It gained in popularity among international tourists during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In 2000 the area was renovated, and, after protest, the rapid modernization of the area was halted for two years beginning that year. In recent years the backstreets of Insadong have continued to be gentrified with cafes, garden restaurants, and traditional pension-style accommodations. Insadong-gil is 'well known as a traditional street to both locals and foreigners' and represents the 'culture of the past and the present'. It contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere and is a 'unique area of Seoul that truly represents the cultural history of the nation.' The majority of the traditional buildings originally belonged to merchants and bureaucrats. Some larger residences, built for retired government officials during the Joseon period, can also be seen. Most of these older buildings are now used as restaurants or shops. Among the historically significant buildings located in the area are Unhyeongung mansion, Jogyesa, one of the most significant Korean Buddhist temples, and Seungdong Presbyterian Church, one of Korea's oldest Presbyterian churches. The central temple of Cheondoism can also be found in the vicinity, which was completed in 1921.

Type of Data Point - Basic Data Point - Source Wikipedia

Insa-dong - Wikipedia

Visit page of the element - Insadong-gil

Inserted: 12-01-2023 07:01:56