INDUSTRIAL charms

Once a town full of factories and warehouses, the district of Seongsu-dong in Seoul has transformed into a hub where fashion, art and design converge, forming the perfect environment for a new generation of creatives to thrive in

- JAMIE LEE

If neighbourhoods had their version of an It girl, she would definitely be Seongsu-dong in Seoul. Quite accurately described as the Brooklyn of the South Korean capital, Seongsu-dong used to be an industrial district with hundreds of small-scale factories and warehouses. After the manufacturing industry went into a decline, the area slowly started to change.

Today, the neighbourhood is anchored by tourist favourites like retail space Common Ground and Cafe Onion but tucked in among them are plenty of other homegrown South Korean stores offering everything from fashion items to lifestyle goods, as well as an array of cafes, eateries, upscale bars and restaurants. It’s pretty easy to find, being just a five-minute walk away from Seongsu Station. A good tip to never losing your direction in South Korea is to download Naver Map on your phone, a navigation app used by locals. 

Eat 

Seoul boasts an incredible cafe culture, with a large variety of establishments that offer great coffee and plenty of photo-taking opportunities, and you can definitely see this in Seongsu-dong. For your morning fix, start your day at Low Key, Cafe Y704, Blue Bottle Seongsu, Changchang Coffee and warehouse-turned-cafe Daelim Changgo. For rooftop vibes, head over to Mellower and Cafe Yeonmujang.