Insadong of Seoul 인사동
One of the most interesting areas of Seoul that I visited was Insadong 인사동. With a singled laned one-way main street, Insadong features lots of little stores, galleries, and restaurants. Insadong is place where tourist shop and girls would go for afternoon tea.
The architecture of the area reminded me of the small towns you’d see from Japanese films. Quaint village-like atmosphere. Small signs whisking out to the adjacent alleys of galleries and stores.
But after awhile, I realized that most of the stores had goods for tourists, much like Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The antique wares, ceramics, and textiles were starting to look the same. There were even stores – in plain English, that tried to pull you in with tax-free signs. And yes, I was pulled in.
I think that most redeeming businesses in the area were the coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. I saw a local restaurant with people braving the cold just for late lunch. There must have been 10 people outside…Crazy I thought, but I kinda wanted to try it myself.
Critically, I know I should harsh on Insadong, since I very much liked it. In fact, that’s where I purchased most of my gifts. This is a place that I would very much visit again.
#gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-2 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-2 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; }
