Iteawon - Multicultural downtown in Seoul

What would you really want to do if you visit Seoul, the capital city of Korea? Maybe ask anybody "Where is the hottest town these days?" would give you the best answer.

Today, I'll let you know about ITEAWON the most popular downtown in Seoul these days. Actually, Iteawon is apart from my home just a bus stop, so it's my favorite spot.

In Korean, Iteawon this term means 'Foreign' of 'Unique'. In the past, there was nothing but US Army. The army soldiers developed first foreigner town and afterwards people from so many different countries came into Iteawon. Presently, many embassies are there and Iteawon became a representative foreign settlement.

(Seoul in 80s)

My mom also lived in there when she was young. In those days, a young woman walk down the Iteawon street was very irreverent behavior because the older generation really hate and afraid of association with foreigners. But today it's totally different from the past and western culture is much more generalized in this society.

The biggest difference of Iteawon among many other downtowns is that it has MULTICULTURAL atmosphere. So many original tasted foreign restaurants with its foreign owners - Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Swedish and so on - are needless to say. 

(Sukcheon Hong)

Iteawon is the biggest concentration of gay bars. There are 5 big restaurants run by the most popular gay in Korea, Sukcheon Hong. After his honest coming out several years ago, he had to stop all of his career as a comedian half-willingly and half not. But then he successfully complete his transformations as a restaurant owner in Iteawon. These kinds of features explain well the character of Iteawon.

(a quiet flea market in a weekend)

Secondly, there are less people than primary downtowns like Gangnam or Sinchon. The main reason is that Iteawon has not so good transportation and high prices.

I think the song <Iteawon Freedom> helped make it more popular. The singer called UV is very similar to Lonley Island. Their songs are really comic and exciting. Lyrics of this song explains how free and good it is.

Until now, I've explained about basic characteristics of ITEAWON ! Have you get interested in this place? In next posting, I'll introduce in earnest about western restaurants. See ya! 

Introduce myself and topic of this blog!

Welcome to my blog "Jinalogue".

I'm glad to write my first post in Google today. This place will be filled with my story primarily related to traveling Seoul.

My name is Jina. (It's my Korean name, actually.) I'm Hanyang university student which is 4th famous university in my country, Korea! My major is Chinese literature and Chinese translation which suited my personality perfectly, because I'm kind of outgoing and talkative person like other studying foreign language people.

I've been in Beijing for 1 year for studying. At that semester, I used to get around all over the city almost everyday. Ironically, what I found out was the beauty of Seoul, not of Beijing! In Seoul, there are clean blue sky, tasty restaurants with awesome services and so many cultural facilities which is not in Beijing. I finally realized how much I like my city that I didn't know during living here for over 20 years.

I can be called the Original Seouler. In detail, I lived in northeast area which is a common bedroom town until 15-year-old, and then moved into the south, (YES! The Kangnam) the most famous education area. After graduate high school, my family moved again to the east called Jamsil, the special tourist zone of Seoul. Just a month ago, we finally made up the last move to the center of the city.

I'm living here longer than anyone (except older than me...) and loving deeply this city. As mentioned above, my outgoing and talkative character is suited for introducing the every awesome parts in Seoul to visit especially in each season to you!


Hope you meet you again :)

+)More about me!!

I love sweets.

When I trip to aboard,

chocoletes and candies of the country are at the top of the shoppipng list.

I usually look for new dessert or sweets cafe when I meet my friends.

Maybe most of the postings in the blog will be related to those kind of things.

I'm learning how to take photos well these days.

There's a SONY camera that I bought last year to add better pictures on my Korean blog, (blog.naver.com/soundmind216)

but nothing was in progress for a year...

So I started it again recently.