A Brief History of Seongsu-Dong, the ‘Brooklyn of Seoul’
Long ago, Seoul’s Seongsu-dong was known as an industrial neighborhood packed with small, urban factories. By the 1970s, it attracted manufacturers of all kinds, from small shoe-makers and leather factories to printing and car repair shops.
However, the next few decades saw a shift in the global industry that led to the decline of factory-driven manufacturing ? including in South Korea. It meant the closure of many small factories and warehouses. Elsewhere in Seoul, the price of land steadily rose, but Seongsu-dong remained unattractive for urban development.
Everything began to change in the early 2010s when young entrepreneurs and artists seeking low rents set up new businesses, studios, galleries, and workspaces in these abandoned spaces. The public no longer deemed the small, brick warehouses abandoned relics of an old industry. Instead, they were retro, hip, and ready to be transformed. This transformation drew designers, chefs, coffee makers, and artisans into the area, who brought with them new fashion microbrands, restaurants, cafes, and startups. Seongsu-dong then earned the moniker “the Brooklyn of Seoul,” recalling New York Brooklyn’s similar reinvention to a creative economy.
Today, Seongsu-dong is one of Seoul’s most desirable locations for brands, businesses, and K-pop bands seeking to hold pop-up events. With a unique artsy and retro charm, Seongsu-dong is a fun neighborhood to wander around.
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1. What caused the decline of the factories and warehouses in Seongsu-dong?
2. Why did Seongsu-dong remain unattractive for urban development after the decline of factories?
3. How did Seongsu-dong begin to change in the early 2010s?
4. What nickname has Seongsu-dong earned, and what is the origin of this comparison?
1. What role do you think artists and entrepreneurs play in the revival of formerly industrial areas?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of urban gentrification in neighborhoods like Seongsu-dong?
3. How important is the role of branding and identity in the transformation of areas like Seongsu-dong?
4. How could Seongsu-dong’s transformation inspire other neighborhoods facing similar industrial decline?
Long ago, Seoul’s Seongsu-dong was known as an industrial neighborhood packed with small, urban factories. By the 1970s, it attracted manufacturers of all kinds, from small shoe-makers and leather factories to printing and car repair shops.
Everything began to change in the early 2010s when young entrepreneurs and artists seeking low rents set up new businesses, studios, galleries, and workspaces in these abandoned spaces. The public no longer deemed the small, brick warehouses abandoned relics of an old industry. Instead, they were retro, hip, and ready to be transformed. This transformation drew designers, chefs, coffee makers, and artisans into the area, who brought with them new fashion microbrands, restaurants, cafes, and startups. Seongsu-dong then earned the moniker “the Brooklyn of Seoul,” recalling New York Brooklyn’s similar reinvention to a creative economy.
