MangoVine - The Artistic and Crafty Insadong

22 July, 2009
Wednesday

Insadong - an area swarming with artistic shops and craft stores selling all kinds of paper artwork, brushes and Korean folk crafts. It was also the site of our first choice hotel which was fully booked!

Insadong-Gift-Shop-Overhead

Located close to Anguk metro station (Line 3), we found ourselves first at the north end of Insadong gil, a long pedestrian intersection that winds down through much of Insadong.

Insadong-Snack-Cart

We peeked every now and then down the side roads but mainly caught sight of the craft shops and stores touting their goods, sometimes far out into the intersection.

Insadong-Crafts-Shop

Insadong was home to quite a few noticeable art galleries and we made a point of stopping off to wander around the spiral balcony of the Ssamziegil cultural complex.

Insadong-Ssamziegil-Courtyard

The place connects all the art shops, crafts stores and studios on four levels together with one gradually ascending (or descending) balcony path.

Insadong-Ssamziegil-Bench

We paused to admire this colour bench, and take photo opportunities with this handy, oversized polaroid frame and some funky glasses outside an opticians.

Insadong-Ssamziegil-Frame

Linh also bought some rice crackers from one stall as the guy continued making more creations.

Insadong-Snacks-Stall

Insadong is also the site of the only Starbucks in the world with Korean signage as it was felt that the Western signage of a multinational corporation did not fit the ambience of the area.

Insadong-Starbucks

More views of Insadong: A toy seller with a slick display of figures and a shoe repairer closing up shop for the night.

Insadong-Toy-Stall

More photos of Insadong on Flickr.

Insadong-Market-Stalls-Night

This entry posted in : Art. Attractions. Shopping. South Korea.

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The Artistic and Crafty Insadong

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