"CSAT Examinees and Families, Try Healing Around Seongbuk-dong~~~"... Proposal by Lee Seung-ro, Seongbuk District Mayor

Simujang, Hanyangdoseong, Uri Yetdol Museum, Seongbuk Seondam Museum, Korean Furniture Museum, and more: alleys filled with historical and cultural heritage, charming small shops, popular restaurants, and healing spots, plus the peak autumn foliage to enjoy

Simujang

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, proposed stress relief and healing for the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) examinees and their families at the "Roofless Museum Seongbuk-dong."

The mayor said, "This weekend will be a golden time for examinees and their families to enjoy freedom after a long time," adding, "On the first weekend after the CSAT, I hope that the examinees who have been running at full speed and their families, who were like second examinees, will visit Seongbuk-dong together or alone to experience the historical and cultural heritage scattered in every alley and spend healing time. With this in mind, I would like to recommend a few famous spots."

The first recommended Seongbuk-dong attraction by Mayor Lee is "Simwoojang." It is the house built in 1933 during the Japanese colonial period by Manhae Han Yong-un, a poet and independence activist. It is famous for being oriented northward, facing away from the Government-General of Korea at the time. Sitting on the wooden porch and looking out over Seongbuk-dong naturally evokes imagining the thoughts and feelings of Manhae, who likely sat in the same spot looking at the same view.

The second recommended Seongbuk-dong attraction is the "Hanyangdoseong" (Seoul City Wall). Seongbuk-dong is considered the most beautiful section of the Hanyangdoseong and serves as a starting point for exploration. The fortress walls, which become the walls of houses and alleys as they wind through the village, are a masterpiece of landscape. Especially in the section adjacent to Bukjeong Village, the colorful low roofs spread out like a patchwork quilt contrast and harmonize with the scenery of Korea’s most affluent neighborhood, creating a unique and overwhelming atmosphere.

Mayor Lee describes Seongbuk-dong as the "3 Han" village because it has Han Yong-un, Hanyangdoseong, and Hangul. Although he would like to recommend the Kansong Art Museum, which houses the original Hunminjeongeum (the first Hangul explanation book) by Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil, unfortunately, it is currently under renovation and not open for viewing.

Old Stone Museum

The next recommended attraction by the mayor is the "Uri Yetdol Museum" (Our Ancient Stone Museum). It is the world’s only museum specializing in stone artifacts, established by gathering about 2,000 Korean stone relics scattered domestically and internationally in one place. It exhibits repatriated artifacts taken out during the Japanese colonial period and various stone carvings embodying the hopes of the Korean people. Especially, the outdoor exhibition space harmonized with wildflowers embraces the open view of Seongbuk-dong, continuously impressing visitors.

The fifth recommended attraction is the "Korean Furniture Museum." It is famous as an essential course that heads of state from various countries visit first to learn about Korea. World superstars like Brad Pitt also frequently visit. Since it operates strictly by reservation, checking the schedule in advance is essential. Mayor Lee often hears confessions from visitors who fell in love with Seongbuk-dong after visiting the Korean Furniture Museum, recommending it highly by saying that despite the inconvenience of reservations, the emotional impact and excitement more than compensate for the effort.

The next attraction is the "Seongbuk Seonjam Museum." It was recommended as a place to confirm the origin of K-fashion. Right next to the Seongbuk Seonjam Museum is Seonjamdan, where the queen held annual rituals praying for a bountiful silkworm harvest. The museum recreates the Seonjam Festival and the silkworm rearing ceremony with models and offers a 3D video of the festival’s progress. Additionally, it has a royal silk warehouse where visitors can experience various silks such as geum (brocade), sa (gauze), ra (thin silk), and dan (satin).

He also recommended the "Seongbuk-gu Art Museum." As Seoul’s first district-run art museum, it has exhibited works by artists deeply connected to Seongbuk-gu, such as Kim Ki-chang, Kim Whanki, and Byun Jong-ha, who have developed and advanced modern and contemporary Korean art. Currently, an exhibition is held showcasing the works of Seo Seok, a master of Korean ink painting who lived and worked in Seongbuk-dong for over 60 years, along with Korean modern and contemporary artists he interacted with.

Gilsangsa

Mayor Lee also recommended "Gilsangsa Temple." Although it is a religious facility, he explained that it is a space transcending religion. The story of Venerable Beopjeong, who practiced non-possession throughout his life, and Gilsanghwa, who was moved by Beopjeong’s sermons and donated all her assets, transcends religion and teaches the value of emptiness?gaining great things by giving up everything. The statue of Avalokitesvara resembling the Virgin Mary is also worth noting.

Concluding the introduction of Seongbuk-dong attractions, the mayor expressed his intention to continue with second and third rounds of recommendations, as visitors naturally encounter embassies from 42 countries, unique restaurants, and stylish shops hidden in every alley.

Finally, he said, "You can come directly by taking Subway Line 4 from Seoul Station, and with just one transfer from Gimpo or Incheon Airport, you can easily visit Seongbuk-dong. Therefore, I expect a lot of interest from visitors from outside Seoul, both domestic and international," and concluded, "Please come to Seongbuk-dong, a wonderful neighborhood in the city where you can relieve CSAT stress and COVID-19 stress and heal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.