If you want to take a deep look into the retro Seoul, the Donuimun Museum Village (๋์๋ฌธ๋ฐ๋ฌผ๊ด๋ง์) is a place that must be in your bucket list.
Since in this area, they give visitors the chance to experience Koreaโs traditional culture through their facilities. Which keep the design of the 60s and 80s. To surely give bring back to life those nostalgic and emotional moments from the past. And indeed make us realize how things have changed over the time.
This place undoubtedly has become a place where parents can guide their children through history in a fun way. And of course, for those who are deeply interested in Seoulโs history.
Without further ado, letโs take a deep look to it!
Origin
The beginning of this village
Donuimun is also known as Seodaemun (์๋๋ฌธ). Which in fact means the big west gate of Hanyang. And it was built in 1396, but closed in 1413. Due to its damage. However, it was once again constructed at the current Jeongdong intersection in 1422.
Since then, it has the nickname of Saemunan Village, meaning โvillage in the new gateโ. And in 1915, the Japanese demolished Donuimun Gate. As part of their urban planning. Because of this, Donuimun Gate remained as the only gate that was known only by stories passed from mouth to mouth. Of course, among the four gates in Seoul.
A place to learn! Andโฆ Eat?
From the 1960s to the 70s, private tutoring rooms were in fact prevalent at this village. Above all there were prestigious schools such as Seoul High School, Gyeonggi High School, Gyeonggi Middle School, and Gyeonggi Girlsโ High School. So as many famous cram schools in Gwanghwamun and Jongno 2-ga, which were places for private education.
After the 1970s, high-rise buildings were consequently constructed in this area. Which in fact brought a boom in restaurants. That for instance, were targeting the office workers.
And from the early 1990s, the houses of the residents that left the neighborhood, were renovated. As a result, operated as restaurants.
The original plan
The original plan was in effect to make it a park after demolition. But in recognition of its historical value, they decided to make this village reborn as a museum.
As a result, the buildings were remodeled while preserving the original form as best as possible. This way, people can experience nostalgia. Through the modern historic architecture, of course. That makes you indeed realize how things have changed.
Map
As you can see, this place is pretty big! Because of this, I recommend you to come since morning. As you might need the whole day to visit each of the facilities.
My biggest regret was for sure arriving late. Because I was unable to enter some areas. Even though I was there since 12 P.M.
In addition, you need to take in consideration that some places close at 5 ~ 6 P.M.
Donuimun Villageโs Romantic festival
We can in fact see the eager of this place to become known through their festivals. As it seems that they hold events very often.
The day I went, there was a big festival as well. Which I must say, I was not aware of it. It was just a coincidence that I got to experience it.
This festival was called โDonuimun Villageโs Romantic festivalโ. And it was done in commemoration of the new leader of the villageโs club. With the performance of some artists that were loved back then! Even the MCs were beloved people for the community.
At first I thought the event was completely online due to COVID, as they were just screening the artists. But then, I realized that they were actually performing at the club. Which is located next to this yard. However, only certain people could enter to see the show live.
Stamp Tour
The concert was in fact not the sole way they celebrated this day. But also with a treasure hunt!
To participate, you had to get this flyer. And then, go to each of the locations that are written to get a stamp. Once you completed them, you could have gone to Myeongin Gallery in order to get your prizes.
The prizes were according to the number of stamps you got. For example, if you only have one, you could only get one candy. If you got two, you would get two prizes. And so on.
You could also get a stamp by completing the tasks that were left around the village. Such as traditional Korean games. A really fun way to gain points for those prizes, for sure!
COVID Prevention Method
Nowadays, due to COVID, the only way to visit each one of the facilities is by going to the information center first. Where you of course will have to write down your information. Otherwise, you must use the QR code that you can get from KakaoTalk. In order to register.
After that, they will give you a bracelet. Which you will have to show in each of the buildings before entering.
It is important to mention that this is free. There is in fact no fee to get it.
Walkthrough
Now get ready to travel back in time! Because in each of these attractions, you will feel like if you were in the old times. Then, it is time to take a look into the Retro Seoul at Donuimun Museum Village!
In the next list, we have arranged all the available attractions for you! As a result, you just need to make click to the one you want to know more about. In order to take a look into the Retro Seoul through Donuimun Museum Village!
Attractions
Click on the place you are interested to know more information about. To be redirected to the article we talk about it in depth.
Donuimun History Museum (๋์๋ฌธ์ญ์ฌ๊ด)
House of Three Generations (์ผ๋๊ฐ์ฅ)
F. W. Schofield Memorial (์ค์ฝํ๋ ๊ธฐ๋ ๊ด)
Seoul Center for Architecture and Urbanism (์์ธ๋์๊ฑด์ถ์ผํฐ)
Donuimun Gurakbu (๋์๋ฌธ๊ตฌ๋ฝ๋ถ)
Art Gallery in Seoul (์๋ฏผ๊ฐค๋ฌ๋ฆฌ)
Hall of Seoul Future Heritage (์์ธ๋ฏธ๋์ ์ฐ๊ด)
Hall of Life History (์ํ์ฌ์ ์๊ด)
Saemunan Theater (์๋ฌธ์๊ทน์ฅ)
Donuimun Game Room (๋์๋ฌธ์ฝคํจํฐ๊ฒ์์ฅ)
Saemunan Comic Book Store (์๋ฌธ์๋งํ๋ฐฉ)
Seodaemun Photo Studio (์๋๋ฌธ์ฌ์ง๊ด)
Samgeori Barbershop (์ผ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ์ด์ฉ์)
Artistsโ Gallery (์๊ฐ๊ฐค๋ฌ๋ฆฌ)
Donuimun Tram Hall (๋์๋ฌธ ์ ์ฐจ์ค)
Donuimun Gate Experience Center (๋์๋ฌธ์ฒดํ๊ด)
Experience Education Center
Village Workshop
Other Facilities
Food and Cafรฉs
Read More
Next Part
Now, click on the next article you want to read. In case you want to know more about this great place!
Part II
โ Donuimun History Museum
โ House of Three Generations
Part III
โ F.W Schofield Memorial
โ Seoul Center for Architecture and Urbanism
โ Donuimun Gurakbu
Part IV
โ Art Gallery in Seoul
โ Hall of Seoul Future Heritage
โ Hall of Life History
Part V
โ Saemunan Theater
โ Donuimun Game Room
-Saemunan Comic Book Store
Part VI
โ Seodaemun Photo Studio
โ Samgeori Barbershop
โ Artistsโ Gallery
โ Donuimun Tram Hall
โ Donuimun Gate Experience Center
Part VII
โ Experience Education Center
โ Village Workshop
โ Donuimun Shop
โ Food and Cafรฉs
โ Tour Program
Location
This place is located in Seoul.
Address: 14-3 Songwol-gil, Sinmunno 2(i)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
How to get there:
From Seoul Station, you can walk for 4 minutes to reach the bus stop called โ์์ธ์ญ๋ฒ์คํ์น์ผํฐโ. There, you must take bus no. 01A or 7024. And to wait for 2 stops. In order to get off at โ์๋๋ฌธ๊ฒฝ์ฐฐ์.๋ํ์ํโ. After that you must walk for 10 minutes. At this point, I recommend you to check the map to not get confused.
Information:
Operating hours: 10:00 ~ 19:00
Closed on every Monday and January 1st
The admission is free
Conclusion
In this part I of the article, we took a look into the retro Seoul by getting to know the origins of Donuimun Museum Village. So now get ready to know in depth about each of the attractions!
If you have already gone, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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