Hongdae area

Hongdae area
Shops on Wausan-ro 21-gil opposite Hongdae Playground
Korean name
Hangul	홍대앞
Hanja	弘大앞
Revised Romanization	Hongdaeap
McCune–Reischauer	Hongdaeap

The Hongdae Area (Hangul: 홍대앞; hanja: 弘大앞) is a region in Seoul, South Korea near the Hongik University, after which it is named. It is known for its urban arts and indie music culture, clubs and entertainments. The area is located in Mapo-gu in the western end of Seoul, stretching from Seogyo-dong to Hapjeong-dong.

Name

Hongdae (Hangul: 홍대) is an abbreviation of Hongik Daehakgyo, the Hongik University (홍익대학교). The term 'hongdae' is usually used in regards to the Hongik University which has one of the nation's top fine arts colleges in South Korea.

Characteristic

independent clothing stalls on Eoulmadang-ro

Hongdae area is known for its indie spirit, urban street arts and underground band musicians. Many known bands like Jaurim, Crying Nut and Peppertones are from this street and started as indie bands. The area provides street art festivals and performances, as well as music concerts by independent artists and mainstream entertainers.

Under the influence of Hongik University (Hongdae) which is well known for its prestigious art college, the neighborhood was built on a foundation of artistic souls since the 1990s. In the early days, thanks to the cheap rent back, budget musicians and street artists started moving into the ateliers of Hongdae area. Now many of them had later transform into cafes or live music venues and the area has long had a reputation as the mecca of urban arts and underground club culture.^[1] Despite the recent explosion of upmarket brand shops that pushes artists to move toward the southern area near Hapjeong Station, new indie rock bands show up every year and the street still enjoys a reputation as the city’s prime spot for indie musicians. YG Entertainment, the major K-pop agency is also located near the street.

Hello Kitty cafe on an uphill alley off Eoulmadang-ro

Hongdae Playground street merchants on Wausan-ro 21-gil

The area also has an artistic and cultural with art galleries, studios, theaters, design shops and is also home to cafes, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.^[2][3] Which draws revelers from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly university students, ESL teachers, and tourists. Some of the most well-known nightclubs are m2, nb2, Vera, and Cocoon. Nb2 is especially famous because it is run by one of three largest Korean entertainment agency, YG Entertainment, along with variety of hip hop music to please the customers' ears.^[4]

Apart from art and culture, Hongdae is also home to reasonably priced independent clothing stalls, discount and vintage shops, especially along the main thoroughfare of Eoulmadang-ro, that caters to those wanting individuality with creativity.^[5] As well as kitschy, quirky and eclectic theme cafes, such as the Charlie Brown Cafe, themed with Peanuts characters, Hello Kitty Cafe, Bau House Cafe for dogs and puppies, Gio Cat Cafe, and Dr. Fish Cafe.^[6]

The Hongdae Playground, also known as Hongik Children's Park, located between Wausan-ro and Wausan-ro 21-gil opposite Hongik University is home to street vendors who sell their wares in the evenings. It has also been used for location filming for MBC drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince^[7] in 2007, KBS drama Mary Stayed Out All Night in 2010; and SBS drama A Gentleman's Dignity in 2012.

Events

Hongdae Playground in 2012

• The last Friday of each month in Hongdae is "Club Day", a wristband-powered event which allows entry to more than a dozen clubs for the price of one. Revellers can expect long lines at popular clubs. For a short time in 2008 through early 2009 it was canceled due to high levels of violence and disturbances. However, due to increased police presence and regulations that deny entry to American soldiers and underage individuals at many clubs and venues, this monthly event has resumed.

• "Sound Day" is the indie rock musicians' version of "Club Day" that happens on the 2nd Friday for live clubs and concert halls.

• On weekends, from March to November at 13:00 to 18:00, flea markets are held on Hongdae Playground (Hangul: 놀이터) that is in front of the main gate of Hongik University. The flea markets are called "Free Market" on Saturdays and "Hope Market" on Sundays. They are fledgling craft markets of things made by students and street artists, with its artsy atmosphere.^[8][9][10]

Transport

The area is served by subway via Hongik University Station (line 2), Hapjeong Station (line 2 and line 6), and Sangsu Station (line 6). Also, various bus lines reach the street.

In popular culture

The exterior of The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince in Hongdae

The remodeled coffee shop used as a filming location for 2007 MBC drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince is located in Hongdae. The cafe in the namesake drama reopened after filming concluded with the wall flowers painting by Han Yoo-joo and other props from the drama on display. Also a scene in episode one where Han-kyul bought Yoo-joo a hat from a street vendor while they were out on a walk in the evening, was filmed along Wausan-ro between the Hongdae Playground and Hongik University.^[7] The area along with the coffee shop was featured in a National Geographic Channel produced documentary on the Korean wave titled Seoul's Got Soul, in 2011.^[11]

In 2011, a cafe in Hongdae was used as a filming location in tvN cable channel drama Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, showing Jung Il-woo playing the male lead of Cha Chi-soo with his friends.^[12]

References

External links

• Seoul subway route planner
• Seoul bus system
• Seoul Club Maps iPhone App

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