A Unique Place in Seoul: Haebangchon

 

 A Unique Place in Seoul: Haebangchon

 

 

 

There are so many great and unique places in Seoul.

One of my favorite place to visit is Haebangchon, in Yongsan-gu.

 

 

Haebangchon (Hangul: 해방촌 Hanja: 解放村) (Haebang - meaning: freedom or liberation, and Chon - meaning: village) is a district of Yongsan-gu, in Seoul,South Korea. The neighborhood's close proximity to Itaewon and the Yongsan Garrison US Army facility has made the area popular for expatriates and for military residents. In recent years, the area has become a haven for English language teachers from a variety of English speaking nations. The neighborhood is also home to a significant Filipino, Nigerian, and to a lesser extent, Russian community.

As a neighborhood, Haebangchon has become the 'new' area in Yongsan to open or establish a new business which is in large part due to the attention that the Haebangchon Music festival has brought to the area. Since 2006 the area has increased from a handful of pubs and restaurants into a street with over 30 unique restaurants, pubs, service shops, studios, and bakeries.



 

 

As it's mentioned, there variety of restaurants and cafes which now

became one of the most hot places in Seoul.

 

Actually, I got to know about Haebangchon because my friend lives there.

We've been to many places, and among them,

I would like to share one cafe.

 

 

HACKNEY

 

"Cafe Hackney," located in Haebangchon, near Itaewon, is highly reputed for its handmade sourdough bread, which is used to make sandwiches chock full of cheese and meat. The salad and pasta are also popular. For dessert, "Hackney" serves a tasty bread pudding that is baked with five different kinds of bread covered with vanilla custard cream and nuts.

"Oh Carrot!' and "Banana cake" are the must-eat  cake at "Hackney," which is a real home-made cake made with heart!  Hackney's coffees and other beverages are great, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directions

Metro

Line 6 Noksapyeong Station Exit 2. Go straight and when you reach three way main intersection, go into the street on the left where you'll see a line of Korean traditional pots. Keep walking and you'll find "Hackney" with grey walls and vintage style exterior on your right.

 

 

 

Best Unique Beauty Shops in Seoul

 

Best Unique Beauty Shops in Seoul

 

 

 

I love going to beauty shops for hair, nail, skin, spa and etc.

So today, I've searched some unique shops in seoul.

 

 

Drunken Salon

 

'Drunken Salon' is owned by the hair and make-up artists in charge of the famous K-pop group 'SHINee'.

They have recently opened a new type of beauty salon in Gyeongnidan, Itaewon. These two artists wanted to create and work in an atmosphere where 'fun' and 'freedom' are on the everyday agenda.

At 'Drunken Salon', you can get your hair cut and make-up done all while drinking cold beer. They offer haircuts, dyeing, perm, hair-styling, and make-up. It’s especially busy on weekends with many people waiting in line to have their make-up done and hair styled.

Reservation is necessary. Although these artists don’t speak English, you can still get a haircut just bring a picture of the style you'd like (it's no secret, that Koreans are the best copycats in the world)!

If you’re interested in just seeing the salon, come by for a beer. In the evenings it’s full of people socializing, there's no rule saying you have to get a treatment....just come, drink a cold beer and socialize, it's a highly local experience, very different from your normal hairdressing or beauty appointment.

Address: 258-340 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Phone: +82-70-7788-3400.

Operating hours: Monday - Saturday: 2pm - 10pm (not available for make-up on Mondays).

Prices: Make-up: 55,000 won / Styling dry 15,000 ~ 35,000 won

Haircut: 22,000 (men) ~ 33,000 (women) won / Perm and Dyeing 110,000 won   

Bottled Beer: 3,000 ~ 10,000 won

 

 

 

Nothing n Nothing

Middle-aged men in Seoul generally go to classic barber shops while yonger men tend to prefer beauty shops rather than barber shops. Now let's introduce the best of both worlds; 'Nothing n Nothing' - this place is not your old man's type of boring barber shop full of old men ranting about the weather, no this is a unique barber shop in the young and vibrant Hongdae area. Nothing n Nothing has an atmosphere of a 1940-1950’s barber shop from the U.S and U.K. and Donald K and Daniel C are the barbers at Nothing n Nothing.

Donald and Daniel love anything retro and this style is also what sets the mood here. All types of hair styling is available, but especially a Regent hair cut and styling is done with excellence in this shop.

They do haircuts and offer shaving as well. Interestingly they use only pomade for styling and sell many different kinds of pomade. You can smoke while getting your hair cut and they operate a reservation system and they both speak English.

You can also enjoy the art paintings by Daniel C in their shop.

Address: 335-20 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul Phone: +82-70-4067-2882

Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 1pm- 10pm

Price: 30,000 ~ 40,000 won for a haircut with shaving

For more info, check out their facebook page here.

 

 

 

Tattooist Key

Seoul is not widely known as a destination where people come to get their tattoos done, but this tattooist is famous among travelers mainly because 'Tattooist Key' is in charge of G Dragon (a member of Bigbang, a K-pop idol group).

Many people from Korea and abroad visit Key's studio to get tattoos. He does tattoos for, not only G-Dragon, but also for many other celebrities and his work can be seen frequently in several magazines.

Tattooist Key's skills are outstanding  - as is his popularity. Reservation is necessary for having a tattoo at his studio; 302 Studio. Key carefully takes the time to talk designs and details with clients before starting his work and he speaks good English.

If you want to learn tattooing, you can register for a course, Key has also recently launched his own snapback cap label, which can be bought at his studio inGarosu-gil Street.

Tattooist Key +82-10-9789-5539

Address: near Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong (Please call Tattooist Key, he will guide you to his studio).

Price: From 100,000 won ~ (depends on design and size).