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Insa-dong () is a dong, or neighborhood, in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. Its main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a number of alleys that lead deeper into the district,David Armstrong (June 3, 2007), SEOUL lives life on the edge SFGate with modern galleries and tea shops. Historically, it was the largest market for antiques and artwork in Korea.
Stretching across 12.7 hectares (or 31.4 acres), the district is bordered by Gwanhun-dong to the north, Nagwon-dong to the east, and Jongno and Jeokseon-dong to the south, and Gongpyeong-dong to the west.
After the end of the Korean War, the area became a center of South Korea's artistic life and cafe culture. It was a popular destination among foreign visitors to South Korea during the 1960s, who called the area "Mary's Alley". It gained in popularity among international tourists during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In 2000 the area was renovated, and, after protest, the rapid modernization of the area was halted for two years beginning that year. In recent years the backstreets of Insadong have continued to be gentrified with cafes, garden restaurants, and traditional pension-style accommodations.
The area is well known for sightseeing, with approximately 100,000 visitors on Sundays reported in 2000. Insadong is also a visiting spot for foreign dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth II and the princess of Spain and the Netherlands.Ch'oe (2005:154-155) It contains 40 percent of the nation's antique shops and art galleries as well as 90 percent of the traditional stationery shops.Ch'oe (2005:127) Particularly noteworthy is Tongmungwan,Ch'oe (2005:126) the oldest bookstore in Seoul, and Kyung-in Art Gallery,Ch'oe (2005:131) the oldest tea house. There are daily calligraphy demonstrations and pansori performances.Ch'oe (2005:148)
Ssamziegil, a shopping mall that concentrates on specialty stores of handcrafts, is also a prominent destination in Insadong. It opened in 2004.
Unlike regular Starbucks, you can see a unique Starbucks with a sign written in Korean that reflects the characteristics of Insa-dong.
The area is on the Seoul list of Asia's 10 greatest street food cities for the gimbap, odeng, and bungeoppang.Goldberg, Lina "Asia's 10 greatest street food cities" CNN Go. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-11
In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation published free guidebooks in three languages: English, Japanese, and Chinese (simplified and traditional), which feature eight tours as well as recommendations for accommodations, restaurants, and shopping centers. These were distributed from information centers in 44 subway stations, namely Itaewon Station on Line 6 and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5.
The tours are designed with different themes, e.g. Korean traditional culture, which goes from Jongno 3-ga Station to Anguk Station and Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 that showcases antique shops and art galleries of this area.
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