Hyundai Card Music Library
A building with a fascinating exterior caught my eye as I strolled down the main street in Hannam-dong.
Wow, what is this?
While walking down the street in Hannam-dong, where tall buildings are packed closely together, I was surprised when I could see the open sky and the real cityscape of Seoul.
The building itself formed a massive arch, making for spectacular architecture and views throughout.
The Hyundai Card Music Library was where I finally gave up moving forward and just stopped. The building's facade was attractive, but the term "Music Library" piqued my interest even more.
The ground floor appeared to be a cafe, while the second floor was the Music Library.
Seeing the words "Membership Only" in such tiny print made me pause for a second, but then I recalled that my husband had gotten a new Hyundai credit card the previous year.
The first floor's atmosphere was dark and relaxing, with lights offering touches of warm color here and there. There were also several luxurious seats, some of which were so comfy that you could nearly lie down on them.
Simply show your Hyundai card at the front desk and you'll be granted access to the music library. Only essentials, such as mobile phones, are allowed inside; bags must be left at the entrance. Up to two guests can attend at no cost.
What if, though, you don't have a Hyundai Credit Card?
Simply install the free Hyundai Card DIVE app from the App Store or Google Play and sign up. During the week, there is no admission charge.
The pass card you were given must be touched in the elevator. Understage is a basement venue that is only open when there are performances scheduled. If so, let's go to the second floor.
2F
When the elevator door opens, a new world awaits...!
On the second floor, away from the bustle of the cafe below, you may get a better view of the sky and nearby skyscrapers. Countless quantities of vinyl (LP), rarely seen in daily life, were stacked, and lots of listeners were listening to their music. I couldn't wait to experience it too!
In addition to the countless LPs lining the walls, the second floor features a dedicated section for the legendary magazine Rolling Stone. Everything published since its first issue in 1967 can be found here.
All of these albums here are available for listening. Let's use this tablet to find the music I am looking for. If you're having trouble selecting a playlist, check out some of the albums highlighted on the front page.
Search results are printed on paper like this. A maximum of three albums can be rented at one time.
Each shelf has a label with the numbers 1-2-3, etc., and the location is printed on the paper as well. The final digit specifies the shelf column. The top column is 1, the second is 2, and so on.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles. Shelf 1-1-1 is where I can find it.
This album was located in [Rare Vinyl Collection]. It is a place where only limited editions are kept, therefore you won't be able to take anything out without the help of the staff.
Since this was a very very popular album, I had no idea this album was a rare collection. In addition, this album sounded like it was released sometime in the 21st century.
Bring your record to the front desk and you'll be given a seat.
Ask a member of staff for assistance if you've never used a turntable before. It was my first time using a turntable, and I was afraid of damaging the record accidentally. However, it turned out to be a lot simpler than I had anticipated.
Turn on the power > Lower the needle > Set it to the desired location
Putting on the noise-canceling headphones and shutting out the world around me. I was blown away by the quality of the analog sound I could hear.
I also read the album cover while enjoying the music and stated that this LP pressing was released in 2017, to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
In this album, A Day in the Life is my favorite track. I highly recommend this song.
After listening to it on vinyl, I felt like it wasn't the same song. The sound was slightly different. Not sure if it's because it's the latest release or because it's an LP...
Reading the library's comments on each album was interesting as well.
I also had YMO(Yellow Music Orchestra)'s best Album in honor of Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away this year. There weren't very many YMO options, so I brought the best album with the songs I was already familiar with.
Actually, I was hoping to listen Akiko Yano but couldn't find any.
Art Library / Vinyl & Plastic
When I walked outside, I noticed another facility next to the Music Library. An Art Library and an LP store called Vinyl & Plastic.
Anyone without a Hyundai card can shop at Vinyl & Plastic. However, if you pay with a Hyundai Card, you'll save 20% off the retail price.
Since new albums are always being stocked there, the selection appears to be much wider than at the music library.
At Vinyl & Plastic, you can also listen to your favorite records. However, the list is limited to 200 albums selected by the store. Three albums for 30 minutes throughout the week, and two albums for 20 minutes on the weekends.
Sections are divided by genre, and you can also search the location of the album you are after.
They probably change regularly, but the one who is currently in the spotlight is Bruno Mars, who just performed in Korea.
As soon as I walked in, I noticed a record by Thom Yorke and the price range is like above.
I never expected to see Taeko Onuki's masterpiece album so easily. The city pop genre is undoubtedly popular now.
On the second floor, similar to the music library, is a membership-only space. It has the same method of access as the music library. Your Hyundai Card or Dive App will get you in free! Your belongings must also be left behind at the entrance.
They have books about art and music in several editions written in English. And some were so old that they needed to be handled with gloves.
Like a library or studio. Notebooks and pencils for writing were also provided.
Here, you can relax while taking in some digital artwork.
There are a lot of great videos to watch. Those who are interested in media art will enjoy it even more than Netflix.
Address : 246 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul OPEN GOOGLE MAP
Phone : +82-2-331-6300
Operation Hours : Tuesday-Saturday : 12:00 - 21:00, Sunday : 12:00 - 18:00
Instagram : Click for images
Source : https://blog.naver.com/milkiewhite/223223238427
Writer : milkiewhite
Special thanks to milkiewhite
hyundai card music art library vinyl&plastic hannam seoul