Maybe the wet season is about to start, the weather is already really humid. It's been a long time since I last visited Haebangchon. As always, this neighborhood is nice and calm.

Around the community center, a big crossing showed up, and I went in the same direction I always did. That's how I got to my final destination.

 

Sin Heung Art Market

It's been on many TV shows. Noh Hong-chul (celebrity) also used to run a bookshop in this market alley, but it's no longer there.

It's the highest spot in Haebangchon, and the area's reputation for being relatively backward is now a thing of the past. The Shinheung Market is without a question the most loved and popular spot in Haebangchon right now.

Even though it was early afternoon, the market was already very busy when I got there. This was likely because all the colleges and universities started their summer break.

Everyone knows that as time goes on, people's interest in famous places that the media finds tend to fade a bit. But I couldn't feel that at all here. It looked like there were a lot more people as time went on.

Three years ago, I lived in Itaewon (Haebangchon) for a while. I used to come here often when I lived nearby, but I haven't been here much since then. I could see that a lot of things have changed now.

Back then, there were constructions going on in every corner, so it looked bad, was a mess, and sometimes was even spooky. Of course, it had a cozy vibe despite all that. That's why I loved strolling through the market.

It's still kind of messy. But the word "spooky" doesn't seem to fit anymore. The restaurants, which are decorated in a pretty stylish way, are busy setting up tables for customers. This scene makes me think of the center of a small European town.

​It has been a while since I've been here, so I'm going to look around the market more closely. The first spot I saw was this Japanese bar. The owner was busy getting ready for business to start.

Most of them were new to me. This cafe from a distance made me want to stop in for a cup of coffee, but the owner had already closed for the day.

I haven't been here in almost two and a half years, so it's hard to compare, but a lot has changed. One of the most noticeable changes was the open sky. Because of that, I could walk through the streets and enjoy the nice weather.

Another big change was many shops had been fully renovated. What used to be a messy atmosphere that made me think of a construction site is no longer there.

This is how I remember the old Sinheung Market: dark and a mess.

What does "Cave cafe in a closet" mean? I need to check it out, but today isn't the right day, so I'll save it for the next time to come with my girlfriend.

This has to be an izakaya based on the Japanese signs. Yes. If I hadn't quit drinking, I would have gone in right away and ordered a highball.

As the day comes to a close, the Nogari pub is the best place to relax. It was bustling with people having a good time.

All the shops were full of people. It's amazing how this neighborhood has come back to life.

While some came alone, others brought friends. It was clear from everyone's faces that they were relieved that this long week was finally over. As you know, nothing beats having a delicious dinner and refreshing drinks at the end of the day.

Just before the end of my trip, I found something really cute. A Puppy Map of Haebangchon.

These are all the dogs that live in the Haebangchon area. It has information and pictures about the dogs that each spot raises.

A very cute 8-year-old puppy was my pick.

Though many things are going away these days, some things remain the same even when times change. People notice those things and feel friendly toward them. One of them is the cafe we are looking at now.

It’s already been three years since I first came here in the summer of 2021. I've come here a lot since then. I really like this spot, maybe because the desserts are so good and the place feels like a cozy old sewing factory. I'm thankful that it stays where it is.

It's fine to enjoy it by yourself, but it's much better with friends or family. This is Haebangchon's Shinheung Market, which is a famous spot for tourists to visit in Seoul.

 

 

Address : 95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul  OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-507-1308-7389

Instagram : Click for more images

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/dlsen0115/223496073962

Writer : dlsen0115

Special thanks to dlsen0115

 

sinheung market haebangchon yongsan seoul

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