Seongsu-dong was a semi-industrial area where commercial and residential facilities coexisted as huge factories were built in the 1960s and 1970s due to its proximity to downtown areas such as Euljiro and Jongno. Gradually, the abandoned factory buildings were renovated to stores, and the unique spaces of these stores made it into a popular neighborhood. With the recent construction of various luxury residential complexes and large movie theaters in Seongsu-dong, young people are viewing it as a new residential area. The Pharos would like to introduce some places to visit in Seongsu-dong, sometimes called the Brooklyn of Korea.

< Seoul Forest >

- Address: 273, Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Seoul Forest has a children's playground and walking trails, so family members usually come here to relax. The park opened in June 2005 and was originally the king's hunting ground. It was made of eco space in downtown using a concrete framework without removing all the sites of the Seoul racecourse, sports park and golf course. The Seoul Forest, which has this history, is divided into five zones (Seoul Forest Plaza, Ttukseom Eco Forest, Nature Experience Learning Center, Marsh Eco Park, and Hangang Park) where facilities can be arranged according to each area for an enjoyable experience. In particular, the mascot of Seoul Forest is a deer, and there is a deer food vending machine at the deer's roaming field, which allows visitors to experience activities such as feeding deer. Now, due to COVID-19, some indoor facilities such as the Insect Botanical Garden and Butterfly Garden are closed or only partially opened, making it impossible to visit them with ease.

Seoul Forest is conducting volunteer work and programs as well as offering facilities. Volunteering is being conducted as non-face-to-face volunteer work, and programs such as Seoul Forest Tour and a Gardening Workshop are being conducted. In particular, there was an event called "The Excited Wedding Photo Exhibition," which received applications in advance on the home page of Seoul Forest and took wedding photos or couple photos against the backdrop of Seoul Forest, which received a warm response among lovers. In addition, a company held an event to sell plants in Seoul Forest on the first and third Saturday of every week from July to October this year. If you visit at the end of November, you will be able to see trees with yellow and red leaves, so the Pharos recommends you to go on an autumn outing.

* Tip: There are many benches with celebrity names and lines on them, which fans usually sponsor in front of celebrities' names, and visitors can use benches within a certain period. The bench in the picture is a bench with the nameplate of singer Kim Jae-hwan.

< Cafe Orot >

- Address: 7, Sangwon 6na-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Near Seongsu-dong, a group of cafes has formed by renovating abandoned factory buildings. Among them, the Pharos would like to introduce Cafe Orot, which has a distinctive structure. Previously, it was a printing factory for more than 30 years, but with the efforts of designers, it became a sophisticated cafe. The structure of the cafe looks like a space from the outside, but when you go inside, the two buildings are connected, showing the distinct architective. The room is spacious and the space is freely available because of the two connecting buildings. You can find a small yard between the two buildings, which makes the trees outside visible through transparent walls on the ceiling, so that you can sit on a cozy sofa placed in the yard and look up comfortably. One building mainly features single-person seats, while the other has group seats. It makes a difference in the layout and feel of each space. If you look closely inside the cafe, there are many romantic props, and you can find traces of the printing factory in the forms of soot or holes from the nails. Cafe Orot's signature drink is “Brown. Hazel” and “Mong[夢] Ception.” “Brown. Hazel” is good for people who want to enjoy the soft cream and delicate aroma of coffee. “Mong[夢] Ception” is recommended for people who want to feel better after drinking sweet coffee. If you're feeling worn out, you'd better visit this place and let your head cool off for a while.

< Marymond Lounge >

- Address: 12, Seoulsup 6-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Marymond Lounge is a store selling products from lifestyle brand Marymond and you can drink beverages here. Marymond products are primarily sold online, but it is possible to actually see and purchase existing and new products here. Brand products have phrases that respect human rights and oppose violence, using flower and tree patterns. The story of Japanese military sexual slavery is contained within each flower pattern and phrase. The message promoting child rights is also contained in an almond tree pattern. In addition to subsidiary products, Marymond has collaborated with other companies such as Zennycloset and Manar to produce and display various products. If there is anything you don't know about the product or facility use, ask the Marymond Lounge crew, and they will kindly let you know.

Beverages include various types of coffee and flower tea. Flower tea is blended with magnolia, camellia, and Mugunghwa (althaea). Especially, Mugunghwa ade and camellia iced tea are famous here, so many people come to drink them. If there is an indoor event hosted by Marymond, it is a place where people who are interested in Marymond (so-called "Marymonders") gather because the event is held here. If you go out of the store, there is a mirror. There is a trend of taking a picture in front of the mirror, so you can enjoy it even more if you visit the mirror in front of the lounge.

* Tip: The nearby Girls' Mill stores sell healthy food made from crops and ingredients grown in clean areas by elderly farmers. This is the first store that started here. The Pharos recommends "Real Pollack Roe Bibimbap" because it is delicious and filling. The names of the elderly who grew the food ingredients are written on the menu, which gives more confidence in who raised the food ingredients and how they were manufactured.

- Address: First floor, 9-16, Wangsimni-ro 5-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Seongsu-dong had factories and people who had left due to financial difficulties, and it was a place of much pain after the collapse of Seongsu Bridge. In addition to the places introduced in this article, the handmade shoe street is famous for their history of handmade shoes against the backdrop of shoe factories in Seongsu-dong. Here, you can see handmade shoes made by artisans and participate in programs making handmade shoes. Seongsu-dong, which used to be an empty place, was revived after overcoming pain as the empty factory complex was converted into a cultural space with the passion and effort of the people, and more self-employed people started their own businesses there. Why don't you take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere of Seongsu-dong?

Planning Editor•KIM JIN•coo0714@naver.com