One Day Tour | Itaewon

Hi everyone. I'm Eun-Seon Hong, your friend-like creative trip guide. I have interacted with friends of various nationalities. Think of me as a close friend or a relative living in Korea, and I'll give you a tour of your life. Let me show you the hidden corners of Korea that only locals know.

Itaewon has gained the spotlight once again with the successful drama Itaewon Class. Itaewon is a hip trendy place to visit. It's in Seoul but has a diverse scene that no other area of the city does - old but not out of date. Come along for a trip to discover the charm only found in Itaewon Haebangchon, gain inspirations and take lots of cool photos!

Reasons for Recommendation

• Small tour consisting of 1 to 4 people.
• Able to observe both the past and present Seoul buildings.
• A tour of Sinheung market filled with trendy shops and cafes, preserving history from the 70s.
• A cafe experience where you write a letter and receives it a year later.
• Basic Korean culture and a fun story told by a Korean guide who can speak both Chinese and English.

Schedule

Available only on weekdays

Price

Only available for ages 5 and up

Note

• Due to COVID-19, please wear a mask at all times.
• The tour operates from Monday to Friday.
• Payment must be completed 2 days prior to the departure date in order for the tour to commence.
• Cancel your reservation 3 days prior to the departure date and get a 100% refund. No refund is available thereafter.
• If you want to change the reservation, contact us at help@creatrip.com.
• Wear comfortable shoes as we'll be doing quite a bit of walking.
• We'll contact you within 24 hours for any extreme weather conditions and a full refund will be given.
• This tour does not include meals, insurance, and personal expenses.

Review

Haebangchon is a village formed on a hill below Namsan. Its name means liberation in Korean as this village was established by those who fled during the Korean War and came back after the war ended. Because of the difficult economic and political situation at the time, we now have what it seems like a chaotic village but it has its own inner beauty. So in this tour, you'll be able to feel and observe Haebangchon's charms of chaos and disorder.

Sinheung Market

I think that even in Korea, only those who are sensitive to hip trends know of Sinheung Market.

Source : Sony Korea

In the Sony camera commercial, they used Sinheung market as their theme with actor So Ji-sub as the model. This was famous in the 70s due to its industrial park which slowly declined and become what we see here today. Recently, young entrepreneurs have opened trendy stores and have started to attract patrons again.

Plus, the TV program called Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant has introduced a tasty altang (Fish roe soup) restaurant, which is really popular here. Altang is a relatively indigenous food, so I wouldn't recommend it for those with a light heart.

It is a strange area where sophisticated cafes are next to a local supermarket and butcher shops with signs from the 80s and the 90s. These two combined together give a mysterious retro vibe to the district.

<A unique cafe with a wardrobe as their door>

<A retro restaurant>

<Old-fashioned photo studio>

<Arcade that has stopped time in the 90s>

<Supermarket that looks like it's from the 80s>

<A local butcher Shop>

Did you feel the overwhelming retro vibe? You won't be able to witness this kind of site anywhere else in Seoul.

The Space Filled With You (널담은카페)

A meaningful letter that you'll receive a year later. There are 365 mailboxes in this cafe. You can write a letter to yourself or to someone else which will be delivered within the next year on the date of your choice. I bought a drink, dessert, letter set (2 postcards, 1 envelope, a stamp) and seal service.

While I was waiting for my order, I thought long and hard about who I should send the letter to. In the end, I decided to write a letter to my family. It was really pleasant to think I was posting this letter to my future family. Wondering and writing how I would've grown as a person, how big my baby would've grown, and so on.

I ordered strawberry latte and macarons. This cafe is also famous for its macarons. It is different from the small, overly sweet macarons we generally encounter. The stuffing in the centre was packed, and the sweetness was just perfect. I highly recommend it.

When you finish writing the letter, press the seal firmly into this gorgeous looking wax. Hold it for 5-10 seconds, and the wax will cool and harden.

Finally, put your letter on the date you would like to receive, and it's complete. I can't wait to see my family's reaction when they receive this letter a year from now.

It was a really meaningful experience. If you add ₩1,000, you can send it overseas. Why not post an analogue letter to your friends, family, or yourself in your home country?

108 Heaven Stairway (108 하늘 계단)

One of the stairs was lost during construction, so there are 107 stairs now, but they still call it 108 Heaven Stairway. This stairway, located in Huamdong, used to lead to a Japanese shrine, which was built during the Japanese colonial era. After being liberated from the Japanese colonial period, I'm sure the people who lived here would've used these stairs every day while being reminded of their bitter memories.

Currently, for the welfare of residents, an elevator is installed. To see a lift installed in such a narrow alley was fascinating.

108 Heaven Stairway in Huamdong also has a tragic history of Japanese colonial period. It was a time to reflect on the history of Korea. If you are interested in looking at cool retro shops and historical sights, this tour is perfect for you. Hurry and apply for your own tour in this wondrous town of Itaewon.

If you have any questions, leave a comment or send us an e-mail at help@creatrip.com.