Our guests and local cultural life experience

 

 






 

 

 
  Kims Guest House is located in Mapo area which is one of many districts in Seoul. Most of places and historical sites that we have picked are located near our house. so, you can reach there by walking if you wish to experience more about Seoul life style. 
 
Street Art Exhibition of Hongik University
 
Meeting of Art and the People in the Street of Routine
The Street Art Exhibition is held for the purpose of making the art popular through displays in the daily spaces of street and was started by providing an opportunity for general public to participate in the art for the purport of closing the gap between the public and the art.
And it is held to promote meeting and communication between the art and the public through the media of street and is an event directed towards open culture of the art to establish rapport between the art and the public. Since its inauguration in 1993 it has been held up to today and the event is carried out by the students of College of Art of Hongik University. Beginning from the eve exhibition spaces are installed here and there in front of Hongik University during the entire period of event. As the functions in which people in the street participate directly continue to take place, an occasion of spectacle unfolds, thereby providing an experience of unique culture in which the entire streets change to a huge gallery. * How to get there : Exit No.6 of Hongik Univ. station, Subway Line No.6

Streets around Hongik University
 
Streets of Living Culture and Art
Streets in front of Hongik University are filled with galleries, live clubs, exhibition halls, small theaters and so forth and are taking position as delivery rooms of young culture especially such as art and music of under-series and so forth.
As performances by the under-bands of live clubs, various events of exhibition and performances of plays have been introduced continuously, the streets are turning to famous places of cultural arts where foreigners as well as natives enjoy to visit and produce young and creative culture, and Seoul Fringe Festival has been held every year in this area.
* Seoulfringenetwork - http://seoulfringe.net/
* How to get there : Exit No.6 of Hongik Univ. station, Subway Line No.2

You can reach there in 5 min. by local , Dance, Young life, Norabang, restaurant (Korean style, thai, latin, American, etc.). Enjoyable life with Korean norabang, a singing place where people sing many popular songs while releasing their stress. English and Japanese songs are available. In the Sinchon & Hongik unv. area there are many noraebang that show our modern Korean feeling. Let's go there together and enjoy Korean days. We can introduce you nice places well equipped with superb facilities. Hongik unv. area is full of dancing clubs including latin, hiphop, techno, etc. We can help you to find proper clubs.

Mapo Jumulreok and Kalbi
 
Mapo Jumulreok(flavored grilled-beef)and
Charcoal Kalbi(beef ribs) Houses Standing in a Row in Yonggang-dong
Centering around the area along Tojeong-gil road in Yonggang-dong in the periphery of Mapo station of subway line 5, Mapo Jumulreok and charcoal roasted Kalbi houses stand in a row.
 
The history of Mapo Jumulreok and charcoal roasted Kalbi goes back to the late half of 1950s from when Mapo Jumulreok and charcoal roasted kalbi houses appear to have moved in by ones and twos. And the recipe has gradually developed such as to boast of its unique taste. Quite a few natives and foreigners visit here to enjoy neat tastes of Mapo Jumulreok and charcoal roasted kalbi. The place is well known for its foodstuffs.
 * How to get there:Exit No.1 of Mapo Station, Subway Line No. 5

Street of Wedding Shops in Ahyeon-dong
 
Pure White Wedding Dresses for Beautiful
Brides - A Place Where Brides Wish to Come
The place to visit with one's heart throbbed with joy. White dresses resembling brides' shapes are in display.
Along both sides of the streets of Ahyeon-dong
wedding shops in a row, there are about 80 dress
shop in business, and because they are well known even to overseas for their offering at inexpensive prices in excellent designs, buyers
are visiting from overseas.
 
* How to get there: Exit No.2, Ahyeon Station, Subway Line NO.2

Street of Furniture in Ahyeon-dong
 
Full of Furniture Making Space Beautiful
The Ahyeon-dong furniture street, equipped with furniture in variety from used furniture to furniture of high quality, stands in a row around Ahyeon station of Subway Line No. 2. Though it started from specialty shopping street at the initial stage, dealing with lacquer-ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl and craft furniture, recently they are equipped with all kinds of furniture so as to be called present address of furniture market.
?¡èHow to get there Exit No. 6 Chungjungno Station of Subway Line No.5

Clean & Beautiful Environment
 
Strolling along Nanji Hangang Park
The extensive paths and lawns in Hangang Citizens Park, Bam Seom - a designated ecological protection area of nesting grounds for migratory birds, and small parks built all around the district, present clean and beautiful surroundings for the citizens of Mapo.
The Excellent Natural Environment, Yet Another Pride of Mapo
Citizens enjoy the gifts of nature year-round at Hangang Citizens Park and smaller parks located throughout Mapo giving the district a well-earned reputation as having the most well-managed natural environment.

The Han River
 
The Han River That Has Witnessed the History of Mapo Will Provide Culture-recreational Spaces
The Han River that flows through the center of seoul originates from Taebaek city of Kangwon province forms a large stream as it passes through the central region of inland provinces and flows into the yellow sea with its total length of 497.5¡ì¡ã. Since the Seoul was designated the capital city in the age of Choseon Dynasty, the Han River has been closely connected with the history of Seoul, and Mapo,
located along the coast of the Han River, has repeated changes and developments along with the Han River for a long period of time. Mapo ferries such as Mapo ferry, Seogang ferry, Yangwha ferry and so forth have been important ferries along the Han River so as to become gateways to Seoul and strategic points to which products from nationwide and folks gathered together. Entering into new millennium now, the Han River is approaching to us as a stream of hope that will pull our future in the harmony of man and nature. Looking forward to the 2002 World Cup Game, a project to make the Han River a nature-ecology park is being carried out , and once this project is accomplished, the Han River will provide us with a culture-recreation spaces that citizens enjoy to visit frequently and will be highlighted as an international tourist attraction.
introduction of the Han River:http://hangang.seoul.go.kr/
Seoul World Cup Stadium
 
Seoul World cup Stadium to Hold a Festival of the Global Village
About 2002 World Cup Soccer Game?
The 17th World Cup Game in 2002, co-sponsored by Korea and Japan and the first festival of the global village in the 21st century, was held for 31 days during the period of May 31 to June 31, 2002 as the first in the 21st century, the first in Asia and the first co-sponsored meet in the World Cup history. Participating countries were numbered 32
 
countries that passed through regional preliminary games, and opening game and semi-final game were held in Sangam-dong Stadium of Seoul and final game at Yokohamma Stadium of Japan.
Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam area Seoul World Cup Stadium??in which opening game was held is a stadium of dreams-come-true, containing Korean style formative beauty and has, in general, embodied flexible beauty of traditional architecture. The stadium seen by the bird's-eye view from the above is in the shape of kite of four-cornered shield to signify an image flying a hope of new millennium and by duplicating octagonal woodblock signifying a traditional small dinning table and richness, ?oSeoul World cup Stadium??is a stage putting together into one the eyes of athletes, spectators, and all the human beings around the globe, to where we have tried to symbolized our unique sincerity and richness. Additionally, the roof of the stadium is represented in the configuration of moored sail-ships at the Mapo ferry.

 
there are some spacious parks, a movie theater(CGV), shopping mall near an inside worldcup staidium.

Sangam, a New Town for a New Millennium
 
Sangam, a New Town for a New Millennium, Will be Consisted of Digital Media City, Environment-Friendly Residential Complex and a Millennium Park
The whole area of Sangam-dong where a new town will be created in a new millennium is one of the large scale undeveloped lots and a strategic point with large area transportation nets such as Yeonjongdo new airport railway, Subway Line No. 6 and Kyeongui railway. In this area, the 2002 world Cup Stadium was constructed.
The Sangam new town is being constructed to make it Ecology Town in which man and nature can co-exist, intelligence Town accumulated with ultra-modern digital media enterprises, Gateway Town going to the world and connecting South and North.
The sangam new town will be consisted of digital media city, environment-friendly residential complex, and millennium park. The digital media city with its scale of 170,000 p'yong will be built to include digital media enterprise, digital media research and education facilities. and environment-friendly residential complex will be future oriented residential complex fully equipped with infrastructures of environment, intelligence and communications, providing a total of about 7,000 housing units.
Additionally, a millennium park is being created in a scale of 1.1 million p'yong in which park of peace, park of Nanji stream, Nanji ecology park, and Nanji Han river park wouldl be accommodated. And it is being transformed into an international tourist attraction.

 

Jeoldusan catholic holy land
 
Now this place that is called Jeoldusan catholic looks as head of silkworm and was expressed Jam Du Bong and the view of Han River commanding that place seems like a picture. However, the sandy beach below Jamdubong having beautiful view experienced a big change in late Cho Sun.
Soon, it was changed into large execution place and later it was called Jeoldusan catholic holy land. In the position of a memorial hall for catholic Jeoldusan religious martyrdom founded in 96-1, HapJung-dong, 9 French priests and Nam Jong Sam Baul etc. were sentenced here in Byung In persecution.
After many people were sentenced, the name of Jam Du Bong became converted to that of Jeoldusan. A memorial hall for a martyr is laid in Gun Pyung 340 ¡ì3 and displaying a variety of implement of torture that leaders of cathedral used, statues made up of stone of martyrs that saints and the blessed guard and Han River Su Sim Map made that French ships invade to measure to Ma Po and orchid paintings in chinese ink of Dae Won Gun.
Besides, the blessed rock of Um Jin Myun, Asan Gun, Chung Nam, which the devotees put together and sang a holy song those days is moved here

Yanghuajin(Yanghua island)
 
The place which Yanghua bridge connects is a ferry entering into Seoul in Cho Sun period, according to Sancheonjo, the second volume of Donggukyeojibigo, Yanghua island exists in Seogang ferry and firstly it had a ferry man, Do syeung but later it had villa. According to Guanbangjo, Yanghuajin is established in 1754 and Eyeongcheong managed and there were 200 Byeljang and Ajang.
In addition, other documentations were said that Yanghua Ferry had a ferry man and established
battle array for defense. In other words, if you go to Y,angcheon and Yanghua since Goryo, you were necessary to pass Yanghua Ferry, so this is a place of strategic importance of three battle array of Seoul with Songpajin and Hangangjin.
At the beginning of Chosun, people regarded Youngsan river as the best port but its water level becomes low and moved into the lower district. But it is said that its water level becomes shallow and ships could not go above Yanghua Ferry in 1591 or in 1636.
This Yanghua Ferry made French fleet come into Hajung-dong, at the result of Byeongin persecution and western ships frequently anchored and Japanese and China and German commercial ships navigated regularly between Seoul and Inchon around the opening of a port. Thus, present Yanghua bridge could be an Seoul access road of the western products of civilization after the opening of a port.

Foreigners cemetery
 
Foreigners cemetery is situated in the northwest from Jamdubong. This was the place of Yanghuajinyoung and is the whole area of 144, Hapjeong-dong presently. Gojong bestowed and made this land to the first western doctor in korean as a resting place after Haeron's death in 1886(Gojong 23rd year) and presently there are around 500 foreigners tombs.
These persons mostly brought the western civilization in the flowering time and supported an anti-Japanese movement and contributed to awake people's mind.
Many catholic people and students and historians and foreigners are visiting.
There buried English E.T. Bethell, a person of merit in our mass media and a founder of Daehanmaeil-ilbo and the family of Underwood, the founder of Yeonsae uni. that contributed much for our religious and educational community as a leader of anti-Japan and Apenjella, Alis, Becka that contributed much to Ihua uni and doctor of Homer b.herbert that worked for the press activities for korean independence for 80 years and the corpse of doctor of Sherwood hall, who is the first western person to be born in Korea and issued firstly Christmas seal, according to his will, is buried in this tome by the name of Korean tubercle association on 17th, April, 1991

Mangwonjeong
 
This was the origin of Mangwonjeong and was the west of Yanghua ferry, the whole area 207-1, 137, Mangwon-dong and was established as a villa of the son of Taejo and Taejong's elder brother, Hyoryeongdaegun in 1424.
When a king came here and climbed new pavilion to take care of farming status in 1425, it rained at that time and the king was very pleasant and called the name of pavilion Hiwoojeong. Hyoryeongdaegun appreciated the king's visiting and naming and made Sin seok, famous Bujjehak of Seodo writes a hanging board and Chunjeong Byeon gye-ryang the master of poetry and prose
 
compose Gimun. That Gimun of Byeon gye-ryang said "the pavilion is neither luxurious nor shabby and Mt, baekak sees in the back of it and Han River flows in front of it and various mountains are wide and far away and cloud and sky and billows of smoke seem and don't seem far away outside water.
That Gimun of Byeon gye-ryang said "the pavilion is neither luxurious nor shabby and Mt, baekak sees in the back of it and Han River flows in front of it and various mountains are wide and far away and cloud and sky and billows of smoke seem and don't seem far away outside water.
It is said that, if you see, you can count fishes and birds and shrimps obviously and a windy full sail and birds on sand go and come below right pavilion and thousands of pine trees was blue and thick and shimmer on a drinking table.

After Yeonsangun climbed the throne, he let them make splendid Tangchun pavilion in Tang Chundae outside Changwoo gate in 1506 and command to dig out a water course and draw water and flow in front of Tangchun pavilion the streets from Yanghua island to Jang woodong leading Tangchundae castle. And on July, he commanded to extend Mangwon pavilion greatly near Han riverside and build greatly so that thousands of people sit there with thatch roof and destroy any buildings that were seen on the pavilion. The name of pavilion also renamed Suryejeong. However, Jungjongbanjeong stopped all construction and destroyed and Mangwonjeong was converted into original beautiful scenery and the place that notable people enjoyed a pleasure excursion.

This place commanding a fine view was usually used for reception place for an envoy of the Meong dynasty and there were many persons to come here in the middle of Jamdu. The author of portrait of Hiwoojeong before its restoration was not known and put main foundation stone in Deombeong on the base rock of cliff Gangan and it was the architecture of three front part and one side.

A floor circumference surrounded with a handrail and it is Paljak roof and was lost away by flood in 1925 but restored in 1991.
Mapo Ferry Festival
 
Mapo Ferry Festival Symbolizing Traditional Culture of Mapo... An Occasion of Harmony and Creation

If the center of living of our nation had in Seoul, the center of living of that Seoul should have been in Mapo at least not later than modern times.
From ancient times, culture had originated from along the river and disseminated and in our history the Han River has been a center of the culture of the present age. Mapo ferry was a trading center for nationwide physical distribution and a center port for marine transportation of the Han River.
To the Mapo ferry, fish boat, boat of taxation crop and so forth frquented and a fair, saturated with the lives of common folks, was held. People of old times had a shaman ritual of ferry annually to wish Mapo ferry peace and prosperity and pray for ships to sail with no accident. And its time was fixed about prior to the Tano Festival in the fifth lunar month.
With the aim of resuscitation and development of this kind of traditional culture. Mapo District has held this revival of ritual splendidly on a large scale since 1991 and beginning from the year of 1999 expanded this event to the Mapo Ferry festival including a stage of complete revival arranged for the aspects of old Mapo such as Mapo ferry ritual, Mapo ferry fair, Mapo ferry taverns, traditional folk plays, setting up a place for experiencing traditional culture, getting on board a ship with a mast of yellow sail, photo exhibition of old Mapo, performance of Korean classical music and so forth.
This event is joined by foreigners as well as citizens of Mapo district and is taking a position of event for traditional culture symbolizing Mapo. And in the year 2002, the event will be held at the time of opening the World Cup Soccer Gmae, thereby informing the citizen worldwide about Mapo, the town of culture.

Riverside Culture Festival
 
Providing an Opportunity for Experiencing Unique Culture such as an Open Air concert,
Movie Showing, etc. at the Riverside

The festival is held for citizens to beat the heat with nice and cool river breeze and enjoy their time through cultural events in the night of midsummer.

 
The Riverside Cultural festival that you can enjoy orchestra's performance and movies is a source of pride for our area, a center of history and culture. Beginning from 1993, Mapo District holds a riverside cultural festival in the summer every year at the Mangwon area in the citizens' park of Han River and provides citizens with unique opportunity to experience cultures. It proceeds to include orchestra's performance of music, vocalists' songs, our lovely ballads, and so forth at the stage in the open and also a movie showing for entire members of family together to enjoy.
It is a cultural event for Mapo citizens to enjoy music and movies with members of family together and with residents in the neighbor together.