Buam-Dong

Haven Kim
Haven Kim
Sep 4, 2018 · 5 min read

Buam-Dong is neighborhood community along the alleyways of Seoul’s vast mountains. Artists, writers, and museum-enthusiasts live independently of one another, yet have a mutual for one another’s craft and passions. I suggest going in the afternoon because most of the places will close around 6:00pm. There is one museum that is also closed on Monday.

Outside View of 저집

The community is only accessible by bus. Type “Buam Dong Community Service Center, Mugyewon” into google maps and take whichever bus that will take you there. Right as you get off, you’ll see a lot of small flower shops and cafes along the road.

Most notably there will be a museum looking store (저집) where they sell just chopsticks. Really expensive chopsticks. Go in and just look around for a bit.

If you need a coffee and need to chill for a bit, go to Club Espresso which should be nearby to the bus stop. It’s a two story coffee shop that puts a lot of effort into their coffee and wood-work. All the furniture they use was built themselves (I think).

Dessert is also a great thing to get on that road (from what I’ve heard). Boobing Bingsu Jib (부빙), a bright turquoise shop which specializes in seasonal patbingsu. If you go during winter, you should try the Sweet Red Bean Soup. Or you can brownie slabs, Hot Cross Buns, or ginger cake at Scoff British Bakery. There’s no seating in the bakery and it sells out quickly on the weekends. You can get afternoon tea at Alice’s Teapot, which is a little bit of a walk, but if you are going to Seoul Museum, it’ll be on the way.

If you are hungry you should go to Gyeyeolsa Chicken. It’s prob not as good as OB Bear but for 20,000W you can get a platter of chicken with thick af potato wedges, along with spicy sauce and radishes, which can fill more than 2 people. I took a girl on a date here and she seemed to like it…

Time to start walking…

Go to Seoul Museum (서울 미슬과). The exhibits there change often. When I went it was an exhibit on wedding dresses and it made me feel some kinda way.

Paintings at Seoul Musem

There’s an entrance fee of 7,000W for college students so show them your Yonsei ID. But honestly the exhibits isn’t the reason you go to Seoul Museum. On the third floor of the Museum there is a garden called Seokpajeong (석파정), filled with amazing nature and traditional hanok houses.

Main Hanok House at Seokpajeong

After you are done there, head toward a casual restaurant called Tify This is For You. They specialize in pasta and green salads within a small and quiet space. I didn’t eat here but if you do, tell me how it is.

The second Museum you probably want to see is Whanki Museum which is a private art museum dedicated to the works of Whanki Kim, the father of Korean abstract art. The atmosphere is really nice here so you can take photos outside (not inside tho, I think they’re strict about it).

Installment on the third floor of Whanki Museum

If you continue walking up the hill you will find 라Cafe Gallery (라카페갤러리). Personally I think this place is amazing. It’s half photo gallery and half cafe. The gallery has works of Ra Park, a photojournalist who was part of the Korean Democratic Movement and who eventually went around Palestine documenting their lives and the climate of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The cafe is really quiet and peaceful, usually filled with travelers or students, however when I went there was no one. They have this purple tea drink, which is the most popular, and it was so refreshing. Rest here then enjoy the 분위기.

Ra Cafe Gallery

Whether you are or aren’t hungry, stop by Art for Life Cafe/Restaurant (아트포라이프). When you walk in you’ll be super confused because it seems like a traditional house and or art exhibit, but if you find the stairs downstairs you’ll see a chill patio area and a door leading to a warm restaurant owned by Seong Phil Kwan who was a professional oboist, playing for the Seoul Philharmonic for 30+ years. Inside you’ll notice that all the walls are covered with lovely printed photos. All of them were shot and printed by Seong who also has a passion for photography. Food is kinda expensive (but good) so maybe just get a coffee or something.

Cheese Pasta at Art of Life
Outside Patio at Art of Life

Hopefully it will be around sunset during this time, so you’ll have enough time to walk the final stretch to Sanmotoonge Cafe & Gallery (산모퉁이). This cafe might be walk up (along the way you’ll see the headquarters for KCCC), but the view is the best I’ve seen from a cafe. The popular Korean drama Coffee Prince was filmed here so you’ll a bunch of memorabilia posted all over the cafe. Coffee is pretty expensive, but for that view it is definitely worth it. Get a seat on one of the patios (since there’s 3 floors) and enjoy the rest of night before you head back home.

Third Floor at Sanmotoonge
Outside View of Sanmotoonge
Left Side View of Sanmotoonge
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