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Insa-dong History

  • Joseon Dynasty Period

    Insa-dong is the museum where Korean life, history, and culture are alive and has been located in the heart of Seoul for about 600 years since the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). 

    Moreover, Dohwaseo, the highest arts authorities in the Joseon Dynasty Period, was located here. Hence, the base for winning fame with arts was prepared early, and the famous artists of the time could do art work here.

    According to the inquiry into the name of Insa-dong, this region had the names of Bang and Gye such as Gwanin-bang, Gyeonpyeong-bang, Daesadong-gye, and Tapdong-gye. When the new name of Dong was introduced in 1914, the name of Insa-dong was made by combining In of Gwanin-bang with Sa of Daesadong.

    • Insa-dong of the Joseon Dynasty Period
      Insa-dong of the Joseon Dynasty Period팝업버튼이미지
    • Chest of the Joseon Royal Family
      Chest of the Joseon Royal Family팝업버튼이미지
    • Kim
      Kim Hong-do팝업버튼이미지
    • Image Source - Ministry of Culture / Sports and Tourism, National Museum of Korea
  • 근대 관련 이미지
    Taehwagwan

    (The place where the racial representatives gathered and recited the Gimi Declaration of Independence)

  • Modern Times

    As the Japanese colonial period began from 1910, yangban couldn’t enter government service. Hence, the upper class, yangban, residing in the north village collapsed. The booths gradually becoming stores with this as a momentum included the antique stores managed by Japanese. These places in Insa-dong started to sell the antiques such as pottery, ancient paintings and writings, and ancient furniture possessed by yangban starting to collapse.

    In 1930s, it became the momentum making Insa-dong famous for the antique street with the sad history of Japanese’s collecting Korean ancient art works in Insa-dong located closely to the Japanese Government General of Korea after the Japanese Government General of Korea was established in Gyeongokgung Palace. Furthermore, Insa-dong, the center of Seoul, has many historic landmarks and has the historic meaning as the representative base of the March First Independence Movement and as the source of the independence movement.

    A lot of historic sites including the March First Independence Movement historic sites such as Taehwagwan (Taehwa Building), Tapgol Park, Seung-dong Church, the Central Temple of Cheondogyo, Joseon Establishment Alliance Site, and Declaration of Independence Distribution Site are dotted.

  • Contemporary Times

    As ancient art work stores, galleries, mounters, and paper, pens, and ink stores became the mainstream from the latter part of 1960s, modern commercial galleries gathered in Insa-dong for the first time for starting to create the gallery street around 1970

    As the Insa Traditional Culture Preservation Association for writers, artists, and art lovers was founded in 1987 and Insa-dong was designated as the cultural district for the first time in Korea in 2002, Insa-dong was changed to the traditional culture street having antique stores, galleries, craft stores, paper, pens, and ink stores, Korean food restaurants, and traditional tea cafes.

    Insa Traditional Culture Festival held in Insa-dong every spring and every fall is providing various attractions representing Korean traditional culture including the exhibition of ancient and contemporary art works and crafts and the performance of Gukak. Moreover, the slogan of a live museum is adopted through the designation as the vehicle-free street and as the traditional culture street. As it became a meeting place, traditional tea cafes and traditional food restaurants started to be formed.

    • 1980년대 인사동
      1980s
    • 1990년대 인사동
      1990s
    • 1980년대
      1980s
    • 2000년대
      2000s

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AddressInsa-dong Advertising Hall, 19 Insa-dong 11-gil Jongno-gu Seoul
Tel+822-737-7890~1

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