Ikseon-dong

And like a lot of things, the generation that's in power in Korea, Loves tearing down old things.

I've actually been in meetings with government officials Saying that they just they want to get rid of anything that reminds people that Korea was once poor What they think is poor they want to get rid of any blue-collar working-class Peasants culture that ever existed so they keep tearing down these old places while restoring royal palaces And so this almost happened to Iksondong.

Now, you might have heard Iksondong is one of the major parts that has made Jongno Samga so popular.

And I find this such a fascinating story.

In 2004, that whole area is slated to be demolished and turn into bland apartment high-rises.

And they start opening cafes.

But they found that preserving the original Hanok frame was much better than just tearing it down and replacing it with another bland concrete building.

And that's how you found this style of Iksondong.