Influential Time Out just named Seoul's Jongno 3-ga the "coolest neighborhood" on Earth, citing its "effortless mix of old and new" as its greatest charm. But Jongno 3-ga is just one example of what Seoul offers to those seeking that same blend of style and grit. Here's a list of similar — but lesser-known — neighborhoods in Seoul where you can experience an authentic local vibe, as well as a curated itinerary. Mullae-dong first developed as a residential area for Korean laborers in 1941 during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945). In the 60s, it became an industrial town focused on manufacturing steel parts, but in the 1990s, businesses began losing ground to Chinese competitors. Many companies shuttered, and in their place flowed young artists. Throughout the 2000s, Mullae-dong made a rare successful turnaround, organically regaining its vibrancy as a youthful and artsy town whose new culture coexists with the remaining industrial leg. Seongsu is a neighborhood that speaks for itself. A towering Dior flagship, a five-story Olive Young, not one, not two, but at least five Musinsa shops packed within a few blocks and the buttery aroma of freshly baked salt bread wafting through the streets. But this is only a depiction of the southern part of the neighborhood. The northern section, dubbed "Buk Seongsu," with buk meaning north in Korean, remains largely untouched by the rapid commercialization affecting its southern counterpart. The area, roughly north of the Seongsu Station overpass, has retained much of its industrial identity established in the 1960s. It boasts printing houses, machinery shops and car repairs still in full operation. And it is perhaps this slower, more grounded atmosphere that is increasingly drawing in locals, remote workers and trend-savvy tourists looking to avoid the usual hot spots. Some call it drab. Others call it retro. Either way, Euljiro is too cool to care. An old industrial town, the neighborhood was an empty lot, cleared by the Japanese colonial government in the 1930s as a firebreak. It then became a refuge for displaced people after the Korean War and soon transformed into one of the city's most infamous red-light districts. As Korea industrialized through the 1960s and '70s, Euljiro evolved into a cluster for printing presses, hardware shops and metal workshops that helped propel the country's manufacturing boom. It also played a crucial role during the pro-democracy movement by producing underground materials in secret. But by the 1990s, Seoul's economy shifted south, and Euljiro declined. Only recently, artists, designers and young entrepreneurs rediscovered its gritty charm, converting workshops into cafes, bars and studios — earning the neighborhood a new nickname, "Hipjiro." Nuha-dong, just west of Tongin Market near Gyeongbok Palace, strikes a balance between modest commerce and residential calm. Dating back to the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it is still home to around 600 residents, historic diners and national heritage sites, as well as small upscale restaurants and exceptional bakeries. The adjacent Okin-dong and Nusang-dong neighborhoods also offer boutique shopping experiences. These neighborhoods are still far from flashy, though. Some may even call them boring, and perhaps they are, especially for modern travelers with itineraries and expectations. What makes this corner of Seoul worth visiting is the reward it offers those willing to linger. Dapsimni in eastern Seoul has long served as an area people pass through or briefly congregate in. It was never the most glamorous commercial district compared to central Seoul's Insa-dong, but perhaps for that reason, the traces of the old neighborhood remain especially pronounced. Today, the area is split in two by the wide Cheonho-daero boulevard. North of the road, the remnants of the past seem more prominent, with old villas, low-rise apartment buildings and shops that have stood for decades. South of the boulevard, rede...
