Itaewon
Itaewon | |
---|---|
Korean transcription(s) | |
• Yongsan-gu | |
Neighborhood | Itaewon-dong |
Itaewon (Korean: 이태원; Hanja: 梨泰院; IPA [itʰɛwʌn]) is a multi-cultural commercial area[1][2][3][4][5] located in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul, known for its nightlife and trendy restaurants.[6][7][8]
Etymology
The name Itaewon was originally derived from the name of an inn located there during the
History
Itaewon was originally a transportation hub where travelers could get horses during the
The recent history of the Itaewons district of Seoul's
Twenty years after the
Local attractions
As Seoul's International District, Itaewon is known for serving cuisine that are not widely available in Korea, such as those from Great Britain, Germany, France, India, Italy, Southeast Asia, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, United States of America and Canada. Essentially, it is known as the "International District" or sometimes as "Western Town," reminiscent of many Chinatowns in Western nations.[citation needed]
Itaewon, along with neighborhoods and attractions like Hongdae, Insadong and Seoul Tower, is one of the most popular places in Seoul for tourists.[16] Major hotels such as the Grand Hyatt Seoul and local landmark Hamilton Hotel are here, as well as several smaller hotels and guesthouses. Dozens of shops are aimed at tourists and offer Western or traditional Korean souvenirs. High-quality leather products, retail or custom made and are sold at reasonable prices (though haggling is expected) as well.[citation needed]
Itaewon includes the area known as Homo Hill and is Seoul's gay village.[17] Despite the taboo nature of homosexuality in South Korea, people can express themselves openly within the neighborhood.[18]
Itaewon was long known as a hub for high quality counterfeit goods, but those products have largely disappeared.[19] Some authentic goods that are only produced in Korea for the international market, as well as some authentic imports are also available. Itaewon is known for its clothes makers who produce custom-made shirts and suits.[citation needed]
There is the multinational Gyeongnidan Street in Itaewon. It is in the middle of Itaewon Elementary School(Korean: 이태원초등학교) district. There are many international restaurants along the street.[20]
Incidents
COVID-19 outbreak
During the
2022 crowd crush
On 29 October 2022, a crowd crush occurred during the 2022 Halloween festival. Over 150 people were confirmed dead and over 100 were injured.[22][23] Of the confirmed dead, 26 were foreign nationals. The influx of visitors from all over the country as well as foreign nationals was potentially caused by the pandemic restrictions being lifted after two years. It is said that the hotels and events were booked well before the event showing that large crowds were expected.[24]
In popular culture
Korean singer-songwriter JYP (Park Jin-young) and Yoo Se-yoon's hip hop duo UV released the song "Itaewon Freedom" in April 2011.[25] The title alludes to (and the lyrics celebrate) a common Korean perception of Itaewon's "open atmosphere", in contrast with conventional Korean culture, which is more conservative.[26] The popularity of the song and its music video inspired a parody cover song and video from the girl group Crayon Pop in 2013. Both videos were partially filmed on location in Itaewon.[27]
The 2020 South Korean Netflix television series Itaewon Class is set in Itaewon.[28] The drama was praised for its diverse and inclusive cast and its realistic portrayal of subjects such as prejudice and discrimination against foreigners, ex-convicts and the LGBT people, as well as the portrayal of misbehaviors by chaebol corporations.[29] Time Magazine included Itaewon Class on its list of "The 10 Best Korean Dramas to Watch on Netflix" and Forbes included the series on its list of "The 13 Best Korean Dramas Of 2020".[30]
Transportation
It is served by
- Itaewon Station – Seoul Subway Line 6
See also
- Haebangchon
- Yongsan-gu
- Yongsan Garrison
Notes
- ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (29 October 2022). At Least 151 Killed as Halloween Crowd Surge Turns Deadly in South Korea.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ Itaewon.
- ^ Top drinks, food & shopping in Itaewon, the multicultural district.
- ^ Here's Why Itaewon Is a Model Neighborhood for Diversity. 19 February 2018.
- ^ Itaewon: An inclusive, multicultural hub hit with tragedy.
- ISBN 9789814380478.
- ^ What we know about the deadly Halloween disaster in Seoul. 30 October 2022.
{{cite book}}
:|website=
ignored (help) - ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (29 October 2022). At Least 151 Killed as Halloween Crowd Surge Turns Deadly in South Korea.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "이태원(梨泰院", Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
- ISBN 978-1-4629-1022-9.
- ^ Jun-gi, Kim. "Itaewon". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "Itaewon's Complex History and What's to Come". Pinpoint Korea. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ Se-Woong Koo (2022-11-04). "Seoul's Nightlife District Was Built for Tragedy". curbed.com. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ Eunwoo Lee (2022-11-08). "Itaewon, the Site of Seoul's Recent Catastrophe - The city's multicultural history illuminates South Korea's agony, modernity, and future". inkstickmedia.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "Tim Shorrock". The New Republic. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Government, Seoul Metropolitan (2010-02-02). "Seoul's best 100".
- ^ "Itaewon". The Seoul Guide. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Gay Seoul". Gay Travel. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Kim, Monica (27 August 2018). "Listen to Monica Kim Discuss How Korea's Counterfeit Culture Shaped Her Style". Vogue. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Government, Seoul Metropolitan (2014-09-18). "Soul food of Seoul: Seoul Dining, A Delicious Epicurean Journey".
- ^ "How South Korea's Nightclub Outbreak Is Shining an Unwelcome Spotlight on the LGBTQ Community". Time. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ Lee Jung-Youn; Shin Ji-hye (2022-10-30). "153 dead, 103 injured amid Itaewon Halloween crowd surge: officials". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Park Eun-Jee (2022-10-30). "Crush in Korea's Itaewon claims almost 150 lives". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ^ Jeong, Sophie; Bae, Gawon; Hancocks, Paula; Whiteman, Hilary; Yeung, Jessie (October 30, 2022). "What we know about the deadly Halloween disaster in Seoul". CNN. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ "[New Releases] UV". Korea JoongAng Daily. 26 September 2011.
- ^ Kim, Chan-hee (2011). "The Cultural Identity of Itaewon" (PDF). Yonsei University. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ "Crayon Pop takes to the streets for parody MV of 'Itaewon Freedom'".
- ^ Choi, Ji-won (January 30, 2020). "Park Seo-joon to show perfect sync with original webcomic in 'Itaewon Class'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ Auto, Hermes (2020-03-28). "Social taboos unveiled in hit South Korean drama Itaewon Class | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ MacDonald, Joan. "The 13 Best Korean Dramas Of 2020". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
External links
- Official Seoul City Tourism :Itaewon Archived 2019-07-10 at the Wayback Machine