PHOTOS: Trendy hub vs. old shantytown: Jongno transformation highlights Seoul's social inequalities
By Park Jong-hyeokPosted : July 11, 2024, 16:40Updated : July 11, 2024, 16:40
SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - In the heart of Seoul, Jongno 3-ga offers a sobering reminder of Korea's rapid social changes and enduring inequalities.
The neighborhood, long known as a gathering place for the elderly, has evolved into a vibrant district that draws visitors of all ages. Trendy shops and bustling pocha (traditional Korean pubs) line the streets, transforming the area into a hotspot for young professionals and tourists alike.
However, the district's newfound popularity stands in stark contrast to the adjacent Donui-dong jjokbang village, a shantytown where residents typically occupy one-pyeong rooms (about 3.3 square meters).
A view of the streets near Jongno 3-ga in Seoul on the morning of July 11, 2024. This area becomes crowded with numerous visitors at night. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
An alley behind the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul, photographed on the morning of July 11, 2024. At night, this street becomes crowded with numerous visitors. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A street in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul on the morning of July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A narrow alley in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul on the morning of July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A cooling fog system operates in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul on the morning of July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
A notice board in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul displays advertisements for new tenants on July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
Welfare flyers are posted on a wall in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul on July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok
This photo shows a sign with encouraging messages for residents posted by a local church in the Donui-dong jjokbang village in Seoul on July 11, 2024. AJU PRESS Park Jong-hyeok