Key takeaways
Development in Seongbuk-dong picked up in earnest starting in the 1960s, and access to central Seoul improved dramatically when Bukaksan-gil road and the Samcheong Tunnel opened in 1968. Fact At the time, roughly 107,000 pyeong (about 35 hectares) of land in Seongbuk-dong was privately owned by Shin Yong-ho, founder of the insurance company Kyobo Life; once land values rose after the tunnel opened, he subdivided and sold the property. Fact Prominent political figures and foreign diplomatic missions bought up large portions of it, establishing the area as one of Seoul's most prominent wealthy enclaves. Fact
What to look for on site
- The alleys densely lined with ambassadors' residences
- The parcel structure left behind by the subdivision of one vast private landholding
- How dramatically development density changed after the tunnel opened
Visitor tip
Photography may be restricted for security reasons in areas dense with ambassadors' residences — follow any posted signage or guidance.