I took a bus from Hannam-dong(한남동/ Art Galleries and K-Fashion: A Rainy Day Guide to Hannam-dong, Seoul) over to Samcheong-dong(삼청동). I hadn’t really traveled directly from Hannam-dong to Samcheong-dong by bus before, so discovering that the route takes you right through Namsan Park (남산공원) was a pleasant surprise. Because it was raining, the trees looked a lush, deep green, making it a wonderful ride just to gaze out the window. After getting off, I transferred to Jongno 11, the village bus running from City Hall to Samcheong-dong, and got off at Bubryunsa Temple(법련사).
My original destination was Patisserie Decide. However, just as the bus was approaching the stop, an exhibition at Gallery Hyundai right in front of me caught my eye. Without even opening my umbrella, I hopped off and walked straight inside.
Gallery Hyundai
- Address: 8, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 12:00 – 18:00 (Saturdays 12:00 – 19:00) / Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Website: https://hyundaihwarang.com/?c=main
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
It was a solo exhibition by Kathryn Bradford titled ‘Living a Dream‘, featuring a heavy focus on paintings of figures swimming. The painting style and the way color was used had a dreamy, mystical quality that blurred the line between reality and fantasy, making it feel deeply healing to look at. Maybe because I’ve been craving a swim so badly this summer, the exhibition left an even stronger impression on me.
Since there are numerous galleries around the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Seoul and throughout Samcheong-dong, you might also find this guide helpful: Seoul Art Walk Guide.
From here, my itinerary took a slightly unexpected turn. I initially headed toward Daiso near Anguk(안국) Station, but since they didn’t have what I was looking for, I made my way back toward Patisserie Decide. With some extra time before my next appointment, I decided to pop into a local market I’d been curious about: Seoul Donghaeng Market. (By the way, the Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Center is also located in this building. If you’re interested in Korean temple food, I highly recommend checking it out—I’ve been eyeing their schedule and menu to take a class myself!)
Seoul Donghaeng Market
- Address: 1F, Anguk Building New Wing, 39, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 10:30 – 19:00 / Closed on the last Monday of every month
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donghaeng_store
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Honestly, I didn’t expect much, figuring it would just be a standard local mart. But to my surprise, it’s a fascinating spot combining a regional farmers’ market and a local food store, making it quite entertaining even for locals. Not only do they have regional agricultural and marine products like seasonal fruits (there was even a farmer selling fresh fruit directly outside the store that day) and vegetables, but they also stock a wide variety of processed foods made from local specialties.
From Eumseong(충청북도 음성) peach wine and unique varieties of ssamjang(쌈장), gochujang(고추장), and traditional snacks like yakgwa(약과) and olanda(오란다), there were plenty of things to catch my eye. I ended up picking up some mango yogurt from Daegwang Farm(대광목장), and I’m planning to go back for snacks like citron olanda next time.
As someone who loves exploring grocery stores and markets when traveling abroad, I’ve been meaning to put together a list of must-visit spots right here in Korea. The absolute charm of Seoul Donghaeng Market in Anguk is that you can discover and purchase specialty products sourced from all across the country in one place.
Patisserie Decide
- Address: 1F, 22-31, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 11:30 – 21:50 / Closed on Mondays
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patisserie_decide
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Passing by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art(MMCA), I finally headed to Patisserie Decide, the main reason I came up to Samcheong-dong. We had a small celebration coming up, so I wanted to find a nice, compact whole cake rather than just a slice, which brought this dessert shop to mind. While you can enjoy coffee and treats inside, the space is quite intimate with limited seating. On a nice day, sitting at their outdoor tables would be lovely, but every time I visit this place, it somehow rains, so my only memories here are of takeout.
After much deliberation, I ordered their mousse cake, Joeung(correspondence). Featuring rose mascarpone mousse, orange cremieux, rose raspberry jelly, and lemon biscuit, it was refreshingly bright and delicious, pairing exceptionally well with coffee. (Note: They don’t sell candles separately, so I picked one up at the Daiso near Gyeongbokgung Station(경복궁역) on my way to Seochon(서촌)—keep that in mind if you’re celebrating something special!)
Passing through Hannam-dong, Samcheong-dong, and Bukchon, the day still isn’t over yet. Up next: Seochon.
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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Art Galleries and K-Fashion: A Rainy Day Guide to Hannam-dong, Seoul
