Ads 468x60px

12.28.2017

Seoul Searching | Cartoon Street + Seoul Animation Center.

I had a 'eureka' moment while watching 'Hwayugi' (A Korean Odyssey), Lee Seung Gi's comeback drama after serving in the military. In episode 2, you'll see Son Oh Gong (Lee Seung Gi) sitting on a building rooftop, watching over Jin Seon Mi (Oh Yeon Seo) as she tries to find her lost umbrella.
Son Oh Gong watching over Jin Seon Mi. It was THIS scene where I had my eureka moment. :)
Jin Seon Mi passes by a row of buildings before heading towards the back alley, and I was like, "Oh my! I know this place! We were there last spring!" I immediately posted my discovery on my Instagram and my Facebook page, where I was later on bombarded by inquiries about the location, how to get there, and the like.

And so, for the benefit of my fellowmen (more like fellow Kdrama addicts, lol), here's a little background about the Cartoon Street, one of the filming locations in Hwayugi.
The intersection in front of Pacific Hotel.
Virtual tour of Cartoon Street after the jump!
Known to the locals as Zaemiro or 'street of fun', this street begins from exit 3 of Myeongdong Station and extends 450 meters long, all the way to Seoul Animation Center. While this street has long been used as a connection point between Myeongdong and Namsan, it remained a very neglected area until its 'rebirth' as Zaemiro in 2013.
Plenty of colorful billboards like this in the area.
Conceptualized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government together with some of Korea's best cartoonists, the idea of an 'open-air cartoon gallery' came to life in December 2013. With aims of promoting the 'imaginative industry' and boosting tourism and local economy, the once dismal-looking area was given a colorful transformation with its graffiti-like paintings on walls, art installations, and illustrated billboards.
Walkabout, a travel-themed pub/Thai restaurant. This was shown on episode 2 of Hwayugi.
The building right next to it.
Colorful illustrations on walls.
This was my favorite wall in the whole stretch.
Walk up those steps to get to the main road.
Towards the middle of this 450-meter stretch, you'll see Zaemirang, or the 'cartoon museum'. It's a multi-purpose facility where you'll find some really cool exhibitions, and a library with a vast collection of manhwa (comic books). Entrance is free, and you can read comic books to your heart's content.
Zaemirang.
At the end of the street, you'll find the Seoul Animation Center, Korea's first-ever dedicated animation facility. We visited this place for the first time in 2015, after our leisurely stroll at Namsan Park. We had the chance to drop by again last spring, as we hiked our way up to Namsan while searching for Heo Jeon Jae's house.
Seoul Animation Center, Winter 2015.
Seoul Animation Center, Spring 2017.
Seoul Animation Center. 
The center was established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in May 1999 to support the comics and animation industry in South Korea. It hosts exhibitions, seminars, and various educational programs, as well as the annual Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF).
Larva and friends. :)
Haechi and Dooly.
Robot Taekwon V. 
At the courtyard, you'll be greeted by life-size statues of cartoon characters - Pororo, Dooly, Larva, Tayo, and Robot Taekwon V, to name a few. Inside the complex, you'll find a variety of exhibitions, colorful murals, and life-like dioramas.
Perfect photo op for girls! :)
There's also a Cartoon Museum which houses more than 40,000 comic books and around 8,000 animation videos. You can read the comic books while inside the facility, and you can also watch videos through the individual viewing screens on the second floor.
Sit back, relax, watch a cartoon.
The center also houses the first and perhaps the only movie theater in Korea exclusively dedicated to animated films. Known as the Seoul Ani-Cinema, this 179-seat theater holds domestic and international film screenings and serves as a venue for animation film festivals, seminars, and conferences.
Seoul Ani-Cinema.
If you're traveling to Korea with kids and you're planning to go to N Seoul Tower, this is an alternative route that you can take. The uphill walk can be a bit tiring, but the cute and colorful displays that you'll see along the way will be worth the trek.

126, Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-1330

69 replies:

Unknown said...

I love the colourful and vibrant installations and art forms all around. This alone is enough for me to plan a trip to Seoul. Cheers!!

Emily Fata said...

Seoul looks so amazing!! I love the vibrancy of these streets -- it's definitely on my travel bucket list! :)

Emily Fata said...

Seoul looks like such an amazing, vibrant city! I love the colourful streets in your post.

Nina said...

I loved all your photos, it really makes you feel like you were there experiencing it along side you.

brit said...

Those photos are beautiful! I love how inspirational it looks there and you described it so well.

Unknown said...

Wow! What an awesome place! I love that they transformed a formerly colorless area into this whimsical play land to inspire creativity! Thanks for sharing!

Lisa Rios said...

This looks like so much fun! I love the colorful murals, and it must be cool to have visited a place your favorite TV show was filmed.

Unknown said...

Hello, it looks very beautiful. Would like to visit this place some day! Have a great day.

Lucile Coo said...

That is some beautiful street art. Very colorful.

Unknown said...

Seoul is so artsy - I know their cafes have a lot of cool latte art, too!

Lavanda Michelle said...

Seoul looks beautiful and artsy. I have seen so many picture of Seoul, however not this unique. Lovely photos

Anonymous said...

An interesting discussion is worth comment.
I believe that you need to publish more on this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don't speak about these subjects.
To the next! Kind regards!!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your article post. I
like to write a little comment to support you.

Anonymous said...

I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet people,
its really really nice piece of writing on building up new website.

Anonymous said...

Great article! We are linking to this great post on our site.
Keep up the good writing.

Anonymous said...

Good blog you have got here.. It's difficult to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays.

I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!

Anonymous said...

I savour, lead to I found just what I was having a look for.
You've ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day.
Bye

Anonymous said...

Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article.
Thanks for supplying these details.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this article is good, my sister is analyzing these
kinds of things, so I am going to convey her.

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your post. I wanted
to write a little comment to support you.

Anonymous said...

I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers but this piece of writing is genuinely a
good post, keep it up.

Anonymous said...

Very well written story. It will be supportive to anybody who utilizes it, as well as
yours truly :). Keep up the good work - can'r wait to read more posts.

Anonymous said...

Hello to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this site, and
your views are nice designed for new users.

Anonymous said...

This is a topic that's close to my heart... Take care! Exactly where are your contact details though?

Anonymous said...

Outstanding post, you have pointed out some excellent details, I likewise conceive
this is a very excellent website.

Anonymous said...

Very efficiently written information. It will be helpful to everyone who utilizes it,
including me. Keep doing what you are doing - for sure i will
check out more posts.

Anonymous said...

You made a number of good points there. I did a search on the theme and found most people will go along with with your blog.

Anonymous said...

Some genuinely fantastic work on behalf of the owner of this
internet site, perfectly great subject material.

Anonymous said...

Good post! We are linking to this particularly great post on our site.

Keep up the good writing.

Anonymous said...

This is my first time visit at here and i am
genuinely happy to read all at single place.

Anonymous said...

Awesome post.

Anonymous said...

Hello, everything is going perfectly here and ofcourse every one is
sharing facts, that's truly good, keep up writing.

Anonymous said...

Great post! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site.
Keep up the good writing.

Anonymous said...

Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really
useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid
others like you helped me.

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a
blog that's equally educative and engaging,
and without a doubt, you've hit the nail on the
head. The problem is something that not enough men and women are speaking
intelligently about. I'm very happy I stumbled across this in my search for something relating
to this.

Anonymous said...

Very well written post. It will be beneficial to anybody who employess it,
including myself. Keep up the good work - looking forward to more posts.

Anonymous said...

Hi there! This post could not be written much better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I am going to forward
this post to him. Fairly certain he's going to have a great read.

Many thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for some other great post. Where else
may just anyone get that type of information in such an ideal way of writing?
I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.

Anonymous said...

I always spent my half an hour to read this
blog's posts all the time along with a cup of coffee.

Anonymous said...

But a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design.

Anonymous said...

Your way of telling everything in this post is in fact pleasant, every one be able to simply understand
it, Thanks a lot.

Anonymous said...

I always spent my half an hour to read this blog's articles or reviews all the time along
with a mug of coffee.

Anonymous said...

What's up to every one, it's genuinely a good for me
to pay a visit this web site, it contains important Information.

Anonymous said...

Very well written information. It will be helpful to everyone who employess
it, including myself. Keep up the good work - looking forward to more posts.

Anonymous said...

Some genuinely howling work on behalf of the owner of this web site, utterly great content.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great
author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will
come back in the future. I want to encourage you continue your great work, have a nice
evening!

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog
that's equally educative and engaging, and let me tell
you, you've hit the nail on the head. The problem is something not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy I stumbled across this during my hunt for something
regarding this.

Anonymous said...

Hello to every one, it's actually a pleasant for me to go to see this website, it contains priceless Information.

Anonymous said...

I simply wanted to thank you once more for your amazing web site you have made here.

Its full of ideas for those who are definitely interested in this particular subject, specifically this
very post. Your all so sweet plus thoughtful of others as well as
reading the blog posts is a good delight if you ask me.
And what generous reward! Dan and I usually have fun making use of your
recommendations in what we must do in the near future. Our collection of ideas is a kilometer long so your tips are going
to be put to beneficial use.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering difficulties with your
RSS. I don?t know why I can't subscribe to it.
Is there anybody else having identical RSS problems?
Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Quality posts is the secret to invite the users to visit the web
page, that's what this web site is providing.

Anonymous said...

You completed some fine points there. I did a search on the topic and found mainly folks will have the
same opinion with your blog.

Anonymous said...

This is really attention-grabbing, You're a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking
extra of your excellent post. Additionally, I have shared your web
site in my social networks!

Anonymous said...

This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am actually impressed
to read all at alone place.

Anonymous said...

Some truly excellent posts on this web site,
thanks for contribution.

Anonymous said...

It's an amazing article designed for all the internet users; they will get advantage from it I am sure.

Anonymous said...

I all the time emailed this weblog post page to all my associates, because if like to read it
afterward my contacts will too.

Anonymous said...

Some really superb content on this web site, thank you for contribution.

Anonymous said...

Howdy! This article couldn?t be written any better!
Looking through this article reminds me of my previous
roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to forward
this information to him. Fairly certain he'll have a great read.
Many thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Superb post.Ne'er knew this, regards for letting me know.

Anonymous said...

I was reading through some of your blog posts on this site and I believe this web site is rattling instructive!

Continue posting.

Anonymous said...

Everything is very open with a very clear description of the issues.
It was really informative. Your site is useful. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Your mode of telling all in this paragraph is truly good,
every one be capable of effortlessly be aware of it, Thanks
a lot.

Anonymous said...

I've been surfing on-line more than 3 hours these days, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours.
It's beautiful value enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the
internet will be much more helpful than ever before.

Anonymous said...

Very nice write-up. I certainly appreciate this website.
Stick with it!

Anonymous said...

This is a topic that's near to my heart... Cheers! Where are your contact details though?

Anonymous said...

Hello my family member! I want to say that this post is amazing, great written and
include almost all vital infos. I would like to see extra posts like this.

Anonymous said...

Keep this going please, great job!

Anonymous said...

Definitely, what a magnificent website and educative posts, I surely will bookmark your site.Have an awsome day!