Art in Insadong, Korea

Sunday. December 14. 2025

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While I was staying in Seoul, I spent one day exploring the city with my friend Shihori, who came to visit me from Japan. Since it was her very first trip to Korea, I really wanted to show her places where she could experience both traditional Korean culture and the creative side of the city at the same time. After thinking about where to take her, one of the first places that came to my mind was Insadong. It is one of those neighborhoods that instantly feels artistic, lively, and full of character the moment you arrive.

Started our journey with coffee at “Fritz Coffee Company” in Insadong, Seoul :^)

One of the things I love most about Insadong is that it does not feel centered around only a few large museums. Instead, the entire neighborhood itself feels like one giant art district. Small independent galleries, rental exhibition spaces, and traditional art venues are packed closely together throughout the narrow alleyways. Because of that, simply walking around the area already feels like visiting an open art village. You never know what kind of artwork or creative space you will suddenly discover next.

*“Dream of a Drowsy Afternoon I and II” by YONO*

*“In Dream, In Bloom I, II, and III” and “Dreaming Cat I and II” by YONO*

*“Looking at the Sky” by Seonghee Jeong*

*“Conversation of Dreams” by Seonghee Jeong*

*“The path of time” and “Something like this I” by Sona Kim*

We explored several galleries during the day, and each one had a completely different atmosphere and style. Some exhibitions featured traditional Korean inspired works, while others showed contemporary paintings, drawings, and mixed media art. As artists, both of us naturally spent a long time carefully looking at the artworks and talking about the techniques, ideas, and emotions behind them. Seeing so many different creative approaches in one neighborhood felt incredibly inspiring. Even after leaving each gallery, we kept talking about the works that stayed in our minds the most.

What made the day even more special was simply sharing the experience together. There is something very meaningful about exploring art spaces with another artist friend because small details that others might miss can turn into long conversations and inspiration. By the end of the day, I felt happy that I could show Shihori a part of Korea that felt deeply connected to art, creativity, and tradition. It became one of my favorite memories from my winter stay in Seoul.

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Creatures Among Us

2025 Korea Drawing Contest