Guryong, Informal settlement in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea.
Guryong is an informal settlement nestled between luxury high-rises in Gangnam District, made up of makeshift homes built from corrugated metal and recycled materials. The structures are arranged on steep hillsides, creating a dense network of narrow pathways and passages.
The settlement formed in the late 1980s when rural migrants moved to Seoul during a period of rapid industrialization. These people arrived searching for work as the city expanded and transformed economically.
Residents maintain close bonds through shared meals and mutual support that are visible in daily interactions. The way people gather and help each other shows how community ties have become essential to life here.
Visiting requires coordination with local organizations since the narrow pathways are not marked on standard maps. It helps to move slowly through the tight passages and observe how the settlement is laid out before exploring further.
Despite being located in Gangnam, one of Seoul's most expensive neighborhoods, this remains the last major informal settlement in the capital. This contrast between extreme wealth and modest living spaces is something most visitors don't anticipate finding here.
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