Dongpirang Mural Village, Mural village in Tongyeong-si, South Korea
Dongpirang Mural Village is an open-air painted village on a hillside in Tongyeong-si, South Korea. The narrow, winding lanes run between tightly packed old houses whose outer walls are covered floor to ceiling in paintings.
The neighborhood grew in the early 20th century as a home for fishermen and port workers. Around 2007, it faced demolition to make way for new buildings, but residents and artists began painting the walls and saved the area from being torn down.
The murals in Dongpirang are regularly renewed by artists from across Korea, so the walls always show something different from one visit to the next. Visitors can watch artists at work in small open workshops scattered through the narrow lanes.
The walk up from Gangguan harbor takes about 10 to 15 minutes on foot, and comfortable shoes are a good idea since some paths are steep and uneven. Entry is free and the village is open year-round, with late afternoon light working well for photos.
The neighborhood was originally slated for full demolition, and it was that very threat that saved it: artists applied publicly to paint the walls as a way to stop the plans. The murals are replaced every few years, so no two visits look exactly the same.
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