Itaewon, Multicultural neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea
Itaewon is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea, that stretches across several street sections. The main thoroughfare runs gently uphill from the metro station and is flanked by side streets and alleys where shops, bars, and eateries operate.
The neighborhood began changing after 1945 when the Yongsan Garrison military base was established nearby, gradually bringing foreign residents and visitors. Over the following decades, immigrant traders, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs settled here, shaping its current character.
The name comes from an old Korean term meaning
Metro Line 6 connects the area to the rest of the city, with Itaewon Station placed centrally in the main section. Many shops open late in the morning and close after midnight, with the neighborhood coming to life in the afternoon and evening.
In the narrow lanes behind the main hotel area, restaurants from over 20 countries occupy just a few city blocks. Some of these places have been run by the same families for decades, bringing recipes from their home countries.
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