Hannam-dong, Residential district in Yongsan, South Korea
Hannam-dong is a residential district in Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea, home to embassies and international institutions. Streets wind between modern apartment towers and tree-lined boulevards, while cafes and shops occupy ground floors of buildings.
The area began as a small hamlet by the river and carried the name Han River Village during the Japanese colonial period in the early 20th century. After the Korean War, the district transformed in the 1960s and 1970s into an upscale residential zone with housing complexes for foreign diplomats and wealthy families.
The Leeum Samsung Museum houses Korean ceramics and modern sculptures across three separate buildings designed by different architects. Visitors walk through multiple halls with rotating displays that pair traditional crafts and contemporary installations side by side.
Subway stations Hangangjin and Hannam offer direct links to several lines that continue into central Seoul or toward other districts. Walks between the hills can get steep, so comfortable shoes help when exploring the upper residential streets.
The UN Village section got its name in the 1970s when many foreign diplomats and staff from international organizations moved into this hilly area. Today, residential compounds The Hill and Nine One Hannam house numerous Korean entertainment performers and company executives who value the gated complexes with their security teams.
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