We’ve all heard of Gangnam and Hongdae, the two most widely known places in Seoul, right? These two vibrant neighborhoods are always bustling, jam-packed with people on a weekend night. However, young Koreans who want to spend a quiet night out are turning their eyes to secret alleys which recently rose to fame with their unique atmosphere. Follow us for a tour around the top hidden alleys trending in Korea.

江南和弘大這兩個在首爾的地方，相信大家都耳熟能詳，每逢週未晚上總是人山人海。不過現在不少韓國年輕人們都會選擇在一些神秘的小巷享受一個寧靜的晚上，而這些小巷亦因為有著獨特的氣氛而受到注目，就讓我們跟著韓國編輯一窺韓國其中最受歡迎的小巷吧！

經理團路 Kyungridan-gil (경리단길)

Located within walking distance from the foreign-clustered district Itaewon, Kyungridan-gil is known for its exotic dining spots and an array of pubs. Behind the enormous fame is a young entrepreneur Jang Jinwoo, who opened eight restaurants and cafes on the same street since 2011, when the street was narrow and quiet. His business goal was to just do what he likes to do and meet good people. With his simple yet so profound attitude, his business’ success attracted fellow young entrepreneurs around the area, and it was only a matter of time before the alley became busy with visitors. On a weekend night, it is almost impossible to find a place to sit down at Kyungridan-gil with waiting lists everywhere.

經理團路位於外國人聚集的梨泰院，以其充滿異國情調的餐廳與一排排的酒吧而聞名，這裡之所會出名是因為一位年輕企業家張振宇2011年時，在當時這又窄又冷清的小巷開了8間餐廳和café，當時他其實只想做自己想做的東西和認識朋友，沒想到他的成功吸引了其他企業家進駐，讓這裡充滿遊客。在週未晚上你想找到位置坐也很難，因為到處都是正在等候的人。

延南洞 Yeonnam-dong (연남동)

Likewise, a young entrepreneur Lim Donghyuk opened a small Thai restaurant ‘Tuk Tuk Noodle Thai’ in an uncommercial area beside Hongdae. The restaurant soon went viral and fellow young entrepreneurs gathered to set up business with little capital. Now, the dark street is filled with lights from restaurants serving international cuisine, creating an area of cultural diversity. Yeonnam dong has a quiet, somewhat antique vibe, as a reminiscence of the 70s. It is an area that knows how to preserve and create harmony between the old and new, influenced by the artistic culture of Hongdae attracting a wide age range from 20s to 80s.

就像經理團路一樣，年輕企業家林東赫在弘大的非商業區開了一所名為「Tuk Tuk Noodle Thai」的小型泰式食肆，食肆很快便出名了，跟著不少企業家也陸續進駐。現在這裡充滿著世界各地菜式的餐廳，創造了文化多樣性的特色。不過延南洞也是寧靜的地方，且帶幾分古代氣息，就像回到70年代，而受到弘大的藝術文化影響，這裡可看到新舊的和諧交融，吸引了廣大的年齡群。

西村 Seochon (서촌)

Seochon is the most traditional hot spot among those introduced in this article, perhaps due to its location right next to Gyeongbokgung Palace – the must-see tourist attraction in Seoul. Seochon is a mixture of tradition and contemporary nowadays, with houses looking but not fully in the Korean-style Hanok tangled with each other along a long alley. Seochon became famous after it was introduced in several media platforms including TV shows and films, now attracting visitors with their distinct traditional mood.

也許是靠近景褔宮的關係，西村算是全文中最傳統的地方。西村揉合了傳統與現在的風格，但房屋卻又不是完全像韓國風格那種錯綜複雜，相互有長巷隔著的感覺。在電視節目和電影的介紹下，西村也變得出名，不少遊客慕名而來感受這裡的傳統氣息。

TEXT: JISU J
CHINESE TRANSLATION: CHRIS Y
GRAPHICS: SUKI Y / HOKK FABRICA