# Event Details - **Event Name**: [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 at 02:00 pm – Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 at 05:00 pm (+09:00) - **Event Description**: TITLE: “Hipdang-dong” – Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong LEADER: Matt VanVolkenburg DATE: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00PM to 5:00PM DESTINATION: Sindang-dong, Dongdaemun Design Plaza area COST: W25,000 for RAS Korea Lifetime and Annual Members; W30,000 for Non-members MEETING POINT: At the top of Exit 1 of Sindang Station (신당역, Subway Lines 2 & 6) at 2:00PM DESCRIPTION: For decades, Sindang-dong, just east of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, has been known for its tteokbokki town, but the last five years have seen the area go through many changes. Much like Seongsu-dong, Mullae-dong, and Euljiro (referred to as “Hipjiro”), Sindang-dong has become a hot-spot for gentrification in the form of proliferating small-scale bars, cafes, and restaurants, earning it the name “Hipdang-dong.” The neighborhood around Sindang Station, which includes Sindang-dong and Hwanghak-dong, was first urbanized in the 1930s and became home to the Jungang (Central) Market – the place where Chung Ju-yung, founder of Hyundai, started his first business – and tales remain of a nearly-forgotten gay cruising theater and licensed prostitution zone that stood nearby. Hidden in its web of streets are hundreds of one-room clothing manufactories, a few clusters of still-remaining hanoks, and the last-remaining Western-style “Culture House” from the 1930s – the home where Park Chung-hee lived before leading a coup in May 1961, which is now a museum. In addition to the Jungang Market, there are also nearby streets making and selling sundae and other pork products, furniture, and kitchenware. In addition to exploring the above-mentioned sites, where we can see gentrification in progress, this walk, which will be led by a resident of the neighborhood, will also visit Sindang’s TTeokbokki Town and older neighborhoods closer to Dongdaemun Design Plaza, one of which was built over a former cemetery in the 1920s. The excursion will begin at 2:00 at Exit #1 of Sindang Station (신당역, Subway Lines 2 & 6) and end near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (동대문역사문화공원) Station (Subway Lines 2, 4, and 5). After the excursion, participants have the option to join Matt for coffee or an early dinner. Please note that the cost of the meal is not included in the excursion fee. Although the walk is mostly flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. REGISTRATION: RSVP by June 18 (Thursday) with payment of the fee via bank transfer. Please register one RSVP at a time. RSVP: https://forms.gle/ZZwkhaJGck3utjNr9 ☞Payment to be remitted to the following account: SHINHAN BANK ACCOUNT # 100-026-383501 (RAS-KB) *Reservation is not confirmed until payment has been received by RAS Korea in advance of the event. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/seoul/cultural-excursion-hipdang-dong-exploring-the-history-and-gentrification-of-sindang-dong/200029999339752 - **Event Categories**: Meetups, Art, Theatre - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Seoul - **state**: KG - **country**: Korea, South - **location**: Sindang Station - **lat**: 37.565555555556 - **long**: 127.01944444444 - **full address**: Sindang Station, Seoul, Korea, South ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/ee03e13faf5dca06a9b439ecb1900d609d518599b8b6a7e00b09265011c71ef0-rimg-w1200-h675-dc383735-gmir?v=1777443531 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong being held? - **A:** [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong takes place on Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Sindang Station, Seoul, Korea, South. - **Q**: Who is organizing [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong? - **A:** [Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong is organized by Royal Asiatic Society Korea. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "[Cultural Excursion] "Hipdang-dong" - Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/ee03e13faf5dca06a9b439ecb1900d609d518599b8b6a7e00b09265011c71ef0-rimg-w1200-h675-dc383735-gmir?v=1777443531", "startDate": "2026-06-20T14:00:00+09:00", "endDate": "2026-06-20T17:00:00+09:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/seoul/cultural-excursion-hipdang-dong-exploring-the-history-and-gentrification-of-sindang-dong/200029999339752", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Sindang Station", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "name": "Sindang Station, Seoul, Korea, South", "addressLocality": "Seoul", "addressRegion": "KG", "addressCountry": "KR" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "37.565555555556", "longitude": "127.01944444444" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "TITLE: “Hipdang-dong” – Exploring the history and gentrification of Sindang-dong\n\nLEADER: Matt VanVolkenburg\n \n\nDATE: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00PM to 5:00PM\n\nDESTINATION: Sindang-dong, Dongdaemun Design Plaza area\n\nCOST: W25,000 for RAS Korea Lifetime and Annual Members; W30,000 for Non-members", "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Royal Asiatic Society Korea", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/royal-asiatic-society-korea/806210", "description": "The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch (RASKB) is the oldest organization in Korea specially designed to introduce people to the beauty of this land in all its many aspects." } ] } ] ```