There is a reason every global city commands its own reputation. Some become known for a specific industry, and even the void left behind by that industry can form the city’s identity. Some cities depend on a steady flow of visitors throughout the year, while others are celebrated for their art or cuisine. Various elements that shape the quality of life, such as architecture, art, and cultural assets, create the uniqueness of cities loved worldwide.

However, more than these features, it is the people who define a city’s character. Just as one might recall the painter who drew their portrait on Montmartre Hill more vividly than Paris’s numerous landmarks or cherish a brief chance encounter in London, a city’s charm is formed through individual memories and experiences. New York, for instance, is called the “city that never sleeps” thanks to the people who are constantly on the move, even at night. So, what about Seoul, the city we live in? Seoul is a city rich in diverse charms. In particular, there are people who sustain the city’s foundation through what they create with their hands. The true power of Seoul comes from such artisans.

Seoul is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Despite suffering the pain of war and destruction in the past, it regained its vitality in a short time and rose to become a global city. At the center of that transformation are its people?the people who, with an artisan’s spirit, create things by hand and preserve traditions through long hours of devotion. Their commitment to their work, continuing their craft without relying on shortcuts or compromising for the easy path, is the power sustaining today’s dynamic Seoul.

Throughout Seoul, there are many neighborhoods where artisans from various fields have put down roots. Just as the ironworks and installation artists of Mullae-dong, the material shops and craftspeople of Euljiro, and the printing houses and publishers of Chungmuro coexist, new artists have settled in the same neighborhoods as long-established artisans. It might be difficult to call all of them “artisans” in the strict dictionary sense of being highly skilled technicians. However, anyone who immerses themselves in their work and takes full responsibility for the result to the very end deserves to be called one. In this way, people have created unique creative ecosystems across Seoul, and this collective spirit of craftsmanship continues to shape the city.

The people of Seoul coexist in similar ways. Long-standing industries built the foundation, and creators layered culture on top of it. Mullae-dong in Yeongdeungpo District is a prime example. From the 1960s to the 1980s, steel and machinery parts factories lined every alley. Then, from the mid-2000s, visual artists began to gather there in search of affordable rent. However, their settlement wasn’t solely for economic reasons. The neighborhood’s rugged atmosphere offered raw inspiration to creators, while the factories that had stood there for decades became a solid foundation for artistic imagination. As abandoned factories were transformed into art spaces for citizens, and long-neglected warehouses became studios, the area gradually emerged as one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in Seoul.

Euljiro 3-ga and 4-ga are another version of Mullae-dong. In this neighborhood, wholesale material shops for lighting, metal, wood, and electronic components are concentrated within a few blocks. Materials shops are close enough that installation artists and craftspeople can simply walk over to obtain what they need. It is a place that clearly demonstrates how a neighborhood comes alive when producers and creators coexist. Nearby, Chungmuro has also long been the center of the printing and publishing industry. Printing houses and bookbinderies clustered together, and magazine companies and publishers gathered around them to create a unique culture. Even now, as the era of paper media fades and digital media takes its place, small-scale independent publishers and letterpress printing workshops carry on the legacy. What neighborhoods like the ironworks of Mullae, the material shops of Euljiro, and the printing houses of Chungmuro have in common is that they are places where people who work with their hands gather.

Hongik University, commonly referred to as the Hongdae area, developed in a different way. Indie culture began with small club performances in the 1990s drew musicians, designers, and graphic artists to the area, turning it into a hub for independent creation. The indie artisans, who resisted mainstream culture and wrote their own music by hand, became the roots of the free-spirited energy that defines Hongdae. Although commercialization has progressed rapidly, practice rooms and studios can still be found in the inner alleys. The constant flow of young people visiting the university district also continues to supply a new generation of creators. In this way, an ecosystem that fully utilizes the strengths of the area has taken shape.

A similar example is Daehangno in Hyehwa-dong. Daehangno is the home of small theater performances in Korea. Dozens of small theaters are gathered within a few blocks, surrounded by actors, playwrights, and directors. Meetings and after-parties continue in nearby cafes and restaurants even in the early hours after performances end. Behind the brilliant lights, staff members build stage sets with their own hands. Combined with the fierce craftsmanship of actors who repeat the same lines hundreds of times to stand on a small stage, the unique culture of Hyehwa was formed. As the name Daehangno suggests (meaning “university street”), the area is always lively with young people. New visitors interested in culture also steadily seek out historic places like Marronnier Park or Hakrim Dabang.

Meanwhile, Seochon, located to the west of Gyeongbokgung Palace, is a neighborhood filled with small galleries and exhibition spaces nestled among alleys of traditional hanok houses. Unlike the previous examples of the industry, it can be described as an area where long-standing culture has attracted new art, creating layers of diverse history. It is a neighborhood that perfectly demonstrates how craftsmanship lives on in various ways throughout Seoul. Seochon has long been associated with art and literature. Once, Gyeomjae Jeong Seon captured the scenery of Mount Inwangsan surrounding Seochon on canvas, and cultural figures like Yun Dongju, Chusa Kim Jeonghui, and Songgang Jeong Cheol often frequented the area. Inheriting this poetic spirit of the past, the footsteps of new artists continue to grace the neighborhood today.

Although each neighborhood has accumulated its own history, the underlying structure remains the same. Long-established industries first laid the foundation, and creators later built culture upon it. The reason Seoul possesses an energy distinct from other cities is that the industries of the past and the culture of the present are connected through the value of craftsmanship. Although their foundations are sometimes threatened by rapid urbanization, as long as these artisans exist, Seoul will be remembered as a city meticulously cultivated by its people, stitch by stitch. Even at this very moment, in some corners of Seoul, unseen artisans are quietly carrying out their work with dedication.