Itaewon

The name Itaewon was originally derived from the name of an inn located there during the Joseon Dynasty. Today it's called Itaewon alluding to its abundance of pear trees (梨泰院).(http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0068370) According to a historical record, the name was also written using different Hanja characters that alluded to foreign babies (異胎院). When the Japanese invaded Seoul (1592-1593) during the Imjin War a group of Japanese soldiers seized a Buddhist temple in what is now Itaewon where Buddhist nuns lived. The soldiers stayed at the temple for a while and raped the Buddhist nuns. When the soldiers left they burned down the Buddhist temple. The raped Buddhist nuns now homeless settled nearby and eventually gave birth to children. People from neighboring villages named the location Itaewon after the pregnant Buddhist nuns. During the Imjin War this was also where surrendered Japanese soldiers (이타인/異他人) lived.(https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/kr/topic/detail/5637)

As Seoul's International District, Itaewon is known for serving cuisine that are not widely available in Korea, such as those from Britain, Germany, France, India, Italy, Southeast Asia, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, America, and Canada. Essentially, it is known as the "International District", or sometimes as "Western Town," reminiscent of many Chinatowns in Western nations.

Itaewon, along with neighborhoods and attractions like Hongdae, Insadong, and Seoul Tower, is one of the most popular places in Seoul for tourists.[2] Major hotels such as the Grand Hyatt Seoul and local landmark Hamilton Hotel are here, as well as several smaller hotels and guesthouses. Dozens of shops are aimed at tourists, and offer Western or traditional Korean souvenirs. High-quality leather products, retail or custom made, and are sold at reasonable prices (though haggling is expected) as well.

Itaewon was long known as a hub for high quality counterfeit goods, but those products have largely disappeared.[3] Some authentic goods that are only produced in Korea for the international market, as well as some authentic imports are also available. Itaewon is known for its clothes makers who produce custom-made shirts and suits.

Itaewon includes the area known as Homo Hill and is Seoul's Gay village.[4] Despite the taboo nature of homosexuality in South Korea, people can express themselves openly within the neighborhood.[5]

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  A street in Itaewon
• 
  Bogwang street and Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon

Many foreigners in Korea reside within or near Itaewon, as well as some of the richest Koreans in the neighbourhood of Hannam-dong, including the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, K-pop stars BTS and G-Dragon, as well as Netflix drama Kingdom's Ju Ji-hoon.[6]

Gyeongnidan Street

Main article: Gyeongnidan-gil

Itaewon Gyeongnidan-gil

In Itaewon there is the multinational Gyeongnidan Street. It is in the middle of Itaewon's elementary school district. There are many exotic restaurants alongside the street.[7]

• Global village festival
• Halloween festival

Halloween festival in Itaewon

Halloween festival

Korean singer-songwriter JYP (Park Jin-young) and Yoo Se-yoon's hip hop duo UV released the song "Itaewon Freedom" in April 2011.[8] The title alludes to (and the lyrics celebrate) a common Korean perception of Itaewon's foreignness and open atmosphere, in contrast with conventional Korean culture, which is more conservative.[9] The popularity of the song and its music video inspired a parody cover song and video from the girl group Crayon Pop in 2013. Both videos were partially filmed on location in Itaewon.[10]

The 2020 South Korean television series Itaewon Class is set in Itaewon.[11]

Itaewon is the commercial district closest to the Yongsan Garrison of the United States Forces Korea (USFK). In 2001, Itaewon was most known for the seedy bars and prostitution parlors that catered to the foreign soldiers and servicemen based in Yongsan. After 9/11, all military bases were put on lockdown with strict curfews imposed. As a result, many of the bars closed down. Coffee shops, trendy bars, and fusion and international fare restaurants opened in their places, turning Itaewon into a popular district for young, worldly Koreans and foreign residents. It now hosts an annual Itaewon Global Village Festival, cementing its reputation as an exotic, multi-cultural Gangnam.[12]

• Itaewon Station - Seoul Subway Line 6

• Haebangchon
• List of Korea-related topics
• Yongsan-gu
• Yongsan Garrison

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Itaewon.

• Official Seoul City Tourism :Itaewon