On top of that, the venue’s Seongsu Garden is not to be missed. It features no fewer than 120 kinds of plants and moss including Korean mountain camellia, and is an oasis in the middle of the buzzing city. A 15-minute meditation ritual is held every evening starting at 8:00 p.m. at the Garden Lounge. Overlooking beautiful sunsets, it’s time to focus on yourself and awaken your inner senses in the peaceful and serene air. This comprehensive journey in a total of 10,800 sq ft space to complete your own beauty is absolutely amazing. Because of its attractions, more than 10,000 people visit this spot every month, and it is popular not only with locals but also tourists from all over the world. Amore Seongsu has also prepared a variety of dedicated services such as English and Japanese guides, luggage storage, portable charger rental, and a tax refund counter.

Read more: 5 Korean lifestyle shops in Seoul that home design lovers should visit

Beaker made a memorable debut in the Korean fashion and lifestyle scene over a decade ago and has been weaving together the sensitivities of boutique brands and designers, while creatively reinterpreting trends to create a culture beyond fashion. It joined the Seongsu wave last year as the third store in the neighbourhood, after the opening of its Hannam-dong and Cheongdam-dong stores, in celebration of its tenth anniversary. With “cheers for youth” as its motto, the Beaker store embodies the concept of “glittering youth”, tailored to the members of Millennials and Generation Z. The internationally acclaimed Seoul-based talent Lee Kwang-ho is the creative mind behind the design of this three-story building, which has a total area of 3,500 sq ft.

The sparkle and shine of youth are expressed in the store through the use of glazed tiles, shafts of light that fill the store with ample daylight, and custom walls that look as if they are studded with crystals. Furthermore, Lee’s colourful and artistic objects made with 3D-printing techniques and PVC furniture make you feel the joy of discovery. In keeping with its philosophy that blends sustainability with social responsibility, the majority of materials in the space are made from recycled and recyclable sources.

It’s quite remarkable that Beaker has presented a wide and well-curated range of labels that embody top trends and cultures from around the world. This exceptional lineup includes glass brand Ichendorf Milano, Italian tableware Bitossi Home, as well as an exclusive collection created in collaboration with Tekla Fabrics, a Copenhagen textile brand. Young Korean designer brands such as Nightfruiti and NR Ceramics are sought-after names displayed in the space too. In addition to that, rhe private-label Beaker Original captures the brand’s creative identity and sensibility. Upcoming pop-up events include  a collaboration with a famed restaurant as well as tie-ups with contemporary fashion brands like HGBB Studio (a fashion brand with Korean and Danish perspective), and Diagonal, which features a simple but sensual design. 

An “art museum where daily life becomes art”—that is the motto of the Daelim Cultural Foundation’s Daelim Museum, which started as South Korea’s first art museum that specialises in photography. It has since expanded its scope of work with the launch of D Museum, an art complex in Hannam-dong that opened in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of the foundation. D Museum relocated to Seongsu-dong two years ago, and aims to enrich the visitor experience with diverse types of art, not only in terms of the exhibitions it holds but also education programs tailored to all, regardless of age or gender. Based on its variety of high-quality artistic content, the arts venue has consistently garnered a lot of public attention over the years. The museum shop, White Label, was launched this spring. It aims to shine the spotlight on talented local and international artists with the potential to reach greater heights. The space introduces visitors to a wide range of items from fashion, design, and lifestyle. 

This new concept store features items that can be purchased and owned, as if you are collecting art pieces in a gallery but with a relaxed atmosphere. The diverse yet carefully curated list is impeccable, and includes limited edition pieces that can only be found at the White Label, as well as useful kitchenware, tactile dolls and fabric objects, and delightful daily items that will make you smile. The way of purchasing is interesting as well: fill out the details of the product you want on the order form and deliver it to the staff who will take you through the next steps. The store offers an opportunity to support creative activities for artists, provide public access to the museum, and share artistic inspiration. It doesn’t matter if you are not an art expert, anyone can join in and enjoy the space together with other visitors within this artistic and cultural landmark in Seoul.

While the Seoul Upcycling Plaza is neither a famous shopping spot nor a famous cafe, it is a truly meaningful venue that is constantly receiving attention since its opening in 2017. This eco-conscious venue boasts the world’s largest upcycling cultural complex with a total building area of 178,000 sq ft, where visitors of all ages can observe, learn, experience and be familiarised with the steps and processes behind upcycled products. Based on the city’s “Resource-Recycling Seoul Vision 2030”, the plaza aims to raise environmental, social, and economic awareness of these sustainably produced products and to establish an environment for upcycling-based industries. This is done through friendly and entertaining ways such as tailored programs that include workshops, performances, and various exhibitions.

The Upcycling Material Bank situated on the lower ground floor is a place that connects makers and consumers of upcycling materials. The Seoul Upcycling House is a model that shows an eco-conscious lifestyle: it is composed of an upcycling maker space, a performance stage, and a lecture hall. The ongoing Plastic Jungle Expedition: SUP Attack! exhibition shows visitors the impact of human consumption related to the climate crisis and reckless development on the global environment, and in an easy-to-understand manner; the exhibition will run until the end of this year. 

By the time you feel parched and eager for drinks after exploring the dynamic Seongsu-dong, the grey facade with Seoul Brewery’s brand logo will likely catch your eye in the distance. As soon as you enter the open-plan first floor, you will see straight silver pipes connecting from the bottom to the top for beer brewing, and instinctively feel that this is the right place to quench your thirst. This is a brewery with a large-scale vertical brewing facility housed in a seven-storey space that allows visitors to experience and enjoy the art of craft beer. Must-tries include the Gold Rush California Common and Pale Blue Dot IPA. The former pays respect to the spirit of the pioneers who first created American craft beer, and the latter is inspired by astronomer Carl Sagan’s description of the Earth as a faint blue dot. In ways similar to these drinks, the story behind each craft beer is designed to pique your curiosity.

Take on a unique brewery tour on the fourth floor, taste special craft beer that can only be tried in this venue, dine on gastronomic treats, and look out for the venue’s regular series of jazz concerts. “This is the third space opened ambitiously, following Hapjeong-dong and Hannam-dong. Starting with the launch of Gold Rush California Common in March 2018, it has gone over big by introducing more than 100 different types of beer including special seasonal beers to date,” says Jason Lee, founder and CEO of Seoul Brewery. “[We] not only collaborate with famous breweries from Singapore to Denmark, but also create various cultural content: such as live performances, pop-up stores, and flea markets. Seoul Brewery ultimately wants to be a genuine and comprehensive hospitality brand.” This experimental brewery, which could not have been born without Lee’s strong passion and tenacity, has become a mecca for craft beer lovers and hipsters.

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