Mapo district is one of the best places for youngsters to hang out in Seoul as it’s located right beside the shopping streets of Hongdae and Hapjeong. We’ve come up with a guide to Mangwon that you’ll want to bookmark to make your trip to the neighbourhood easier and more exciting.
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Image credit: sottie
When talking about Mangwon, you can’t miss out on the famous Mangwon market. Located within is Hoon Hoon Hotteok, which is renowned for its unique hotteok (Korean pancake) flavours.
There are 3 flavours – the original plain hotteok, injeolmi (roasted soya bean powder) hotteok and prinkle hotteok.
Image credit: 은티치
The best-selling hotteok is the Prinkle Hotteok (KRW1,500, ~USD1.08). Prinkle is a cheese, onion and garlic-flavoured powder adapted from BHC’s Prinkle fried chicken.
The hotteok is made upon order and stuffed with sweet syrup and peanuts. It is then covered in the Prinkle powder, making it both sweet and savoury.
Address: 25, Poeun-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11.30am-8.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Image credit: 쏠라파워
Also located in the Mangwon market is Mangwon Tteokgalbi, known for its chunky and juicy meatballs.
Image adapted from: DALDA, HaHaHa
The meatballs come in 2 variations, spicy and non-spicy. Each meatball is packed with chopped-up vegetables such as carrots and chives for extra flavour and texture.
The meatballs are available in boxes of 2 or 5. A pack of 2 costs KRW6,000 (~USD4.33), and a pack of 5 costs KRW11,000 (~USD7.94). Feel free to mix and match the spicy and non-spicy meatballs.
Address: 25, Poeun-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm, Sat & Sun 9.30am-8.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 010-4040-5533
Image adapted from: @okikor_travel, @kohkoh.krunch_
Ugly Bakery is known for its cream breads and mammoth breads that come in a wide range of flavours, including oreo, matcha, cheese, chocolate and many more.
One of the customers’ favourites is the Mugwort Mammoth Bread (KRW5,000, ~USD3.66), which has a powerful mugwort flavour that complements the mammoth bread very well.
Image credit: @iamdoonge
Another popular item at Ugly Bakery is the Earl Grey Cream Bread (KRW3,500, ~USD2.57), which has a more-than-generous serving of earl grey-flavoured cream stuffed within a thin bread dough.
Image adapted from: 뚜앙이양, @uglybakery
Besides the mammoth breads and cream breads, Ugly Bakery also sells other kinds of breads with interesting flavours, such as Green Onion Bread (KRW6,300, ~USD4.75) and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sourdough (KRW6,800, ~USD5.13).
Address: 73, World Cup-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-9pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Contact: 0507-1306-2018 | Instagram
Image credit: @atmosphere.cake
Atmosphere is a dessert cafe specialising in macarons and other baked products such as cakes and cookies. Every month, Atmosphere comes up with new macaron designs to celebrate occasions or holidays that are happening in that month.
Image adapted from: @atmosphere.cake, @to.jinryu
It also sells bento cakes and whole cakes that allow customisation. Depending on the design, the bento cakes cost between KRW21,000 to KRW27,000 (~USD15.39 to 19.79) each.
Whole cakes come in 2 sizes – Size 1, which is 15cm (KRW40,000 to KRW70,000, ~USD29.32 to USD51.32) and Size 2, which is 18cm (KRW50,000 to KRW80,000, ~USD36.66 to USD58.65).
Address: 54-1, Mangwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 12pm-10pm, Daily
Contact: 0507-1404-4162 | Instagram
Fishcake Udon.
Image credit: 유달리
Mangwon Jeugseok Udon sells traditional Korean-style Udon (KRW6,000, ~USD4.45) and Fishcake Udon (KRW7,000, ~USD5.19), which has a generous serving of Korean fish cakes. The soup is clear and refreshing, and the chilli paste gives it an extra kick.
Image adapted from: 지구
It also sells old-school Donkatsu (KRW10,000, ~USD7.43) with homemade brown sauce, rice, and salad. The donkatsu is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and the batter is not too thick.
Address: 83, Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 02-336-1330
Image credit: 더미
Zero Space sells notebooks, cards and paintings designed by Zero Per Zero.
Zero Per Zero is an award-winning local graphic design brand that captures and expresses daily life through its illustrations.
Image credit: 맛리블
While you’re there, don’t miss out on the cute cards (KRW2,000, ~USD1.51 each) with gorgeous illustrations that fit every occasion. Besides stationeries, Zero Space also sells cute accessories such as pop sockets, pins and keychains.
Image adapted from: roamer, 515company
Zero Space also acts as a gallery to display Zero Per Zero’s illustrations. Nestled within Zero Space is a small gallery called Gallery PERCENT. The space is currently decorated with Miffy art displays and products.
Address: 32, Huiujeong-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1pm-7.30pm | Sat 12pm-8pm | Sun 12pm-7pm
Contact: 02-322-7561
Image credit: 윤봄
Like Zero Space, YOUR GOODS is also an all-in-one stationery shop that offers a wide variety of products, from stickers to postcards and stationeries such as pens and markers.
Image credit: MOON
YOUR GOODS has a mix of products from different designers and brands and even sells ceramics such as porcelain plates, mugs and teapots.
Image credit: 다온
Bullet journalists will love YOUR GOODS as it has a large variety of washi tapes and stickers that are great for decorating bullet journals.
Address: 56 Mangwon-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1pm-7pm, Sat & Sun 1pm-8pm
Contact: 0507-1372-2614 | Instagram
Image credit: 포됴쥬스
SUBACO is filled with vintage displays, products such as The Simpsons statues, and old-school character merchandise.
Image credit: Subaco
Get your hands on vintage products like the Anpanman Drinking Glass (KRW19,000, ~USD13.84) that have been discontinued and not found elsewhere.
Image adapted from: @_subaco, @_subaco4
SUBACO is also famous for its house-brand products – from calendars to stickers, and notebooks to keychains. A set of stickers is available at KRW3,000 (~USD2.18), and a diary costs KRW16,000 (~USD11.65).
Address: 66, Huiujeong-ro 20-gil, Mangwon 1(il)-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 2pm-8pm | Sun 1pm-7pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 0507-1446-0533 | Instagram
Image credit: @youjin1018_ume
Indulge in your artistic side at Damda Art Studio, where you can attend one-day painting classes from as low as KRW35,000 (~USD25.65).
The one-day painting class is really just 2 hours long, and all materials except the canvas will be provided for free. If you need more time, every extra hour is chargeable at KRW10,000 (~USD7.32).
Image credit: @bb___ora
Choose between acrylic painting, oil painting or oil pastel class. Instructors walk around to help you with your artwork, so you don’t have to worry if you’re a beginner or if you think you’re bad at painting.
Address: 53 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-10pm | Sun 12pm-6pm
Contact: 0507-1326-9697 | Instagram
Image credit: 수또
Explore a real-life battleship’s interiors – from its canteens to the wheelhouse and front chamber – by visiting the vessel parked at Seoul Battleship Park.
Image credit: OKTOKKI
You can pretend you’re the captain controlling the battleship from the wheelhouse, but note that you are not allowed to touch the buttons and machines.
Image credit: 삐삐
Unlike other ships, battleships are equipped with artillery shells, so you’ll also find them here. But of course, the shells are empty and strictly for display only.
Ticket prices:
| Children (6 to 12 years old) | KRW1,000 (~USD0.72) |
| Students (13 to 18 years old) & Soldiers | KRW2,000 (~USD1.45) |
| Adults | KRW3,000 (~USD2.18) |
Address: 407, Maponaru-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 02-332-7500
Image credit: 깨R바나
Located in Mangwon is WM Entertainment, which is home to many famous artists, such as B1A4, Oh My Girl, ONF, and soloist Chaeyeon. Stand a chance to meet your idols when they enter or leave the company premises.
Image credit: @wment_official
Address: 8, World Cup-ro 15-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
If you are looking for a place to hang out in Seoul, give Mangwon a shot. This interesting neighbourhood has all you need for an enjoyable day-trip in Seoul.
For more travel-related content, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @youjin1018_ume, @atmosphere.cake, 맛리블
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