Old Warehouses,
New Faces

Creatives Inject New Life into Disused Warehouses

1

Preserving the Old Vibe

Daelim Changgo, Seoul

Seongsu-dong is a neighborhood with many small and medium-sized factories and large warehouses. Even 10 years ago, it was very rare for young people to visit Seongsu-dong for coffee or cultural experiences. However, Seongsu-dong has been transformed into a street for young people thanks to the galleries, cafes and restaurants that preserve the vintage sensibility of the old factories and warehouses.

Gallery Café Daelim Changgo is a leader in transforming Seongsu-dong into a youthful district. The cafe was created by renovating an old factory. The interior was remodeled and opened, leaving its frame, the red bricks of the exterior and old sign intact. The large area, high ceilings and unique atmosphere created by the harmony of iron and wood immediately went viral and contributed to the creation of numerous cafes in former factories.

Gallery Café Daelim Changgo hosts special exhibitions and visitors can enjoy the many works on permanent display.

2

A Multisensory Experience by the Sea

Once a workplace for haenyeo (Jeju¡¯s female divers) and fishermen, this old fish market became a dark and deserted warehouse due to a decrease in fishing villages and a decline in sales. However, young artists have gathered here, and the abandoned warehouse has been reborn as ¡°haenyeo¡¯s Kitchen,¡± a theater-style restaurant with performances, stories and meals.

As the name suggests, haenyeo are the focus of everything, from performances to meals. In the main program, ¡°Story of Women Divers,¡± a play composed of the stories of real haenyeo unfolds. After the performance, you have time to learn about Jeju seafood with haenyeo. Afterward, there will be a Q&A session with haenyeo where you may learn about their lives after eating dishes made with the seafood they collect.

© Haenyeo¡¯s Kitchen

3

A Second Spring for an Underused Space

Youth Changgo, located near Suncheon Station, is a converted warehouse that was built in 1961 and used as a granary for more than 50 years. The underutilized grain warehouse became a start-up space for young people. Currently, vibrant youth culture is spreading in this place where young people make things, eat, have fun and share things together. The old warehouse is welcoming its second heyday with continuous visits of people who want to feel the youthful energy.

The first floor is a ¡°youth store,¡± a start-up space for young people. There are currently 22 youth stores. The second floor is used as an art studio and exhibition hall, an open studio available to everyone, a meeting cube where one-day classes are held and a photo studio. In addition, there is a ¡°VR Square¡± where you can experience virtual reality in the building right next door, making it a feast of entertainment, food and sights.

© Sunchun-si