The word “hanok” was first used in 1907 to describe a new house; in 1975 it was defined as an antonym of both Western and Joseon (“Korean”) houses, but since then has come to mean a Korean traditional house that is particularly noted for its tile roofing. In the 1930s the Japanese built Ikseon-dong in central Seoul (then known as Gyeongseoung in Korean and Keijō in Japanese) that employed elements of traditional architecture. It was the first large-scale hano development in the city and remains its best-preserved such neighborhood. In the 1950s it evolved into a prosperous entertainment community with most of Seoul’s biggest yojeong (upscale restaurants where kisaeng in traditional hanbok clothing entertained wealthy patrons with traditional music, dance, conversation, and sometimes sex) were located. But by the 21st century the yojeong had all closed down and the area become a slum. However, its cheap rents began to attract artists, designers, and writers.
The word “hanok” was first used in 1907 to describe a new house; in 1975 it was defined as an antonym of both Western and Joseon (“Korean”) houses, but since then has come to mean a Korean traditional house that is particularly noted for its tile roofing. In the 1930s the Japanese built Ikseon-dong in central Seoul (then known as Gyeongseoung in Korean and Keijō in Japanese) that employed elements of traditional architecture. It was the first large-scale hano development in the city and remains its best-preserved such neighborhood. In the 1950s it evolved into a prosperous entertainment community with most of Seoul’s biggest yojeong (upscale restaurants where kisaeng in traditional hanbok clothing entertained wealthy patrons with traditional music, dance, conversation, and sometimes sex) were located. But by the 21st century the yojeong had all closed down and the area become a slum. However, its cheap rents began to attract artists, designers, and writers.
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