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Yuka, a tourist from Japan, was recently walking along Garosu-gil in southern Seoul on a sunny afternoon. She and her three friends looked around the shops there, bought boots and clothes and took pictures. “I feel like I’m in Japan, as there are so many Japanese people here,” she said. Indeed, Yuka was one of hundreds of foreign visitors to the tourist destination in Gangnam. Japanese, Chinese, English and some unfamiliar languages were easily heard. She learned about the place from a guide map. The district is situated away from major tourist destinations in northern Seoul like Myeong-dong, but Yuka, an avid fan of boy band 2PM, wanted to experience the street after visiting the offices of JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment which are not far away. “Myeong-dong is similar to Harajuku, an entertainment area for the young generation in Japan. Garosu-gil is more like Omotesando with vintage shops,” said Yuka, who didn’t disclose her age but looked to be in her 40s. The 700-meter-long street between Sinsa-dong Community Center and the Sinsa branch of the IBK Bank has gained the name Garosu-gil, meaning tree-lined avenue, as it is lined with ginko trees on both sides. As people can imagine from the name, the street is especially beautiful in the fall with its yellow-tinted foliage. But in any season, the street is awash with colorful shops, restaurants, cafes and galleries which are decorated in their own, unique styles. With the year-end holiday season approaching, many shops are already adorned in a festive manner. Cherry Ng, a Hong Kong native who came to Korea to attend a concert by idol group Super Junior, said her friends recommended Garosu-gil. “The shops here are so pretty. Besides shopping, this street is worth visiting to take photos,” she said. The avenue is attracting a growing number of multi-brand stores that sell clothes, shoes and accessories from various brands and designers, such as A Land, Elbon the style, Geekshop and Magnifico n Magnificent. Trendsetters seeking new styles also visit the street, as foreign brands often open their first shops in Korea here, including Marimekko and Lapalette. As it gains popularity, franchise restaurants and cafes are occupying the main street. Still, Garosu-gil is more charming with smaller-sized clothing stores and eateries run by individual designers or operators, as their items and interior designs show each owner’s personal character. Farmer is a handmade accessory shop with thousands of hair bands and hairpins. After gaining popularity, it opened a branch on the other end of the street. Mogool is Garosu-gil’s “hat-only” shop and it sells imported handmade headwear. On the floor-to-ceiling window of cafe Bean Story, drawings of people drinking coffee are exhibited along with phrases that read: “Our coffee beans are fresh as we ourselves roast the beans. Our cakes are hot as we bake them.” Another cafe “MoMo Cot” is cat-themed, with cat-related props. Momo is the name of the owner’s cat, which wanders about the cafe and enjoys popularity among customers. A hot, dark brownie with whipped cream and ice cream is a must-eat item.
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| rahnita@koreatimes.co. |
