I’m an architecture student in korea and im currently working on a project in Itaewon, Seoul. I think Itaewon is a really global neighborhood, and for my research I’m exploring how people today find and choose spaces — not just by walking around physically, but also through social media, Google Maps, or other platforms.
Since Itaewon has so many international visitors and residents, I’d love to hear from foreigners: how do you usually find places or events when you’re in Korea? Do you rely on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Google Maps, blogs, or maybe word of mouth?
I’m also curious if there are any special or less obvious ways foreigners use to discover spaces in Korea — maybe apps, websites, online communities, or even cultural habits that locals don’t usually think about.
Also, if you’ve noticed any problems or challenges with Itaewon itself — either architecturally or as an urban space — I’d be really interested to hear. For example: • Streets and alleys are narrow and often overcrowded, which raises safety concerns. • Buildings and shops change very quickly, which makes the neighborhood feel unstable and sometimes wasteful. • After the 2022 tragedy, safety and crowd management became big issues. • Rents went up and then businesses started closing, so there are a lot of empty spaces now.
I don’t really have anyone around me I can ask, so I’d really appreciate hearing your perspectives. It would help me so much with my project. Thanks in advance!
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