The Peace Culture Bunker: Once Military, Now Communal
It’s not uncommon to travel around Seoul, or Korea for that matter, and find military bases and bunkers. Usually they’re surrounded by barbed wire and fences because civilians, like myself, cannot enter. They’re starting to get converted into community spaces though as they become unnecessary.
The Peace Culture Bunker (평화문화진지), once a tank bunker is one of those places and it’s now a very cool community space. More and more these bunkers and bases are being given back to the community at large and they are being given back in some awesome ways.
Don’t miss the new spaces to find around the city. Is Korea still at war? Technically yes, but not really. Are there military installations that we can visit? Yes. Let’s dig in.
The Peace Culture Bunker has some great events for the community and you should see what this military installation looks like now:
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How To Get There
Address: 932 Madeul-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul (서울 도봉구 마들로 932)
By Subway: From Dobongsan Station, take exit 1-1 and turn right and you’ll be right there.
Basic Info
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
Website: https://culturebunker.or.kr/
The History
The Peace Culture Bunker was originally constructed between 1968 and 1970 in a strategically important area of northern Seoul and was a defensive shelter for tanks. The original structure had a first floor that housed the tanks with a second, third and fourth floor that acted as military housing. The housing may have been in place as a disguise meant to conceal the true nature of the structure rather than due to necessity in the region though.
The three stories on top were gradually destroyed over time due to wear and tear and were finally removed all together in 2004 so that only the five C-shaped units that previously housed tanks was left. After a park was built in the adjacent area just outside of Dobongsan Subway Station in 2009 it was determined that the bunker should become a communal space more relevant to the current neighborhood in place.
Once a symbol of confrontation and division, Peace Culture Bunker is now a space for culture and creativity.
What To See
There’s just something about areas that were previously meant to house weapons of war or military units where civilians couldn’t go. To see these spaces, like Camp Greaves and others, converted into something specifically FOR the community is really a beautiful thing.
After a competition in 2016, CoRe Architects was chosen to convert the space into a new cultural center in the area. They chose to connect the five units via an internal corridor and used steel and timber beams to create indoor spaces. The spaces are meant to be workshops and spaces for resident artists and visitors. The Peace Culture Bunker near Dobongsan Mountain was unveiled in October of 2018.
Today, visitors can walk along the spaces on the ground floor and into exhibition spaces and then into the open air courtyards in between. Then head up to walk on the pedestrian walkway on the rooftop of the structure as well.
Pro Tip: It is from this rooftop that you can get an up close and personal view of the subway trains pulling in and out of the nearby station. A great spot to check out… especially if you have a little one with you, or you, like trains. Walk up and down and all around. Look at the exposed cement and the staircases that once led up to homes but now lead nowhere.
Don’t miss the section of the wall that stood between east and west Germany that is here as well. There is also a section of the wall at Dora Station. Then, head to the observatory at one end that can’t be missed.
The observatory, which has both an indoor area as well as an outdoor view, offers a great vantage point of the entire structure as well as the mountains beyond. I really like how the architects have used the old space and added to it. It’s stunning. If you like this kind of place, here are some more cool architecture spots in Seoul you can check out.
What To Do
There are various markets and events held at the Peace Culture Bunker throughout the year. Be sure to check the website for the events to look forward. Saturdays and Sundays are especially popular for events. If you want to the see the area without people, try to visit during a weekday.
Where To Go Nearby
Seoul Iris Garden (서울창포원)
The garden just next to the Peace Culture Bunker is the Seoul Iris Garden and it boasts an array of irises and other plants in 12 different themed zones which include the obvious Iris Garden, but also the Medicinal Plant Garden, and the Wetland Park. When the irises bloom, there are more than 300,000 irises from 130 species on display.
- Address: 916 Madeul-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 도봉구 마들로 916)
Cafe Arles (카페아를)
If you’re in the area and need a spot to eat or just drink coffee, head to Cafe Arles. The cafe has quite the personality and is very Instagrammable, if that’s your jam. There is both a restaurant and a cafe on the grounds but make sure to walk into the courtyard BEHIND them to view a lovely area with French facades and picnic tables. If it’s warm, get a spot out there to drink your coffee and eat your bread from the cafe.
Don’t be confused when you head there though, we walked into the restaurant and thought that was it and I was confused because I’d definitely seen bready bites in some Instagram photos. The cafe and the restaurant are in separate buildings though they are right next to each other and they both connect to the courtyard in the back. Head into one if you want coffee and head into the other if you want food.
The staff seem aware there is some confusion and will point you to a door if you want to find the other spot though. Just walk in the doors and you’ll see what I mean. Find the seat that is right for you whether it’s inside the restaurant, inside the cafe, or outside in the courtyard.
- Address: 204 Dongil-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 의정부시 동일로 204)
- Hours: Wednesday – Monday: 10:00am ~ 12:00am (Break time: 3:00pm ~ 5:00pm)
If you like seeing how old places and spaces are being re-used, make sure to check out B39 in Bucheon which is an arts and culture space now but was formerly a trash facility. There’s also a great paper factory that has been turned into the Sansok Lighthouse arts and culture space outside of Jeonju, Korea you can visit.
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