Haenggung-dong Mural Village: What To See In Suwon
There are probably more mural villages around Korea than you might realize. They are just everywhere and it is so fun to find them. Mural villages in Korea often provide an artistic and creative hunt with a good walk outside simultaneously. Some you find by chance and others you’ll probably seek out.
A few weeks ago we happened upon Haenggung-dong Mural Village (행궁동벽화마을) in Suwon by chance after visiting the Suwon Museum of Art. Just across the street from the art museum and the Haenggung Palace and Hwaseong Fortress Wall, it’s a great area to see something and then get a snack or food by stopping into one of the cool newtro cafes or restaurants there.
Enjoy a hunt in the Haenggung-dong Mural Village in Suwon, Korea:
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How To Get There
Address: 9-6 Hwaseomun-ro 72 beong-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Korea (경기 수원시 팔달구 화서문로72번길 9-6)
By Public Transportation: Take the subway to Hwaseo Station and go out of 5 or 6 and turn left at the first corner. Walk to the bus stop with local bus 3 and you can ride it for 25 minutes to get to the mural village.
How To Get Around
Around the area, you’ll find maps of the mural village. Head to the address above and as you go, keep your eyes peeled for the maps that are scattered around the area.
What To Know About Haenggung-dong Mural Village
There are some really great things to do in Suwon and this is one of them. Haenggung-dong sits just across the street from Haenggung Palace and inside of the Hwaseong Fortress Walls. Because of that, when the fortress became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the village from the 70’s was put under various building restrictions and development restrictions.
The neighborhood was neglected and in 2010 local residents and artists came together to restore and reinvigorate the area through art. What you’ll see now is a collection of fun and colorful murals with cool newtro cafes and restaurants. If you’re looking for a family-friendly area in Suwon, I also recommend this area as the alley ways here weren’t crowded with cars and the neighbors were really friendly. Some great things to do with kids in the galleries as well as the Suwon Art museum across the street.
What To See
Artwork & Murals
There are creative murals that are vibrant with color and line the narrow alleyways that weave in and out among the residential buildings. Much like other mural villages in Korea, you can see everything from the water pipes and mailboxes to the walls painted. Some of the artwork pays homage to the traditional history and culture of the area while some is just good ‘ole fun imagery.
You can often see in areas where building restrictions limit modernity, artists and residents ban together to give their villages a unique and creative mystique. You never know what you’ll find when you get off of the main streets and into the narrow alleys of different districts for that reason which is appealing for so many reasons.
There are 8 different sections of murals in this mural village. We were able to pick up a map at the nearby art museum which was hosting an art exhibit promoting the artworks and artists who helped decorate the area, but even if you don’t get a map from there, there are maps hung around the area so you can see where to go and what to see.
There are benches and seating sporadically around the village where you can sit and enjoy the artworks. Buy a coffee from a local small business and then enjoy the colorful exteriors of the buildings. But do remember that this is a residential area and though tourists are welcome, you should remember to be respectful of the locals by being quiet and not leaving trash around.
The murals seem to change and be updated from time to time so you may not see the exact same ones. I found photos from the original artworks in the area and when we went, there were some different artworks there. All the same, they’re still beautiful and fun and if you’re like me and enjoy a good artistic scavenger hunt, then you’ll enjoy this stop. While you’re walking, also notice the numerous cafes and restaurants and galleries in the area. Stop in at your leisure and grab a bite or a drink. There are too many cool places to choose from honestly.
Haenggung-dong Cafe Street
Either before or after an adventure into the murals, you must visit the popular cafe street which also houses galleries with experiences. Some of the cafes are more traditional or in traditional buildings but given modern updates, while others are quirky, fun, and artistic. Gallery cafes are open for coffees and many also have experiences for visitors to partake in. If you’ve got kids or if you’re looking to get artsy, stop into Spring Art Space (예술공간 봄), there’s a lot to choose from and you can have some coffee while you create.
Suwon has so many cool areas to visit. Spend a day in this area and you can find the Hwaseong Fortress Wall, a palace, the Suwon Art Museum, and this mural village. You don’t have to go anywhere else. See what you can get into!
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