Itaewon

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[edit] General Overview

Itaewon is a city district in Seoul, South Korea. It is served by Seoul Subway Line 6 via the Itaewon, Noksapyeong and Hanganjin stations. About 22 000 people reside in the district and it is a popular area for residents of Seoul, tourists, and US army personnel.

Many restaurants serving international dishes are found in this area including India, Thailand, and Mexico, cuisines which are not common in Korea. However, with rapid economic development and a wider trading base, many international corporations have established themselves around the entire city, including many American style fast-food chains. The Seoul Central Mosque is also located in Itaewon.

Itaewon is also, along with Insadong and Seoul Tower, one of the most popular areas in Seoul for tourists. Major hotels such as the Hyatt and local landmark the Hamilton can be found here as well as dozens of shops and services aimed at tourists. Some of the best leather products in Korea can be found here at reasonable prices (haggling is expected) as well as all sorts of trinkets and souvenirs. Counterfeit goods and clothing are ubiquitous and of varying quality, but some genuine goods which are produced in Korea for the international market and have "fallen off the back of a lorry" can be found at bargain prices. Genuine Korean handicrafts are perhaps of better quality and value elsewhere in the city. A gentleman strolling along the market will inevitably be asked the question "Would you like a tailor made suit?" and while Bangkok remains the undisputed capital of decent, bargain tailoring, Itaewon has plenty to offer in this department.

The traditional center of prostitution activity in the area is known as Hooker Hill. Prostitution has long been rampant here and any male visitor who has walked up the hill will likely have been propositioned by a prostitute. Although efforts to crack down which began in 2000 and were renewed in 2004 have reduced the visibility of the trade, brothels still exist and are quite easy to find.

[edit] American Presence

Itaewon is sometimes referred to as the "American Ghetto" due to the enclave of Americans. The US military base, Yongsan Garrison, is located nearby. There are currently over 30 000 US troops residing in Korea due to the demilitarized zone located at the South-North Korean border.

[edit] Emergence of an LGBT Community

Over the last decade, a moderately visible lesbian and gay community has emerged - predominantely in Itaewon. Arguably, this emergence is a result of the heavy American presence in this district and the high influx of foreign tourists. There is a handful of bars, local hang outs, and bath houses geared towards lgbt clientel.

[edit] See also

• Yongsan-gu
• Yongsan Garrison
• List of Korea-related topics

[edit] External links

• http://www.enjoyitaewon.com/
• Page on Itaewon from the Galbijim Wiki

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