Haebangchon–Huam: The Hill Built by Arrivals · 1
Below Namsan, the Hill Climbed by People Who Arrived in Seoul
Ep. 1 · Why walk this hill
FitTrip Editor · 2026.07.22
Before they were hillsides with good views, Haebangchon and Huam-dong were spaces of settlement. People who returned after liberation, people who came south, refugees and migrants during and after the Korean War built houses below Namsan. A half-day route starting at the lower end of Huam-dong and climbing through living alleys to Sinheung Market reads the layers of migration left in stairs, retaining walls, the market and its diverse food. Today's Haebangchon is known for cafés, restaurants and night views, but the neighborhood's basic grammar is the slope.
Today's Haebangchon is known for cafés, restaurants and night views, but the neighborhood's basic grammar is the slope. People with no room on the flatland attached houses to the hillside, and stairs and narrow paths connected daily life instead of large roads. Without knowing this terrain, even Haebangchon's current commercial district is hard to explain Fact.
Look at the stairs before the view
To visitors, a hill means photos and a view; to residents, it is the daily route they climb every day. FitTrip's route suits starting from the lower end and climbing selectively while checking the physical burden, rather than conquering the highest point.
Below Namsan, those who arrived
Before they were hillsides with good views, Haebangchon and Huam-dong were spaces of settlement. People who returned after liberation, people who came south, refugees and migrants during and after the Korean War built houses below Namsan. This first step is a chance to physically trace that map of migration.
FAQ
- Is Haebangchon the same area as Itaewon?
- They are adjacent living areas, but their formation, terrain and central alleys differ. Haebangchon is more accurately read around the sloped housing south of Namsan and Sinheung Market.
- Do I have to climb all the way to the top?
- No. A lower route centered on Huam-dong and Sinheung Market alone shows the living history and the market.
Checklist
- Many slopes and stairs — wear comfortable shoes
- With parents, children or wheelchair users, use the village bus and low-slope routes
- Avoid loud noise and photographing private property in residential alleys
- Check whether individual Sinheung Market stalls are open on the day of your visit
See the full course on FitTrip →