Mullae: Sparks by Day, Art by Night · 2
Iron Moved In Behind a Name That Meant Weaving
Ep. 2 · The origins of Mullae's industry
FitTrip Editor · 2026.07.22
It is often said that Mullae's place name carries a memory of the textile industry. Yet walking the neighborhood today, you hear metal being cut before you hear anything resembling thread or fabric. As the wider Yeongdeungpo area grew into one of modern Seoul's leading industrial zones, Mullae settled into a district dense with machine and metal processing. In a neighborhood where the name and the industry no longer match, Episode 2 follows the traces of that shift.
It is often said that Mullae's place name carries a memory of the textile industry. Yet walking the neighborhood today, you hear metal being cut before anything resembling thread or fabric. Where the name and the current industry no longer match, the second layer of reading this neighborhood begins.
Yeongdeungpo as an industrial zone
Mullae did not exist as a standalone industrial area; it took shape as part of the wider Yeongdeungpo area's growth into one of modern Seoul's leading industrial zones Fact. Favorable access to rail and logistics, and proximity to the city center, were conditions that drew factories to this area.
The name stayed, the industry moved
Within that industrial zone, Mullae's character narrowed over time to a district especially dense with machine and metal processing Fact. The industry of metal was layered on top of a name left by weaving. Exactly how many workshops handle which goods in this alley right now keeps changing, so seeing it with your own eyes as you walk is the most accurate approach Unconfirmed.
FAQ
- Is the name Mullae related to weaving?
- Textile industry is often cited as the origin of the name, but the editorial team does not present this as a single confirmed fact. What matters more is that, after the name was given, this neighborhood's industry clearly shifted toward metalworking.
- How many ironworks remain today?
- There is no official count the editorial team has confirmed. The trade and number of individual workshops keep changing, so walking the alley and checking directly is recommended Unconfirmed.
Checklist
- Check the actual trades in the alley with your own eyes rather than relying on the name's origin
- Distinguish between operating factories and empty ones
- Do not romanticize or oversimplify the industrial shift
See the full course on FitTrip →