chrisbg — Yongsan Haebangchon Village

A Seoul neighbourhood with a name that carries the weight of an entire country. Haebangchon, better known as HBC, translates to Liberation Village. Its story began after Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, when people returning from Japan, Manchuria, and the North needed somewhere to rebuild their lives. They settled on the steep slopes below Namsan, once used by the Japanese military, and created a community from almost nothing. The name they chose was 해방촌, a reminder that freedom was the one thing everyone arriving there had in common. Today, HBC is known for its international restaurants, little bars, creative people, and some of Seoul’s best hillside views. But every time you walk those steep streets and staircases, you are moving through a neighbourhood built out of survival, return, and a fresh start. A very different side of Seoul, hiding right below Namsan. #Haebangchon #HBCSeoul #Gwangbokjeol #SeoulHistory #VisitKorea