The Rise of Samcheong-dong as a Cultural Consumption Space: Critical Reflections on Art Gallery Boom and Urban Regeneration Strategy of Seoul Hakhee Kim* Abstract: This paper investigates the process of creating a new identity out of a derelict and old urban centre called Samcheong-dong, and turning it into an emerging cultural consumption space focusing on the recent art gallery boom and urban regeneration strategy of Seoul. The locational characteristics of art galleries in Samcheong-dong and its neighbourhood reflect the importance of several factors including, an agglomeration effect, urban cultural policy, art market trends and accessibility to the media and art-related organizations. Art galleries, the frontier of such urban regenerations, seem to face severe challenges due to rapid commercialization and succeeding high rents. As a result, small galleries have no choice of being priced out or being transformed into multi-consumption spaces such as cafés or art craft shops. The Metropolitan Seoul government s attempts to develop art galleries, restaurants, cafés and fashion shops in Samcheong-dong as main attractions to entertain various visitors from home and abroad are examined. Further, the ways in which the placeness and the image of Samcheong-dong are consumed by domestic and international tourists are considered. However, critical reflections of recent changes in Samcheong-dong reveal that the authenticity of cultural/touristic assets such as art galleries and Korean traditional houses called Hanok in Samcheongdong are deteriorating. Key Words: Cultural Consumption Space, Art Gallery, Urban Regeneration, Seoul, Tourism. Research Associate, Department of Geography Education, Institute of Education, University of London, h.kim@ioe.ac.uk 127
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