Cheongdam-dong

Cheongdam-dong
Korean name
Hangul	청담동
Hanja	淸潭洞
Revised Romanization	Cheongdam-dong
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'ŏngtam-tong
Statistics
Area	2.33 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population (2001)	34,262 [1]
Population density	14,705/km2 (38,085.8/sq mi)

Cheongdam-dong is a ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea.^[1][2] It is referred to as "Fashion and Art Street" of Gangnam which has 50 shops for imported foreign brands, local fashion designers' shops, and 30 galleries near the upscale Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong-dong towards Cheongdam Park. The street is also called "Rodeo Street" (a reference to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California) or "Yuppie Street" since a lot of professionals who are in their 30's are major customers of the shops which sell expensive clothes.

The major characteristics of the population of this area include experience living abroad, financial affluence, and a tendency to enjoy paintings and art products. This area was originally named Chungsutgol for a clean pond that existed here during the Joseon Dynasty. Currently, it is known as a residential area for the super rich (including major Korean celebrities such as actors and K-pop artists), even though it was underdeveloped even 10 years ago. During that time, poor galleries moved to this area and formed the existing gallery street.

The reason that this region became known as "Yuppie Street" has to do with Apgujeong Culture. Many children of rich parents studied abroad during their 20's. They returned to Korea and began work as high wage earning professionals (or stayed unemployeed and just spent their family's money). They migrated to Cheongdam-gong because of the galleries and first class fashion shops. The foreign brands, modern galleries, fusion restaurants, and exotic cafes seemed to satisfy their cultural needs.

However, Cheongdam-dong is also criticized for its high prices for clothes and coffee which can be 3 or 4 times as much as in other places. This region has created an inner circle for the upper class that is separated from outside.

Cheongdam-dong is home to Dosan Park.

See also

• Dosan Park
• Apgujeong-dong
• Dong of Gangnam-gu

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "청담동 (Cheongdam-dong 淸潭洞)" (in Korean). Doosan encyclopedia. http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=732238&contentno=732238. Retrieved 2008-04-14. 
2. ^ "The origin of the names: Samseong-dong" (in Korean). Gangnam-gu official site. http://tour.gangnam.go.kr/main_history/history10_04.html. Retrieved 2008-04-14. 

External links

• Cheongdam-dong at Life in Korea
• Cheongdam-dong at Gangnam-gu Official site