#10 Pimatgol on DiscoveringKorea.com

Pimatgol (피맛골), which literally means "avoid horse alley," is a 600-year-old side alley located parallel to downtown Seoul's busy Jongno thoroughfare. At a time when working people were forced to stop and prostrate themselves on sight of an artistocrat (yangban) traveling between ancient Seoul's palaces, Pimatgol was created to help regular people avoid the inconvenience. Over the years, hundreds of small restaurants and bars sprang up in kind. But after several decades of decline, much of Pimatgol is being torn down in the name of "urban renewal."

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Pimatgol
• South Korea
• Seoul
• historic neighborhoods
• Joseon Dynasty
• avoid horse alley
• Jongno
• tiny alley

[Peter0262]

I haven't been to Seoul for a few years. It sickens me to know that I will never again see one of my favorite parts of the city.

[barcher]

What a shame. Mayor Oh and the KNTO just don't get it. People don't want to go to Korea to gawk at cement and steel.