Daehak-ro is known as the ‘Street of Theater’ and the ‘Street of Performing Arts.’
There are over 150 theaters. In various alleyways, performances such as plays, musicals, and music are held in a variety of venues. Countless actors have grown and developed here. Daehak-ro’s Location on Google Maps
The mural village, with its unique and charming atmosphere, fascinating artworks at every corner, and beautiful hill landscapes offering panoramic views of the city, is also a popular attraction in the area. Ihwa Mural Village Location
D.FESTA Street Performance Festival © d-festa
Access by subway
Line 4 Hyehwa station or Line 1 Jongno 5(o)-ga Station
Origin of the Area
Daehak-ro means the road where the university is located.
Around 100 years ago, Gyeongseong Imperial University was established on both sides of this road. After the liberation, it was renamed Seoul National University, and the area became dominated by university culture. From this time, people began calling it Daehak-ro.
In 1975, Seoul National University moved all its colleges, except for the College of Medicine, to the Sillim-dong area in Gwanak-gu, and the following year, Marronnier Park was created on the site where the university’s main office, College of Humanities, and College of Law had been. Around this park, red brick buildings started to appear, and one of these buildings, Munye Theater (current Arko Arts Theater), opened in 1981, laying the foundation for this area to become the center of Korean theater. During the 1980s, Samtoh Parangsae Theater and Marronnier Theater opened, and around ten small theaters, including Batanggol Theater, Dongsoong Art Center, Yeonwoo Theater, and Daehak-ro Theater, which had been clustered around the Sinchon university area, moved here to avoid high rent. Not only theaters, but also major cultural and arts organizations like the ARTS COUNCIL KOREA and The Korea Theatre Association established their bases here, and the area rapidly emerged as a new cultural hub. Meanwhile, as regulations on the establishment and operation of small theaters in Seoul were relaxed, numerous small theaters opened in this area, along with theater troupe offices and various cultural facilities. The most important identity of Daehak-ro, as a “theater neighborhood,” was thus formed.
In 1985, the government officially adopted the name “Dongsoong-dong Daehak-ro.” When the Seoul city government officially began using the name Daehak-ro in 1985, their vision was to develop the area into an international cultural tourist destination, much like Paris’s Montmartre, Tokyo’s Harajuku, or London’s Piccadilly Circus, which were famous for their contributions to modern art, fashion, and entertainment. While the city did not achieve its goal, it ultimately contributed to making Daehak-ro a landmark for performing arts. In 2004, Daehak-ro was designated as Seoul’s second “Cultural District,” following Insadong.
Tips for tourists
After a performance, to accommodate the crowds spilling out into the streets, various coffee shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues have developed. You might think of Daehak-ro when looking for creative plays and musicals, street performances, non-verbal performances, traditional Korean performances, vibrant streets, and either Korean or global cuisine.
Every spring, the D.FESTA Street Performance Festival is held, with performances planned specifically for foreign tourists.
As shown on the map below, Daehak-ro is divided into four main areas. Most of the theaters are concentrated in area ①. Between the theaters, there are popular attractions such as restaurants, cafes, an indoor archery range, and cooking experience playgrounds.
Many people, after watching the performances, move to area ③ to talk about their impressions while having a meal or a cup of tea. Franchise stores line the streets in this area. Compared to area ①, this area has more stores where you can meet friends, chat, and enjoy delicious food.
Area ② has cute cafes and eateries targeting the emotional tastes of the MZ generation. The street is lined with pine trees, so it is also called the Pine Tree Road and is a pleasant place to walk.
Area ④, located along the road heading to Sungkyunkwan University, has small shops on both sides, mostly used by Sungkyunkwan University students.
Daehak-ro’s major theaters
- SFAC Daehak-ro Center (formerly Dongsoong Art Center) theater QUAD: Location, Web site
- Arko Arts Theater: Location, Web site
- Arko Arts Center: Location, Web site
- Parangsae Theater (formerly Samtoh Parangsae Theater): Location
- Dongduk Women’s University Performing Arts Center: Location
- Hongik Art Center: Location, Web site
- Daehak-ro JAUTHEATER: Location
Ihwa Mural Village
Be sure to visit the mural village, where you can enjoy the fun of discovering murals painted on the walls between the alleyways as you go up. As you climb the village stairs, you’ll be treated to a beautiful panoramic view of Seoul when you look back. However, please be mindful that with the increase in tourists visiting this quiet village, issues such as noise and littering have become more frequent. Your understanding and consideration would be greatly appreciated.