If you like places with tonnes to explore sans the the crowd, you may like to consider including Heyri Art Village in your to-do list the next time you are in Seoul. Located just an hour away from Seoul, the creative community has found a sanctuary in Paju. Modelled to be a space for creativity, Heyri Art Village was constructed with the intention to house galleries, museums and quirky cafes.
Be inspired as you take a day trip to Heyri Art Village (the entire area is accessible by foot), and immerse yourself in the creative architecture and tranquil surroundings that it has to offer. There was hardly any people (to point where it felt like a deserted town) when we visited the place on a weekday, except for a few school groups who were there on their field trips. The Heyri Art Village provides a slow-paced alternative to Seoul and it is great to explore the Village at your own pace. You really feel like you have the whole space to yourself!
1. Take Cool Shots at Gardenus (가드너스)
Gardenus Cafe caught our eyes with its brightly coloured cushion seats as soon as we arrived in the Heyri Art Village. Featuring modern architecture and fun seats in the outdoor central plaza area, it is the perfect spot to have your afternoon coffee while attempting creative shots with your friends.
Gardenus 가드너스
Address: 1652-116, Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Website: 가드너스.com
2. Admire Cool Architecture
If design is your passion, you will be thrilled. Home to artists, photographers, writers and designers, the Heyri Art Village has a collection of stunning galleries and well-designed buildings with gorgeous facades. Perhaps due to the abundant land space, the buildings are not just aesthetically beautiful but they are mega in size as well. It is nice to take a walk and check out the eclectic architecture and design the artistic enclave has to offer.
3. Cafe Hop your day away
Cafes are plentiful in the Heyri Art Village and it is definitely a good idea to try some of them out while you are there. Even the interiors of the cafes are interesting - a mesh of modern, industrial and gothic all in a single setting. We refueled midday with a good cup of latte, pistachio croissant and injeolmi bun (korean mochi with red beans filling) and made the most of our caffeine rush to explore the rest of the Village.
4. Get Arty at White Block Art Center (아트센터 화이트블럭)
One of the larger outposts in the Heyri Art Village, the Art Centre is a museum complex featuring crafts, workshops, bookshops and cafes.
With a chic minimalistic interior and floor to ceiling glass panels allowing amazing lighting, photos taken at any angle inside will most likely turn out perfect. Appreciate unique handicrafts or take a quiet moment and sit on the wide steps while gazing at the pretty nature outside through the large windows.
Well-known as the ultimate filming site for K-drama land, you may recognize the space being featured in popular dramas such as: Why Secretary Kim/What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (김비서가 왜 그럴까), While You Were Sleeping (당신이 잠든 사이에), Legend of the Blue Sea (푸른 바다의 전설) and many others.
White Block Art Center 아트센터 화이트블럭
Address: 72 Heyrimaeul-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Website: https://whiteblock.org/
5. Visit Hangil Book Museum (한길책박물관)
We chanced upon the Book Museum unexpectedly by peering into the glass windows out of curiosity, which were hidden behind by the surrounding greenery. The shelves lined with books all the way to the ceiling is a sight to behold and the museum boasts an impressive collection of books which cannot be found in other parts of Korea. Take your time to browse through the books and be sure to snap a few photos of yourself against the stunning backdrop.
Hangil Book Museum 한길책박물관
Address: Tanhyeon-myeon, Heyri Maeul-gil 59-6, Paju-si
Website: http://hangilbookmuseum.or.kr
6. Get Lost
Love lush tropical grounds and getting lost in nature? You are in luck because at the Heyri Art Village, amidst all the artistic building, there are also plenty of opportunities to embrace and explore nature at its fullest. Blow on a wild dandelion, walk under the helix bridge, take a stroll along the streams, see a field of wild reeds. It is perfect to take in the serene tranquility of the 'wilderness'.
7. Interesting Photo Spots
Snap away and put your camera to good use at the Heyri Art Village. Spot the Little Prince right on the top of a deserted building, attempt climbing up chairs meant for giants, pretend to take a ride in wooden cars, sit on flights of graffiti steps and of course take a shot of the iconic blue man.
While Paju is well known for the Provenance Village (프로방스마을), a southern French culture town with beautiful pastel-like buildings and its Premium Outlets, the Heyri Art Village is worth making a trip down to. Lauded as a hotspot of design and culture, it is rare to find a small city with so much creative potential.
Heyri Art Village 헤이리 예술마을
Directions: Take the Seoul subway to Hapjeong Station (Line 2, Exit 2). Then, take bus number 2200 (runs every 15 minutes, station is immediately outside exit 1) to Heyri Art Village.
Paju, South Korea