HONG DAEDAL : THE IMPACT OF FREESTYLE CULTURE ON THE DISTRICT OF HONGDAE, SOUTH KOREA

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the “freestyle” way of life and artistic expression that is distinctive to the Hongdae district in South Korea, as well as the latent forces which play a part in shaping its present-day urban structure. While urban features such as shops, cafes, clubs and streets in Hongdae serve an economic imperative, they are also essential vectors of the creative arts and music culture that is unique to Hongdae.

An urban precinct is first established by its urban forms and spaces, i.e. edges and landmarks. However, the maturing of an urban precinct into a creative precinct is driven by forces that will inevitably mould the built environment into a form that is conducive to creative activity.

Whilst the urban form and space are essential raw ingredients for shaping an urban precinct (which serves as the nascent groundwork for the development of a creative precinct), culture serves as the latent driving force that will transform Hongdae into the creative precinct that it is today. Culture itself is defined and constituted by a variety of milieu (community, culture and human activities) exclusive to Hongdae and its locals. These factors (in addition to others) have cemented Hongdae’s reputation as a dense nexus of creative activity.

This begs the question: how has “freestyling” impacted the urban features of Hongdae over the years, and to what extent has this phenomenon pervaded itself in the consciousness of the residents and visitors to Hongdae?