Gongneung-dong, where Nowon has fun

Sick of a long commute out to Hongdae, Itaewon or Gangnam?

Are you coming down from the northern parts of the city?

You might not have to make a long trip in search of social activities after all, as Gongneung-dong transforms into a hotspot in Seoul's northeastern corner.

Located in Nowon District, this low-rise neighborhood is pushed up against the edge of the city, stretching from Jungnang Stream to up the slope of Mount Buram.

Gongneung-dong gets its name from the royal tombs in the area, but the area is not nearly as quiet as a tomb.

Housing three universities, a military academy, a training complex for Korean Olympians and two UNESCO-listed royal tombs that give the neighborhood its name, the area has had a reputation for being low-key and suburban, yet also well-connected and not overly quiet.

Its local businesses are frequently overrun with university students.

Gongneung-dong Dokkaebi Market in the area bustles with pedestrians, comparable to some of Seoul's better preserved traditional markets, like Mangwon Market.

Three Seoul Metro stations fall within its boundaries: Gongneung