In Mullae-dong, there are only two places you need to check out.

In Mullae-dong (문래동), there are two places you should pin down first: the 24-hour〈Photo Market (포토마켓)〉and〈ARCADE SEOUL〉, a cultural complex built in a former steelworks. Both are along Dorim-ro in Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포구), within easy walking distance of each other.

Mullae-dong flourished as an industrial district lined with steelworks. Cafés and galleries making use of the former factories and warehouses have emerged one after another, and people are now quietly starting to flow into the neighborhood. Even so, it still sees far fewer tourists than Seongsu (성수) and Myeong-dong (명동), and barely appears in Japanese guidebooks.

In other words, this is the perfect time for anyone looking for “the next Seongsu.” The area is small enough to explore on foot in half a day, so you can easily fit it into an afternoon itinerary.

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500 won per print. You never have to worry about the time at〈Photo Market〉

This is a place you can reliably work into even an unpredictable itinerary. It is open 24 hours with no regular closing days, so you can stop by even on a day when you arrive late at night or before heading out early in the morning. The address is 16, Dorim-ro 125-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu.

You’ll see photo spaces all over Korea, but this photo studio is somewhat unusual. Retro photo booths line the interior, which has the atmosphere of a traditional candy store. The reason they deliberately do not install the latest machines is apparently that they want visitors to experience the feeling of carefully taking and preserving each photo, as people did in the analog era. Film cameras are also sold in a vending machine.

The signature attraction is a receipt-style photo booth that uses thermal printing to take black-and-white photos, at 500 won per print. At just a few dozen yen, it’s an incredible bargain as a record of your trip. Drawings of cats by children are displayed on the glass.

Where the photo fees go is the shop’s most distinctive feature

The 500 won is donated to stray cats living in Mullae-dong. Around midnight, the cats gather in front of the shop looking for food. There aren’t many places where the act of taking a photo directly contributes to caring for the neighborhood.

Editor’s note: The cats gather around midnight. As foot traffic decreases in Mullae-dong at night, much like in a typical industrial district, it’s reassuring to decide on your mode of transportation in advance if you plan to visit around this time.

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Check the opening days of〈ARCADE SEOUL〉first

There is one thing you should do before visiting. It is open only while exhibitions or events are being held, so check the exhibition period on Instagram (@arcade.seoul) before heading there. If you skip this step, you may end up standing in front of a building with its doors closed.

This former ironworks, covering approximately 50 pyeong, has been transformed into a cultural complex. Curated by the young design team TTTC, it offers experimental exhibitions that make use of the space, along with performances, talk shows, and other diverse ways to experience contemporary Korean art. Galleries and art spaces are increasing in Mullae-dong, but if you want to discover cutting-edge artists, start here.

The building itself is also worth seeing. The first floor has ceilings reaching approximately 6 meters at their highest point, and a ramp leads to rooms and a terrace. On the second floor, the tree that stood at the former factory site has been preserved, creating a space where you can feel the changing seasons. At Seo Min-woo’s “Shells and Traces,” held in 2025, works resembling snake skin were exhibited. The address is 23 Dorim-ro 128-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu. ✨

Sort out the differences between the two places before you go

Category	Photomarket	ARCADE SEOUL
Type	Retro photo studio・photo booth	Cultural complex・exhibitions
Address	16 Dorim-ro 125-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu	23 Dorim-ro 128-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Hours	24 hours・open year-round	Only while exhibitions・events are being held
Cost	500 won per receipt photo	Varies by exhibition
Advance confirmation	Not required	Check the exhibition period on Instagram（@arcade.seoul）
Instagram	@photomarket_mullae	@arcade.seoul

The plan is simple. First check the exhibition period at ARCADE SEOUL, then visit Mullae-dong on a day when it is open. If your schedule only allows you to go during a closed period, you can still make a half-day itinerary with just Photomarket and a café tour. Reverse the order, and you may miss the exhibition you came all that way to see.

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Why Mullae-dong now?

Seongsu and Myeongdong are already “fully established as tourist destinations.” Mullae-dong, by contrast, is at a stage where new shops are scattered among the still-preserved alleys of metalworking factories. The scenery where old and new coexist is something you can only see during this period.

The reason a Japanese magazine featured the neighborhood after reporting from the area in 2026 is also because of the appeal of this transitional phase (Hanako Web “Two Must-Visit Spots in Mullae-dong, a Little-Known Former Factory District”). Being able to walk through a neighborhood before it is fully featured in guidebooks is a privilege for those who make the move now. 🐈

One point to keep in mind: this is still an active industrial area, so on weekdays during the day, you may hear work noises and see vehicles coming and going. Don’t get so absorbed in taking photos that you stand in the middle of an alley, and don’t point your lens at factories while they are operating. Follow these two rules, and you can enjoy walking around the neighborhood comfortably.

Conclusion

Mullae-dong can be explored in half a day centered around two places: <〈Photo Market〉 and 〈ARCADE SEOUL〉. Photo Market is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and costs 500 won per photo, with the proceeds donated to the neighborhood’s stray cats. ARCADE SEOUL is an exhibition space housed in a former metalworking factory of approximately 50 pyeong, and it is open only during exhibition periods.

There are just two things to do, in order. First, check the exhibition dates on Instagram and plan your schedule accordingly. If it is between exhibitions, switch to visiting photo booths and cafés. That alone is enough to make a full day out of exploring an industrial neighborhood that still sees relatively few tourists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where in Seoul is Mullae-dong located?

It is in Yeongdeungpo-gu, and both places introduced here are along Dorim-ro. Photo Market is at 16, Dorim-ro 125-gil, and ARCADE SEOUL is at 23, Dorim-ro 128-gil, making them within walking distance of each other. Entering “문래동” or “포토마켓” in Hangul into a map app makes them easier to find.

How much do the photos at Photo Market cost, and what time should I go?

The receipt-style photo booth, which uses heat detection to take black-and-white photos, costs 500 won per photo. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can visit at any time. Stray cats from Mullae-dong gather in front of the shop around midnight, so visit around then if you want to meet them.

Can I enter ARCADE SEOUL at any time?

No, it is open only during exhibition and event periods. Since it is not a facility that operates year-round, check the exhibition dates on Instagram (@arcade.seoul) before visiting. If you happen to visit during a closure, switching to a café-hopping route around Mullae-dong is the practical option.