Music To Your Ears
In a country known for K-pop, a classical music cafe might be the last place one would expect to find in Korea. Yet, Camerata Music Space is one of the more popular venues in Heyri, and it doesn’t take long to understand why.
Simply pay the entrance fee, which covers a beverage and a pastry, and prepare yourself to be hypnotized by the likes of Strauss and Mozart.
An airy, vast seating area bedecked with enormous speakers instantly transports guests to an acoustic paradise void of the worries and dilemmas of reality. A DJ even takes requests from customers, and ensures that the playlist is just as pacifying as Camarata’s atmosphere.
For a more hands on experience, the Museum of Musical Instruments of the World contains a rather expansive collection of both antique and modern musical artifacts from just about every corner of the globe, and is one of the few museums of its kind in all of Korea.
Each instrument on display, from the charango, a guitar made with an armadillo shell, to the African djembe drums, has a rather interesting story, and visitors are encouraged to try them out.
Sweet Design
It wouldn’t be a visit to Heyri without making a stop in one of the many galleries (most of which charge a minimal entrance fee), so pop into Gallery White Block across the street, and have a look around. The interior of the modern, three-story building is essentially, as its name suggests, a block with white walls, high ceilings and a lot of light.
Gallery White Block features an airy cafe on the first floor, as most galleries in the village do, with a view of the Heyri pond. The contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptures displayed throughout the museum’s six exhibition halls promise to be a highlight of your trip.
Another spot in the vicinity worth mentioning is the Chocolate Design Gallery, which isn’t a gallery at all, but has a great exterior that resembles a giant chocolate bar. Come here for deliciously rich hot chocolate, which varies in cacao content up to 85 percent. You can also add a shot of bourbon to your choco, which is especially satisfying in the winter, when chocolate sculptures are on display.
Rumi Cake, just down the road, serves up tasty tarts, cakes and pies, and offers a nice selection of unique beverages. Try the ginger latte, a spicy-sweet treat and a great afternoon pick-me-up before exploring the remainder of the village.
If you’re not yet in a sugar coma, prepare yourself for K-drama filming locales, adorable characters and a museum where you experience what Korea was like in the 1970s. Find them all in Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village, Part 3.
And, in case you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1 here to find out how to get to Heyri, as well as some of the area’s other fun attractions.
To Get There: 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. (Tip: Grab a spot on the left side of the bus for better views of the DMZ.)
Guide Map (Includes locations in entire Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village series)
Words by Mimsie Ladner of Seoul Searching. Content may not be reproduced unless authorized.
