 
The close proximity of Itaewon to the 8th U.S. Army's Yongsan Garrison ensures
a steady stream of partiers. As many of the business owners can speak at least a limited
amount of English, many travelers and expatriates head here for a touch of home. Although
famous as a foreigner hang-out, more Koreans have started coming here with the lifting of
restrictions prohibiting businesses from operating past midnight.
The area has a vibrant night life. The area has recently become a special tourist zone, with
the government lifting the restriction that bars had to close at midnight (which most places
ignored anyway). The area is famous for its Western style pubs ans nightclubs, juice bars
(where men buy waitresses ridculously over-priced drinks), and the imfamous "Hooker
Hill." (For more on Korea's after hours scene, visit the
Night Life section.)
Origin of the Area Name for Itaewon
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Itaewon has had two different sets of
Chinese characters representing its name. One set used I (meaning different or foreign)
and T'ae (meaning pregnancy or conception). The other set used the characters for pear
(I) and big (Tae). When the Japanese army occupied Seoul during the 1592-98 Japanese
invasion, the head of Japanese army went to Unjong-sa temple in Whanghak-dong (the current
It'eawon area) where female monks were residing. They raped the female monks and burned the
temple when they left, leaving the female monks homeless. Several of the monks became pregnant
and built a tent house where gave birth to the children. People started to call the place
It'eawon, a place for foreign pregnancy. Years later, someone planted a pear tree on the
area and it grew very well. People then started calling the area It'eawon. meaning pear
and big place. This is the Chinese form used up to current times.
Directions: Subway line 6, Itaewon Station |
