Picture this Samgak-dong a legal dong in Seoul’s Jung District. It’s a neighbourhood administered by Myeong-dong. This unassuming area holds a secret. A glimpse into Seoul’s past is hidden within its very name. Samgak means triangle. The name reflects the area’s original shape a triangle formed by converging streets.
Imagine Samgak-dong before its modern buildings. Visualize a time when the Manchocheon stream flowed openly. This stream now mostly runs underground. It once ran parallel to Hangangdaero. The stream’s banks and perhaps even a train line were visible. Evidence of this can be found in historical photographs. These photos show a Samgakji intersection. This was back when its triangle shape was very clear.
One such photo shows Samgak-dong in the 1920s or 1910s. The photograph reveals undeveloped land beyond what is now Camp Kim. There were also tree-covered hills where buildings stand today. The image speaks to a time when Yongsan and central Seoul felt separate. This was even after Yongsan’s incorporation into the city. The lack of buildings in the distance compared to maps of the same time period suggests an earlier date for this photo. Perhaps it predates significant development of the area.
Today Samgak-dong is a bustling neighbourhood within a larger and more modern Seoul. It retains a unique identity however. The name Samgak-dong still speaks to its original triangular shape. It serves as a reminder of its historical context. The area’s past is less visible now. Yet clues from the past still remain. These clues can be found in old photographs and records. These clues remind us that even within a modern city there is a history to uncover. A history waiting to be rediscovered.