Imagine a squatter fighting eviction in the area we now know as Sanggye 2-dong. Sanggye 2-dong, a neighborhood in Nowon District, Seoul, has a past. This district wasn’t always the residential area it is today.
Let’s step back in time. The 1960s saw the rise of Sanggye-dong. Squatters established themselves here. By the 1980s, the neighborhood had grown. Around 1,000 squatter households and 600 tenants called it home.
Then, in 1985, everything changed. Sanggye-dong was declared a redevelopment zone. Most residents left. Some resisted. They were forcibly evicted. Imagine the upheaval.
Today, Sanggye 2-dong is part of a larger story. It’s a piece of Sanggye-dong. Sanggye-dong’s total area is 15.68 square kilometers. In 2001, its population was 261,479. The population density was 17,000 per square kilometer.
Nearby, you can spot East Buram Apartments. These buildings are in Nowon-gu district. Hikers enjoy Buram mountain to the east.
Sanggye Station is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 4. It is named after the upper valley of Suraksan mountain. The station opened on April 20, 1985. In 2012, the daily passenger count on Line 4 was 44,024. The local name of the subway station comes from a nearby river.
Sanggye 2-dong has transformed. From a squatter settlement to a redeveloped neighborhood, it carries the echoes of its past. Next time you pass through, remember the stories beneath your feet. Remember the struggles and the changes that have shaped this place.