Welcome to Every Three PM

Category: Design & Culture

  • Seoul, A Walk Through Art Vol.2: The Creative Corners of Itaewon

    Seoul, A Walk Through Art Vol.2: The Creative Corners of Itaewon

    Itaewon is known for its food and shopping, but it’s also one of Seoul’s most inspiring neighborhoods for gallery hopping. Stretching from Hannam-dong to Itaewon, this area is perfect for a slow, thoughtful art walk.
    Here are six carefully selected galleries (plus one special archive space) that are well worth adding to your itinerary. Exhibition schedules may change, but each space is worth visiting for its atmosphere alone.

    Leeum Museum of Art

    Leeum Museum of Art is a landmark cultural destination in the Itaewon–Hannam area. The museum presents an impressive balance of Korean traditional art, modern works, and global contemporary art.

    Designed by world-renowned architects such as Tadao Ando and Jean Nouvel, the building itself feels like a work of art. Even without entering an exhibition, simply walking through the space is a rewarding experience. It’s an ideal starting point for an Itaewon gallery tour.

    Recommended for

    First-time gallery hoppers in Itaewon
    Those who want to enjoy both art and architecture

    https://www.leeumhoam.org/leeum

    Albus Gallery

    Albus Gallery presents exhibitions that gently explore contemporary visual culture with a warm, human sensibility. The space feels calm and intimate, allowing small, personal stories to surface naturally.

    There is a distinct warmth and quiet wit in the curatorial approach, and from the moment you step inside, the gallery feels genuinely welcoming. For anyone visiting Itaewon, it’s highly recommended to check Albus Gallery’s exhibition schedule in advance.

    Recommended for

    Those who appreciate small, thoughtful exhibitions with a human touch
    Visitors who enjoy a calm, welcoming atmosphere over spectacle
    Anyone looking for a quiet, meaningful stop while exploring Itaewon

    https://albusgallery.com

    Esther Schipper, Seoul

    Powdered pigment, animal skin glue and water on unbleached cotton

    The Seoul outpost of the Berlin-based gallery Esther Schipper brings internationally recognized contemporary artists to the local scene. It’s a rare chance to experience global contemporary art in depth without leaving the city.

    With its minimalist interior and highly polished exhibitions, the gallery leaves a particularly refined and lasting impression. As you move upward along the narrow staircase filled with natural light, the outside world gradually fades away, allowing you to become fully absorbed in the works on view.

    Recommended for

    Those interested in global contemporary art
    Visitors who value strong, thoughtful curation

    https://www.estherschipper.com

    Working With Friend

    Working With Friend operates more like a project space than a traditional gallery. Art, design, and brand collaborations intersect here in flexible and experimental ways.

    Each exhibition feels different, and the space constantly evolves, making every visit feel fresh and unexpected. The vivid works bring a lively, youthful energy to the space, inviting visitors to enjoy art in a relaxed and social way. True to its name, it’s a place where you can take in the exhibition with friends and then unwind at the café on the ground floor, easing into a slower moment before moving on.

    Recommended for

    Those interested in the intersection of art and lifestyle
    Visitors who enjoy experimental exhibition formats

    https://wwf.kr

    FOUNDRY SEOUL

    FOUNDRY SEOUL connects contemporary art with collector culture, showcasing works across painting, sculpture, and installation. The exhibitions are well-balanced and thoughtfully arranged.

    With its relatively spacious layout and comfortable flow, it’s an excellent place to take your time and view artworks at a relaxed pace.

    Recommended for

    Visitors interested in collectible contemporary art
    Those who appreciate polished exhibition design

    https://foundryseoul.net

    FEZH

    FEZH is a unique space where fashion, art, and street culture come together. Breaking away from the conventions of traditional galleries, it embraces a freer, more experimental approach to exhibitions and events.

    Among Itaewon’s many creative spaces, FEZH best captures the area’s vibrant, edgy aesthetic and subcultural spirit.

    Recommended for

    Fans of bold, character-driven spaces
    Anyone who enjoys art as part of a broader cultural experience

    https://www.instagram.com/fezh.hannam/?hl=en

    While most of the places on this list focus on visual art, not every stop needs to be a gallery. Once you’ve had enough visual stimulation, it can be refreshing to pause and enjoy sound instead — spending a quiet moment with records and turntables before continuing your walk.

    Hyundai Card Music Library

    Hyundai Card Music Library is a carefully curated archive dedicated entirely to music. From vinyl records to rare albums and reference materials, the collection spans a wide range of genres and eras.

    Rather than a space for exhibitions, it’s designed for slow listening and quiet exploration. The atmosphere is calm and focused, making it one of the best places in Itaewon to step away from the crowds and immerse yourself in sound.

    Recommended for

    Music lovers who enjoy discovering new sounds at their own pace
    Anyone looking for a quiet, reflective space in Itaewon

    https://dive.hyundaicard.com/web/musiclibrary/spaceMain.hdc

    Itaewon’s charm can’t be defined by a single word. Walking through its galleries at an unhurried pace reveals why this neighborhood continues to hold such strong creative energy within Seoul.

    Always check official websites or social media for exhibition schedules and closing days before visiting.

    You Might Also Like “The art walk through Seoul continues. If you’re curious about exploring more galleries across the city, check out our [Previous Post: Seoul, A Walk Through Art: 10 Charming Galleries & Museums] for more inspiration. ➔ ➔

  • The Last Jesa Table: Closing My Family’s Chapter

    The Last Jesa Table: Closing My Family’s Chapter

    The Fading Tradition

    It feels like this tradition is disappearing with my generation. My parents might be the last generation to perform ‘Jesa’ (제사), the Korean Confucian ceremony of worshipping ancestors.

    In my family, we held rites for ancestors up to my great-grandparents, so we had ‘Jesa’ several times a year. Since my father is the eldest son (Jangnam), these rituals always took place at our house.

    As a child, I simply loved those days. All my cousins would gather, we didn’t have to do homework, and we played late into the night. It was just a fun party for us kids.

    The Weight of Mother’s Labor

    But the moment I discovered my mother’s toil, those days became a burden on my heart. Aside from the meaning of honoring ancestors, for the descendants living in reality—especially the women—it was a negative experience. How can I evaluate tradition? I can’t. But I certainly have the right to evaluate my mother’s hard work. Here is why.

    The food preparation begins a week in advance. There are mandatory menu items that must be on the table: Beef soup, rice, dried croaker (Gulbi), skewered meat (Sanjeok), three-color seasoned vegetables (Namul), various pancakes (Jeon), and Bindaetteok. Sometimes, we added special foods the ancestors preferred when they were alive.

    My mother never did anything carelessly. She trimmed, cooked, and prepared everything with her whole heart, which required an immense amount of time and effort. On top of that, during major holidays like Seollal(Lunar New Year) and Chuseok, the same table setting and rituals (called Charye) were required.

    The table was recently reduced to half its size, but every dish still demands time, care, and devotion.

    The Ritual: Hunger and Strict Rules

    Jesa was always held at night. We had to skip dinner before the ritual, so we started the ceremony clutching our hungry stomachs.

    The table setting begins with reverence and caution. Food is placed on a low, wide table according to strict rules like “Hong-Dong-Baek-Seo” (Red foods on the East, White on the West) and “Eo-Dong-Yuk-Seo” (Fish on the East, Meat on the West). The tops of the fruits are cut off to make it easier for the ancestors to eat. We light incense and candles to signal our location to the spirits.

    Once the table is set, the ceremony begins. We rotate the alcohol cup over the incense smoke and place it near the rice bowl. It’s as if the deceased ancestors are sitting right there. We treat them with the utmost politeness using two hands. Then, the men stand in a line facing the table and bow. Not once, but twice.

    Amidst rising wisps of incense smoke in a reverence-filled space, offering a deeply devoted bow in honor of ancestors.

    The Aftermath: Blessings and Dirty Dishes

    When my father, the eldest son, finally says, “It’s over,” it becomes dining time for the descendants. The food offered on the ritual table becomes our late dinner. The ceremony always ended late at night.

    And then, the reality hits. Did we truly accumulate ancestral blessings as high as that stack of dirty dishes?

    On holidays like Seollal, this ceremony happens in the morning. The ancestors eat first, and then the descendants eat.

    My Own Way of Remembering

    To be honest, holding rites for ancestors I had never even met didn’t really touch my heart.

    With the rise of nuclear families and growing individualism, the rigid and burdensome formalities of these rituals are naturally fading away. While the situation varies from family to family, the tradition of strict ancestral rites is gradually disappearing.

    Even if these traditions eventually disappear, I would still set the table with all my sincerity whenever I want to remember my loved ones. It would be a personal ritual featuring their favorite foods—a quiet, meaningful way to meet them again with my heart.

    , , ,

  • Just a ‘Dog Dream’? Why Tigers Rule the Korean Dream World

    Just a ‘Dog Dream’? Why Tigers Rule the Korean Dream World

    Yesterday, I had the weirdest dream.

    I was walking in my neighborhood, and I met the usual stray dogs. But something was different. They were all wearing sleek, high-tech AI translators around their necks. And they were talking to me—complaining about the weather and asking for snacks in perfect human language. If I told this to a Western friend, they would laugh and say, “Lay off the sci-fi movies before bed.” But as a Korean, I hesitated for a split second: “Wait… is this a sign?”

    The President and the Ginkgo Tree

    Why do I hesitate? Because in my life, I have experienced a dream that actually came true.

    Years ago, I dreamed I was standing under a beautiful, golden Ginkgo tree. Next to me was someone who was running for President at the time. Together, we were peacefully picking up ginkgo nuts from the ground.

    It felt incredibly real. And guess what? They actually won the election and became the President later that year. Because of experiences like this, for Koreans, dreams aren’t just mental noise or anxiety processing. They are often treated as unread text messages from the future.

    Teeth vs. Tigers: The Cultural Divide

    When Westerners wake up with a strange dream, they usually consult a “Dream Dictionary” on Google to analyze their stress. Common search terms include “Teeth falling out” or “Being chased.” The focus is usually internal anxiety: “What is my subconscious telling me about my feelings?”

    In Korea, we look outward to Fate. And the most famous example of this is a unique tradition called “Taemong” (Conception Dreams).

    Jennie’s Tiger: A Prophecy of a Queen

    In the West, pregnancy dreams are often just seen as the mother’s subconscious. But in Korea, a Taemong is a destiny forecast.

    Take Jennie from BLACKPINK. Before she was born, her mother didn’t dream of a cute little bird. She dreamed of a massive tiger. It wasn’t scary; it was majestic and dignified, with sparkling, intense eyes.

    In Korean interpretation, a tiger symbolizes a person of great influence and charisma. Looking at Jennie now—dominating global stages with her fierce aura—it feels less like a coincidence and more like a prophecy.

    Watch: Jennie shares her personal birth story ➔ ➔

    Wait, You Can Buy and Sell Dreams?

    Here is the plot twist: The mother isn’t always the one who has the Taemong.

    In Korea, pregnancy dreams are a communal event. Often, a grandmother or a best friend wakes up and says, “I dreamed of a giant peach! I think you are pregnant.”

    This leads to a fun tradition called “Buying the Dream” (Maemong). If your friend has a lucky dream for you, you have to “buy” it (usually with a coin or a nice lunch) to make the luck yours. It’s a charming ritual that turns a subconscious experience into a shared celebration.

    So, What About My “AI Dog” Dream?

    Now, back to my talking dogs. Was it a prophecy like my President dream?

    Sadly, probably not. In Korean, we have a funny word for messy, meaningless dreams: “Gae-kkum” (개꿈). Literally translated, it means “Dog Dream.”

    So, my dream about dogs was, quite literally, a Dog Dream. Just nonsense!

    But that’s the fun of it. We wake up wondering, “Is this a Dog Dream or a Tiger Dream?” and start our day with a little bit of mystery.

    I hope you sleep well tonight. And if you dream of a pig or a dragon, don’t forget to tell me—I might want to buy that dream from you!

    Do you dream in black-and-white or Technicolor? Discover what your visual style says about you in my post: [The Overwhelming Color Dream] ➔ ➔

    Are you still guessing their conversation with just your imagination? Decode the reality behind their look in my post: [Is It a Treat or True Love? The Complex Read of a Dog’s ‘Hot Gaze’] ➔ ➔

    , , , ,

  • From Window Shopping to Art Hopping: How Seoul Turned Retail into a Gallery Experience

    From Window Shopping to Art Hopping: How Seoul Turned Retail into a Gallery Experience

    Meeting the Wizards of Display

    Before discussing the dynamic evolution of Seoul spatial branding, I must talk about where my inspiration began: London. When I first landed there, about 80% of the awe I felt came purely from its “exhibition spaces.” It felt as if every display guru on the planet had held a summit right there to define the future of retail.

    From galleries and museums to street-side shops, the way they interpreted space visually was different. It didn’t just “show” things; it whispered to you in a sophisticated, visual language.

    A theatrical window display at Selfridges, London. Where products become part of a story.

    London: The Theater of the Streets

    Maybe it’s because London is a city that breathes theater and musicals. The ground-floor windows of department stores weren’t just glass cases; they were stages.

    I developed a weekly ritual of patrolling the perimeters of Selfridges and Liberty. These windows weren’t simply displaying products; they were displaying a flow of concepts. Even the tiniest prop seemed to be chattering away, telling a rich story where the product was merely a supporting actor.

    I would zoom in to see the details, then step back to take in the whole scene—a ritual necessary to fully process the visual feast.

    “A luxurious cultural life that cost zero pennies, yet filled my soul with extravagance.”

    It wasn’t shopping. It was a street-side musical, an open-air gallery available to anyone. That depth of emotion and effort I witnessed in London became a huge source of inspiration for me.

    Seoul: When Stores Become Galleries

    That thirst for spatial aesthetics I felt in Europe is now being quenched in Seoul.

    Starting in trend-setting districts like Dosan Park, Seongsu-dong, and Hannam-dong, the shift has been undeniable. You know Korea—once we start something, we have a tendency to go from 0 to 100 in seconds. The change is fast, positive, and absolute.

    Walking into Seoul’s hottest shops lately feels less like a retail trip and more like a visit to a modern art museum. We’ve moved away from the old formula of “cramming in as many products as possible.” The “Show Window” is dead; long live the immersive “Show Room.” This dramatic shift is what currently defines Seoul spatial branding.

    The Gentle Monster Paradox

    Nuflaat leather gloves in a dish, a high-heel shaped dessert plate, and Tamburins PUPPY perfume line packaging.

    In this shifting landscape, the strategy of Gentle Monster offers a brilliant case study.

    Unlike fashion brands that flood the market with new SKUs every season, Gentle Monster sticks surprisingly close to their steady sellers. Instead of focusing on quantity, they obsess over quality.

    We are living in an era of product saturation, eco-anxiety, and consumption fatigue. Gentle Monster made a clever pivot here. They reduced the clutter of products and poured that energy into “Spatial Experience.”

    Their stores feature kinetic art so bizarre it’s mesmerizing, creating an overwhelming atmosphere that transcends the product itself.

    “We aren’t just selling eyewear; we are selling the Gentle Monster universe.”

    This investment elevates the brand’s perceived value. It turns customers into fans who buy into a philosophy, not just a pair of glasses. In a world drowning in “stuff,” this might be the most sophisticated survival strategy: creating value through experience, not just consumption.

    The New Grammar of Desire

    Brands are now curating, not cluttering. They tell detailed stories with fewer objects, seeking perfect harmony with the background.

    The irony? This minimalist, artistic approach triggers a stronger desire to possess. When products are arranged like an art installation, the synergy makes a single object scream “value.”

    “I don’t just want the item; I want to buy this entire vibe.”

    My observation that started with the windows of London has now evolved into a fascination with Seoul spatial branding. It’s a trend I’m more than happy to watch unfold.

    , , , , ,
  • Unique Korean First Birthday: 2 Modern DIY Favors to Thank Your Guests

    Unique Korean First Birthday: 2 Modern DIY Favors to Thank Your Guests

    In Korea, ‘Dol’ marks the most significant milestone: the very first birthday. As parents increasingly choose to self-curate these events with a pure ‘White Sketchbook’ concept, adding a personal touch becomes essential. To help you express gratitude to your guests, here are two minimalist ideas for DIY Dol party favors that are easy to make and perfectly match a modern black-and-white theme.

    For this special day, imagine a design concept reminiscent of a “Pure White Sketchbook”—reflecting the innocent, unwritten future of your child. The palette is simple: a chic base of black and white. By adding just one vibrant point color to this monochrome foundation, you can easily create a styling that is both modern and effortlessly stylish.

    The Scented Keepsake: DIY Clay Sachets

    Since Doljabi items vary depending on trends and preferences, crafting your own objects is a great alternative. In fact, creating DIY Dol party favors with clay is easier than you might think. By infusing fully dried clay pieces with perfume, you can produce a personalized sachet.

    Try using a soft baby powder fragrance to evoke the innocence of the occasion. These clay ornaments are simple to make and look elegant when simply packaged, serving as a lasting fragrant memory for your guests.

    The Perfect Favor: Doljabi Butter Cookies

    If you prefer something edible, cookies are a classic treat loved by everyone. Instead of standard shapes, try baking butter cookies in the shape of traditional Doljabi items—like a gavel, thread, or pencil. These handcrafted treats, packaged with sincerity, make for a truly unforgettable gift that tastes as sweet as the celebration.

    For the first birthday, we want to ensure our guests leave with their hands full of love. In Korea, preparing small return gifts is a polite and cherished custom. Hopefully, these DIY Dol party favors will make your celebration even more memorable and heartfelt.

    Read more : https://everythreepm.com/doljabi-korean-first-birthday/

    , , ,