Seorae Village
Seorae Village (Korean: 서래마을), sometimes nicknamed "Montmartre", due to its hilltop location, or sometimes "French Village", is a small, affluent French ethnic enclave in Banpo-dong & Bangbae-dong, Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea. It is home to about 560 French people, roughly 40% of the French community in South Korea. Most of them are employees of French corporations doing business in the country. The majority (370) of the French population are children.
Seorae Village | |
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Korean transcription(s) | |
• Hangul | 서래마을 |
• Hanja | 西來 |
• Revised Romanization | Seorae Ma-eul |
• McCune–Reischauer | Sŏrae Maŭl |
Seorae Village | |
Seorae Village Seorae Village | |
Coordinates: 37°29′48″N 126°59′53″E | |
Country | South Korea |
City | Seoul |
District | Seocho |
The village began to form there in 1985, with the movement of Lycée Français de Séoul to the area. The school, one of the city's French international school, had formerly been located just north of the Han River in Hannam-dong, a large international neighborhood. French people with children followed, as did bakeries and wine shops.
The village is the site of a 20,000 m2 park, "Montmartre Park", which is often the site of public events for foreigners. It is near Express Bus Terminal Station on Seoul Subway Line 3.
The area has a large concentration of European-style restaurants and dessert cafes, as well as wineries and cafes stand along its main street.