Korea Through Photographs
Korea, back then
Discover the streets, neighborhoods, and everyday lives preserved in old photographs.
Photo collections
Explore Korea through photographs
Browse regional photo collections and stories of everyday culture.
Seoul National University, days gone by
One hundred photographs from 1988 to 2009 show student life and the grounds of SNU's Gwanak Campus, the streets near Nakseongdae and Seoul Nat’l Univ. stations, and Sillim's exam district.
OpenChangwon, Masan and Jinhae: streets and working lives
Changdong and Burim Market, Jinhae Station and Changwon Plaza, factories and rural homes. Explore Changwon, Masan and Jinhae in 100 photographs from 1952 to 2009.
OpenHongdae: from streets to stages
Hongik University, the streets of 1990s Hongdae, Drug and Baljeonso, Club Day and the Free Market: 100 images of the neighborhood and its music culture.
OpenSinchon and Ewha: streets of youth
Students at campus noticeboards, clothes shops outside Ewha, Doksuri Dabang and Sinchon station. Explore everyday life around Sinchon, Yonsei and Ewha through 100 photographs from 1945 to 2010.
OpenSokcho, days gone by
Fish markets and ferries, Abai Village lanes and trips to Seoraksan. Everyday life in a coastal city through 100 photographs from 1940 to 2011.
OpenBucheon, days gone by
Yellow station taxis, classroom lunches, comics festivals and changing neighborhoods. Everyday Bucheon in 100 photographs from 1979 to 2012.
OpenGaya, through the lanes of Busan
From Gaya-ro and Gaegeum Market to Danggam workplaces and Anchang lanes. Neighborhood history through homes, roads and people.
OpenSuwon & Gwanggyo, back then
From the old Suwon Station to market lanes, classrooms and the villages of Gwanggyo: 100 photographs of everyday places.
OpenGangnam, the streets where we met
From New York Bakery to underground shops and night lanes. Explore 100 scenes through clothes, signs, buses and footsteps.
OpenAnyang and Sanbon, from lanes to new towns
Station buses, market carts, moving trucks and playgrounds. Follow everyday life in Anyang and Sanbon through 100 photographs from 1958 to 2011.
OpenBundang, a new town becomes a neighborhood
From the first streets of Sunae, Seohyeon and Jeongja to NAVER’s offices and riverside towers. Bundang’s past and present in 100 photographs.
OpenBusan, neighborhoods by the sea
Namcheon and Samik Beach, Daeyeon’s campuses, Yongho, Gwangalli and Suyeong. Discover changing everyday life beside the sea, from 1951 to 2015.
OpenJamsil, a city growing together
Apartments and trains, the Olympics and baseball, Lotte World and the Han River. Everyday memories of Jamsil from 1975 to 2009.
OpenYangjae & Gaepo, places of everyday life
Homes beside fields, paths through flowers, play between apartment blocks and walks by the water. Follow everyday life in Yangjae, Gaepo and the Yangjaecheon corridor in 100 photographs.
OpenBanpo, a place built by lives
From Jugong homes and local shops to Firstige and One Bailey. Read a changing neighborhood through its homes, streets and people.
OpenBack then, in Nampo-dong
Meet outside Mihwadang, walk past the cinemas, then head to Jagalchi. Revisit Busan's streets and people, starting in the 1980s and 1990s.
OpenJongno, where we used to meet
From Jonggak to Dansungsa, Tower Records to Pimatgol. Walk through 100 photographs and rediscover time spent in Jongno.
OpenGeumcheon-gu & Guro-gu: 100 old photos
Low rooftops, narrow alleys, old buses and familiar shops. Walk through everyday Geumcheon and Guro from the 1960s to the 2000s.
OpenHow we spent time together
From coffeehouse meetups to PC rooms and today's shared interests. Follow Korean student life from the 1970s to the 2020s through real photographs and records.
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