Modern Market Place

Modern Market Place opened shop in a small hanok (traditional Korean house) where Na Seong-suk the lacquer-master once lived. It’s now a space where handicrafts made by craftsmen all over the country as well as other artists’ works are exhibited and sold. In the small, endearing C-shaped home, every nook and cranny is crammed full of tidy items borne from the loving hands of artists and craftsmen. In a space that looks very lived-in, it’s even more alluring that everything seems to have been placed exactly where it belongs. Hansan moshi (fine ramie textiles from the Hansan region) by artist Kim Gang-ryul, sseulteori (small handmade brushes) by master craftsman Lee Dong-gyun, mamiche (traditional tea-straining frames) by artist Paik Kyung-hyun, ceramic pottery, traditional brass spoon sets, and small rice bowls are all on sale. The vibe is similar to Mulnamu studios or Mulnamu dabang. The three spaces seem conjoined into one. This is why stepping into this area gives you a whiff of time travel, all the way back to 1900’s Seoul.