[Report] It Was an 'Celebrity Apartment'... 50 Years Later, "Knock Knock," Who Lives There Now? (Comprehensive)

'2nd Sibeom Apartment' of the 1970s, Admired Residence Visited by PDs, Senior Officials, and Celebrities
Disaster-Risk Grade D Facility, Scheduled for Remodeling, An Era's Icon Fades into History
Only 55 of 353 Households Occupied... Remodeling Underway with Young Artists' Rentals

'Do Not Hang Laundry' is a sign installed on the exterior railing of an apartment building as residents have been hanging their laundry there. The letters painted in white stand out. Photo by Joohee Kang, Intern kjh818@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon, Heo Mi-dam, intern Kang Joo-hee] "It really feels just like the apartment in the movie."

On the 26th, the Asia Economy press team encountered the first impression of the Second Prototype Apartment located in Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, which was just like the scenes from the movies.

This apartment has appeared in films such as , , , and the variety show . The lead actress Lee Young-ae in even lived in this apartment as her character's residence.

The bleak exterior of the apartment combined with the silent atmosphere made it a perfect match for thriller movie settings. The gloomy apartment in the films still shows peeling paint, cracks, and rust in various places, catching the eyes of passersby nearby.

With its 1970s architectural style featuring red bricks and closely packed windows, it somewhat resembles a 'chicken coop.' However, the closer you get, the more you realize it is an eco-friendly apartment coexisting with nature, nestled in the auspicious foothills of Namsan.

Known for its unique atmosphere on Instagram among people in their 20s and 30s, and recognized by those in their 40s and 50s as a scene from Korea’s rapid growth era, the Second Prototype Apartment celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The 2nd Pilot Apartment located in Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Built in the 1970s, this apartment reflects the architectural style of that era. Photo by Joohee Kang, intern reporter kjh818@asiae.co.kr

At the time of construction, this apartment was clearly a coveted place. It was the first in Korea to adopt central heating and had 10 floors, which was considered high-rise back then, making it very popular.

While typical apartments at the time were 9 to 10 pyeong with shared restrooms, this apartment had 16.38 pyeong (actual area 11.5 pyeong) with private bathrooms, classifying it as a fairly upscale apartment.

Additionally, the outdoor space within the complex served as a communal area for fermenting sauces in jangdokdae (traditional Korean earthenware pots) and also functioned as a playground for children, making it popular among residents.

Originally built on public land for demolition victims as part of unauthorized building regulation, the high housing prices ironically prevented those demolition victims from comfortably moving in.

Despite its popularity, residents included merchants from the nearby Namdaemun Market, Central Intelligence Agency staff, police officers, broadcasting PDs, and celebrities such as the Eunbangul Sisters. The singer Yoon Soo-il, who starred in the 1989 chart-topping song "Apartment," also lived here.

Half a century later, in May 2020, the Prototype Apartment lost its former glory but retained its 1970s appearance, earning nicknames like the mecca for thriller movie filming and a popular spot on social media platforms like Instagram.

At around 11 a.m. on the 26th, a view of the apartment corridor. It is known that some outsiders who are not residents are surprised when they face this corridor. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@asiae.co.kr

According to the apartment manager, only 55 out of the total 353 households currently reside here, with 298 units vacant. With so few people, the apartment atmosphere is inevitably quiet.

Even during the day, the dim corridors and gloomy ambiance persist, but residents do not pay much attention to it.

Housewife A (83) said, "This apartment has always been a bit dark, located on a hill, and with few people around, it gives off an unpleasant feeling. Our unit is on the 4th floor, but since the surrounding rooms are all empty, it can be a bit scary at night," but added, "It seems to appear a lot in crime movies, but since it’s just movies, I don’t really worry about it."

She continued, "I’ve lived here for about 15 years, and nothing bad like crimes or accidents has actually happened. However, I do feel that passersby tend to avoid it because it’s an old and gloomy apartment."

Stairs located on the side of the apartment. Situated on the mountainside, the stairs are steep in height. Photo by Joohee Kang, Intern Reporter kjh818@asiae.co.kr

Jin Mo (51), who has worked as an apartment accounting staff for over six years, said, "This apartment is often used as a filming location for crime-themed movies. I think it’s because of its gloomy atmosphere," but added, "In the past, filming was mostly done in stylish places, but nowadays, some people are more attracted to old and worn places."

He further explained, "Recently, when filming crews come here, they sometimes say the apartment is 'beautiful.' For example, some find the peeling paint stylish," and added, "Some even deliberately go up to the rooftop to take photos."

He added, "While others might think this apartment looks dangerous, the Seoul city officials come regularly to carry out repairs and inspections."

Unfortunately, this apartment was designated as a disaster-risk facility with a D grade on November 19, 2004. Essentially slated for demolition, the apartment has since undergone compensation negotiations between the city and residents, but recently the plan shifted from demolition to remodeling.

Although it is a 10-story apartment building, there is no elevator. Instead, sky bridges have been installed at two locations in the apartment complex, allowing direct access to the 6th and 7th floors. Photo by Joohee Kang, Intern Reporter kjh818@asiae.co.kr

Another unique feature of this apartment is that despite being 10 stories tall, it has no elevator. Instead, two sky bridges connect the buildings, allowing direct access to the 6th and 7th floors.

Using the sky bridges, one can move between the 1st and 4th floors through the 1st-floor entrance, and between the 5th and 10th floors via the 6th-floor sky bridge.

Even without elevators inside, residents do not express inconvenience. Yoon Mo (72), met near the apartment, said, "It’s inconvenient without an elevator, but since it never had one, we just live with it," and added, "(Because people walk around) it’s relatively quiet."

So why is it called the 'Second Prototype Apartment'? On April 8, 1970, the 'Wow Citizen Apartment' collapsed in the early morning, causing a tragedy. Afterward, the then-mayor said, "From now on, all apartments should be built sturdily using this place as a prototype," which is where the apartment’s name originated.

A residents-only playground in front of the apartment. Due to neglect, the grass is overgrown. Additionally, the swings are rusted in many places, indicating that foot traffic has long since ceased. Photo by Joohee Kang, Intern Reporter kjh818@asiae.co.kr

Another unmissable space in this apartment is the playground. Having stood in the same spot for half a century, the playground exudes a unique, dreamlike atmosphere.

A man in his 30s who happened to witness the playground said, "At first, I thought I was in a different place," and added, "The playground is rusty and poorly maintained, but nowadays, that itself is quite popular." He further said, "Because of this atmosphere, photographers often visit, making it a popular spot."

A university student in his mid-20s said, "I once visited here with friends for a photo shoot, and the unique atmosphere left a lasting impression."

While some corridors have shadows, others are well-lit. You can see an entrance door made of long wooden panels stretching on both sides. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, according to Seoul City and Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation, the apartment is set to write a new chapter as an 'Art Village' with about 253 households, approximately 100 fewer than currently. The space freed by reducing the number of units will be used for workshops and studios for young artists.

The corporation is promoting regenerative remodeling to preserve the apartment’s historical value. They plan to rent 200 units to young artists living in one- or two-person households. Existing residents can continue living there. The 253 residential units will maintain the current exclusive area of 38㎡ (about 11 pyeong) with a layout of a living room, two bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom.