Gangnam-gu Tourism Guidebook 'LIVE Gangnam' Published

Publication of a Tourism Guidebook Experiencing the Stories, Lifestyles, and Culture of People Living Throughout Gangnam

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) published a tourism guidebook titled ‘LIVE Gangnam’ on the 6th, commemorating the launch of the 8th local government administration. The book captures the everyday charm unique to Gangnam, selected by people living in Gangnam.

‘LIVE Gangnam’ is the second tourism guidebook following last year’s ‘It’s Gangnam.’ While ‘It’s Gangnam’ featured hot spots from the traveler’s perspective, ‘LIVE Gangnam’ was created with the concept of everyday travel, offering a deeper look into the inner life of Gangnam through the eyes of its residents.

The book is divided into two chapters.

The first chapter, ‘Reading Gangnam,’ consists of ▲Digilog Gangnam ▲Gangnam People’s Gangnam ▲T.O.P Gangnam. ▲‘Digilog Gangnam’ views Gangnam’s characteristics as the coexistence of ‘rapid change and the value of the old,’ like the portmanteau of digital and analog, ‘digilog.’ It introduces Gangnam’s charm as a mecca of the 5th industry including fashion beyond the 4th industrial revolution, while also coexisting with historical sites such as Dosan Park and Bongeunsa Temple. ▲‘Gangnam People’s Gangnam’ introduces hidden charms of Gangnam through interviews with ten people including the director of the SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation, employees of neighborhood bookstores, and young entrepreneurs at Teheran-ro’s Tipstown, representing Gangnam’s workers and natives. ▲‘T.O.P Gangnam,’ an acronym for Test Bed, Open, Play, tells the story of Gangnam as a cutting-edge city serving as a ‘test bed’ for various industries, where diverse personalities and senses gather and there are abundant things to enjoy.

The second chapter, ‘Curating Gangnam,’ introduces Gangnam’s hot spots that can be naturally enjoyed in daily life under four themes: art, space (architecture), brands, and taste. It features famous galleries such as Koenig Seoul and Tang Contemporary Art, artistic buildings awarded at the ‘Beautiful Architecture Exhibition,’ flagship stores and brand experience spaces of leading brands. Lastly, it showcases various restaurants by theme, including Michelin-starred restaurants, dessert roads, lunch spots for office workers, world cuisines, and vegan dishes.

‘LIVE Gangnam’ is produced in two versions, Korean and English, and will be available at the district office, community service centers, major tourist information centers, and hotels. It can also be viewed as an e-BOOK on the Gangnam-gu website, with downloadable PDF files provided.

The district operates a specialized SNS promotional channel for Gangnam tourism information called ‘VISIT GANGNAM.’ Through its website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, it provides tourism information to tourists worldwide. In particular, Instagram operates multilingual channels including English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “I hope tourists can enjoy Gangnam in a new way through this travel book that experiences Gangnam’s lifestyle and culture,” adding, “We will continue to discover tourism content that captures Gangnam’s hidden charms.”