Gamcheon Culture Village

Bl00dnFl4mes · CC BY-SA 4.0

Stepped houses painted in every colour on a hillside, once a refugee settlement, now an art village.

After the Korean War, refugees packed houses onto this slope, roof stacked above roof in terraces. In 2009 a community art project repainted the whole village and invited artists to move in; today the narrow lanes are full of murals, small sculptures and cafés looking down the valley. The Little Prince statue on the railing draws the longest photo queue. Residents still live here, which is why signs asking for quiet hang everywhere.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Gamcheon Culture Village?

Year-round

How long do you need at Gamcheon Culture Village?

2–3 hours

What are the opening hours of Gamcheon Culture Village?

The village is open all day; the information centre and Haneulmaru viewpoint run 09:00–16:00

Did you know

Formed in the 1950s by refugees from the war.
Regenerated as an art village from 2009.
The houses are painted from a coordinated palette so they read as one composition from afar.
A stamp map is sold at the entrance for finding the art installations.

Travel tips

Take a minibus from Toseong station (Line 1) to the top and walk down.
The lanes are narrow and steep — shoes with grip help.
Afternoon light brings out the colours best.

Source: https://www.gamcheon.or.kr/

Updated: 2026-08-04