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Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street, Seoul is an exhibition of a taste of culture
and touch of high-end entertainment brought by foreign-educated local inhabitants
of Cheongdam-dong particularly during the 1990s. Since then the area began to
become more glamorous and glitzy with new cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops
specializing in the first-class lifestyle. The foreign brands, modern galleries,
fusion restaurants, and exotic cafes seemed to satisfy their cultural needs. Subsequently
it started catching the attention of Korea's top designers and eventually several
fashion elite in Korea made the move to Cheongdam-dong.
Visitors to Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street, Seoul frequently witness the rich stepping out of their sleek, foreign cars in their designer-clad suits and heels to shop away the afternoon in a glamorous brand-name boutique. Garments and accessories in the 'Fashion Street' stores on are unparallel to any other neighborhood. This Fashion Street has 50 shops for imported foreign name brands, local fashion designers' shops, and 30 galleries. The street is also called "Rodeo Street" or "Yuppie Street" since a lot of professionals in their 30's are major customers of the shops. The chief individuality of the populace of this area includes familiarity living abroad, economic richness, and a propensity to enjoy paintings and art products. This area was initially named Chungsutgol for there existed a clean pond during the Chosun Dynasty. At present, it is recognized as a housing area for the super rich, even though it was underdeveloped even 10 years ago. However, it can be felt that Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street, Seoul is made by the rich for the rich for the place has also been criticized many times because of its high prices for clothes and coffee which can be 3 or 4 times much as in other places. Another mockery is that this area has shaped an internal ring of high class that is alienated from outside.
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