Ssangmun-dong

Ssangmun-dong
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul쌍문동
 • Hanja雙門洞
 • Revised RomanizationSsangmun-dong
 • McCune–ReischauerSsangmun-dong
CountrySouth Korea
Area
 • Total2.81 km2 (1.08 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total84,893
 • Density30,000/km2 (78,000/sq mi)

Ssangmun-dong (Korean쌍문동) is a dong (neighborhood) of Dobong District, Seoul, South Korea.[1][2]

Name

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The name of the neighbourhood literally means two doors and originated from the fact the region used to have two yeolnyeomun—a special door awarded to a yeolnyeo (or "virtuous woman").[3]

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The location has been used in many South Korean shows because the area was once home to a lot of old buildings and alleyways, and is characterised as a place where rather impoverished people live. This makes it easier for writers to establish "rags to riches" stories and to communicate a sense of warmth to the audience and a place with nostalgic quality.[4] The location was popularized internationally by the 2015 Korean drama Reply 1988 and the 2021 Netflix hit series Squid Game.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b 동별 인구현황 (in Korean). Dobong District official site. Retrieved 2011-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Kim Il-woo (2007-10-13). "The origin of the dongs" (in Korean). Dobong District official site. Retrieved 2008-04-17.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ 쌍문동. Doosan Encyclopedia.
  4. ^ 둘리·덕선·기훈은 왜 하필 쌍문동에 살았을까. Hankook Ilbo. 2021-10-28.
  5. ^ a b c Kim, Soo (October 9, 2021). "5 Korean Elements of Netflix's 'Squid Game' That Got Lost in Translation". Newsweek.com.
  6. ^ "Dooly the Little Dinosaur - The Adventure of Ice Planet". HanCinema. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b [아무튼, 주말] 성기훈도, 덕선이도, 둘리도 여기서 살았다… 대중문화 聖地 된 쌍문동. The Chosun Ilbo. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ^ [이미애의 문화 담론] '레트로' 열풍. Yeongnam Ilbo. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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