Seoul Jongno Stir-fried Octopus Alley

Seoul Jongno Stir-fried Octopus Alley refers to the area extending from the Mugyo-dong intersection near Cheonggyecheon Plaza to Jongno-gu Office. Its origin dates back to the 1960s when an octopus alley formed in Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu. In the past, journalists, civil servants, and other office workers who worked near Cheonggyecheon frequently visited this alley to eat spicy stir-fried octopus along with refreshing clam soup, relieving their life's sorrows and stress while igniting youthful passion, making it known as a street of romance and memories.

It is also called Mugyo-dong Octopus Alley. Due to several urban redevelopment projects from the 1970s to the 1990s, the commercial district moved from Seorin-dong to various administrative dongs such as Mugyo-dong, Da-dong, Pimat-gol area, and Jongno 1-ga, with Mugyo-dong being the most widely known name at the time. Despite multiple relocations, the shops that have preserved the taste of spicy stir-fried octopus and refreshing soup for over 50 years moved into the newly built Gwanghwamun Le Meilleur Building or relocated nearby after redevelopment. Although the appearance of the octopus alley from that era has disappeared over time, it has spread diversely throughout the Jongno area, continuing to offer delicious stir-fried octopus dishes and building a loyal customer base. The plump and chewy octopus draws people's footsteps.