Imagine a neighborhood in Seoul where metal workshops collide with colorful street art. It’s an unexpected fusion — industrial and artistic, raw yet creative — but somehow, it works.

Welcome to Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Just five minutes from Mullae Station’s exit 7, this neighborhood hums with energy. Spot a metal giraffe? You’re in the right place. Keep walking, and you’ll find a giant welded mask — an iconic sculpture representing Mullae’s ironworking legacy.

Old-school steel shops are crowded with indie art studios, trendy cafes, and restaurants. Sparks fly as craftsmen shape steel just steps from graffiti-covered walls and scattered metal sculptures.

Mullae is undeniably photogenic, but be mindful — many machinists work with their shop doors wide open, and taking photos of them can be considered a privacy infringement or at least a distraction. Signs around the area remind visitors to respect the workers’ space and avoid photographing them while they work.

Mullae wasn’t always like this. Once an industrial powerhouse, the area was known for its textile factories long before it became a creative hub.

Originally called Saok-dong until 1949, it was renamed Mullae-dong in 1952. The name’s origins remain a mystery, though some believe it’s linked to "mulle," the Korean word for a spinning wheel, symbolizing its textile-making past.

By the 1960s, Mullae had transformed as steel workshops relocated from Cheonggyecheon and set up shop here. By the 1970s, nearly 1,700 steel shops were operating in the district, earning it a reputation as a “place that can make anything.”

Then came the 1997 Asian financial crisis. As factories shut down and cheaper alternatives emerged in China, Mullae’s streets began to go quiet.

But the story didn’t end there.

In 2010, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture launched Seoul Art Space Mullae to support artists in the neighborhood. As skyrocketing rents pushed creatives out of areas like Hongdae, Mullae’s affordable, spacious workshops became an appealing alternative— plus, it was just an eight-minute subway ride from Hongdae's Hongik University Station.

Graffiti began appearing on warehouse walls. Sculptors and painters moved into old machine shops, and before long, the neighborhood was buzzing with new energy.

Word spread, drawing photographers and curious visitors. Coffee shops, bars, and restaurants followed.

Today, more than 300 artists work in nearly 100 studios in Mullae, while around 1,000 ironwork shops continue to operate, preserving the neighborhood’s blue-collar roots.

However, the area's industrial side has been shaken again by the influx of cafes and creatives.

In the past five years alone, more than 260 new cafes, restaurants, and bars have opened, pushing rents up. For many steelworkers, keeping their businesses afloat has become an uphill battle due to the increased costs

Now, Mullae’s future is more uncertain than ever.