By Yoon Sojung
Photo = Jeon Han
March 24, 2017 | Seoul

Nagwon (낙원, 樂園) means "paradise" in Korean.
Likewise, the Nagwon Instrument Arcade in Jongno-gu District, Seoul, is a paradise for music and musical instruments.

There you can find all kinds of musical instruments, ranging from violins, violas and other musical instruments for an orchestra, through to rock band sound effect equipment; for musicians of all ages, from elementary schoolers through to master musicians.

Located between Insa-dong and Unhyeongung Palace, the Nagwon Instrument Arcade was a landmark in Seoul, as it was the first residential and commercial complex ever built in Korea, built in 1969.

It was in the 1980s when it began to transform itself into the musical instrument mall we know today. Thanks to a boom in the popularity of acoustic guitars among youth in the 1970s, and people’s passion for music, the number of musical instrument shops exploded in the arcade, along with shop owners and their musical expertise.



Hanyang Music was one of the early comers when it first opened in 1976. In its early years, the shop dealt with musical instruments and sound effect machines as well. Since the 1990s, the shop began to repair stringed instruments.

Choi began to run the shop in 2001, taking after his father. He said, “You can find all kinds of musical instruments, for all people, from children to orchestra musicians,” highlighting the charm of the multi-stories mall.

After spending seven years in the U.K. to become a master violin repairer, Choi came back to his father's shop.

“Some of my clients used to be my father’s clients. They first visited here when they were young students. Many of them came back here to buy musical instruments for their kids, and they recognize me,” said Choi, expressing his confidence in and the strength of the shop.

“They're more like family rather than just clients” said Choi.



“Many parents visit here to help with the musical education of their children,” said Choi, emphasizing another charm of the arcade.

“In the past, people considered a musical education to be an elite benefit, only to train master musicians. Today, however, it has changed. Many regard a musical education as an education for everyone to enjoy with comfort. Thanks to such beliefs, you can find many musical instruments at affordable prices, which attracts more visitors these days,” he said.

arete@korea.kr