The urban hanok is a so-called 'Jipjangsajib', which has the characteristics of a traditional hanok but was modified to fit the urban environment, and was much loved by the people of the time.
Most of the hanoks remaining in Seochon today are urban hanoks built at that time.
Considering that the quaint scenery of Seochon, which we love, is due to urban hanoks, it is possible that the majority of today's ordinary hanoks will also one day be re-evaluated.

--- p.89

I climbed up the old concrete stairs and onto ‘Kim Soo-geun’s Aerial Street.’
The rough and rugged landscape of the Seun Shopping Mall area stretched out endlessly.
It was surprising that such a ridiculous building had been built in such a place, and it was also surprising that anyone thought of completely turning this ridiculous place upside down.
The future of Seoul is one that is difficult to grasp.
I just timidly believe it.
Even though it may be a bit bumpy at a micro level, and there may be ups and downs, ultimately, we are moving in the right direction, towards a city that is a better place to live… … .

--- p.127

After liberation and the war, the most important value was survival.
I had to climb the stairs to get to a rickety shack where I could rest my weary body.
As living standards have improved, the quality of living environment has become an important value.
A flower bed was created in the middle of the stairs and trees were planted.
And today, as consideration and concern for the socially disadvantaged have become important values, inclined elevators have been installed on the stairs.
Standing before the 108 Heavenly Stairs, which were created by the values ​​of an era that were not so easy, I feel a sense of solemnity.
Fortunately, as time passes, the stairs seem to be gradually imbued with human value.
It remains to be seen what values ​​will change this staircase in the future.

--- p.151

Leaving Haebangchon, we look back at the Haebangchon hills from Noksapyeong-daero.
It is harmonious as if it were one giant building, and at the same time, it has an organic shape like a living organism.
In each and every wrinkle of that gigantic creature, the lives of countless people who passed through Haebangchon are meticulously recorded and stored, like the grooves of a record.
Some neighborhoods are on different paths of destiny: some are undergoing urban regeneration, while others are undergoing large-scale redevelopment.
Perhaps in less than ten years, some of my sketches will be so recognizable that it will be hard to even guess which neighborhood they are from.

--- p.161

If buildings have personalities, then the personality of the St. Joseph Apartment would be humility.
The virtue of humility is also found on the plane.
The apartments are also curved in the same way as the gently curving road to the south.
You might ask what's so great about a building following the shape of the land, but if you remember that modern apartment buildings built on slopes sit proudly on land that flattens the land and straightens the curved roads, you'll agree with me.

--- p.175

It is not easy to see the full face of a building from a narrow alley.
On the other hand, on curved and sloping roads, it is relatively easy to see the faces of buildings that are revealed at different angles.
Just as face-to-face conversations become more intimate, the more visible the facade of a building is, the more interesting it becomes to walk and focus on the space itself.
This may be why my steps on the Hwanilgil Road become more serious, unlike on other transit roads where I pass through in a hurry.
In the city, I want to walk a little more seriously.

--- p.193

Walking through the cherry blossom garden in full bloom in April feels like a reward for the long journey of suffering and adversity on the Yongsan Line.
When we look at the background and process that led to the creation of such a beautiful cherry blossom road in the middle of the city, it is nothing short of an irony of history.
In this way, the traces of imperialism imposed by Japan are being corrected little by little by the people of the Republic of Korea, even if it is a tumultuous process.
So, even amidst the dazzling bloom of cherry blossoms, even amidst the lively atmosphere of the bars and cafes lining the forest path, it is crucial to reflect on the history contained in this empty space.
Even the little things in daily life are not something that can be obtained for free.

--- p.246

Today, as I climbed up to the Wau Bridge again, the long green forest stretching on both sides of the bridge felt unfamiliar.
Not only the disappeared railroad tracks, but also the buildings that once turned their backs on the railroad tracks now show off their unique exteriors and interiors facing the park as if nothing had ever happened, giving off a sense of distance.
At the same time, I am amazed at how this place could become such a comfortable space and such a vibrant place.
Looking back, we can see once again that the empty spaces (voids) of the city can only shine brightly when they are filled with people.

--- p.251

The urban hanoks of Sinchon were nothing more than relics of the past that should be demolished as soon as possible, and nothing more than a bunch of rascals wasting precious land.
Eventually, most of the many urban hanoks were demolished, and now only a very small number remain.
If we look only at the trends of the past decade or so, when countless people flocked to Insa-dong, Samcheong-dong, Bukchon, Seochon, and Ikseon-dong, where urban hanoks are relatively well-preserved, it can be said that Sinchon has lost the opportunity to be re-evaluated as a commercial district with a vibrant local character.
Thinking about it differently, it also means that from the beginning, Sinchon was planned as a site of a fiercely capitalist market economy where there was no room for things like non-material values ​​or leisure.

--- p.258

What would have happened if the Wawoo Apartments hadn't collapsed? Perhaps hilly areas like Haebangchon and Ahyeon-dong would have been densely packed with apartments for citizens, or perhaps other urban eyesores, even surpassing the Seun Shopping Center and Cheonggye Elevated Expressway, would have stood like monuments throughout Seoul.
Or, they could have just demolished all of this before Mayor Kim's term even ended and continued another construction myth.
It will undoubtedly look quite different from Seoul today, and urban scholars and architects will undoubtedly have more homework to do.

--- p.286

Why do architects, when discussing Seogyo 365, focus so much on the concept of memory?
Perhaps it is because of something that remains between the surfaces and cracks of concrete, steel, glass, and wood, even after all three elements of architecture—function, structure, and beauty—have been removed from this dilapidated group of buildings.
And it can be compressed into the concept of time, which encompasses everything from personal episodes to social, collective events and history.
Memory is like a medium that connects the abstract idea of ​​time to the concrete and material architecture.
Although there is another irony that the artists and architects who saved Seogyo 365 were forced to leave the building because of the murderous rent, Seogyo 365 has been embodied in material form until that time.
I want to watch for a long time to see how long this collection of memories will last in Hongdae.

--- p.297~298

The history of Seoul Thermal Power Plant is closely related to the history of the neighborhoods we visited earlier.
The power plant, which was first built during the Japanese colonial period, came into our hands after liberation.
As we went through the development period, we expanded the power plant without much thought in the location designated by the Japanese, but soon realized that it was not a suitable location for the new era of Seoul.
In the 2000s, the city of Seoul began to worry about how to deal with the power plant.
While the city was debating the redevelopment method, real estate prices rose and gentrification occurred.
In any case, it was decided that the power plant would coexist with Seoul City.
I look forward to it cautiously.
I hope that the new chapter of history that will be written at the Seoul Thermal Power Plant will become a milestone that will suggest a long-term future for the neighborhoods surrounding the power plant and, by extension, for Seoul.

--- p.311

In today's world, with so many interesting and captivating things to do, it's easy to overlook the history of your city or neighborhood.
In times like this, I recommend just walking.
A relatively light and easy way to start a city walk will help you develop a love and interest in a place, and that love will extend to its history.
By learning about the history of a place in this way, things previously invisible will become visible, and such experiences will broaden the horizons of one's personal geography.

--- p.320~321