A Warm Future for Hambak Village
In Hambak Village, people from various walks of
life gather and create their unique stories every day. Though they may not only be stories of
Hambak Village, this village is truly special with residents hailing from 14 different countries.
Living together with different languages, appearances, and cultures has been challenging
for everyone in the village, but its residents are overcoming this problem with understanding and
consideration. Mutual understanding between neighbors leads to compassion for one another, which soon blossoms into shared smiles of happiness. We captured some of these village residents' 'Hambak' smiles.
Hearts of Understanding Filling the Streets
Hambak Village has around 10,000 residents in 3,700 households. About 4,600 of them are Koryo-saram and foreigners. As about half of the total population is immigrants, the village’s unique exterior immediately stands out. Signboards with foreign letters are lined up throughout the streets, full of various languages and exotic music. As the village embraces such diverse backgrounds, residents have experienced both trivial and serious problems. Cultural differences were difficult to overcome, and language barriers made it frustrating for the residents to communicate. Dark alleyways with inadequate security were another problem. However, just like words that change meaning with a single stroke, the residents could easily improve their attitudes towards one another through a little effort. Our differences may create barriers between us, but recognizing and understanding those differences gives them a whole new charm. By appreciating their differences, the residents began to transform their village into a melting pot of diversity. Beautiful murals began to bloom on the old walls, and streetlights illuminated the alleys. Signs in different languages began to show off the residents' personalities. All the streets of the village became brighter and cleaner. It's not just the appearance that has changed; the residents have also begun exchanges to better understand each other.
A Village Bursting with Hearts of Compassion
The residents of Hambak Village began to propose a path for living together. They thought that a genuine
neighborhood requires sufficient understanding and consideration for one another. To create a space where everyone can share authentic smiles, they started making changes in Hambak Village from September this year. Residents often gathered to talk about the development of the village and share common stories. Neighbors explored the village together to make a village map and shared traditional foods of their home countries. In the corners of alleys, children laughed with delight while playing traditional Korean games. Hence, the residents have kept their nostalgic memories while sharing new experiences with neighbors in their new home. Their efforts have recently been rewarded with good news: the Urban Regeneration New Deal project, a national project, selected Hambak Village as one target site. This project plans to introduce the World Food Culture Street, the History and Culture Plaza of Koryo-saram, and the World Cultural Product Center to this village. These new attractions will add vitality to the unique charm of Hambak Village. The day where the residents' beautiful miracles will lead to a genuine neighborhood is not far off.