Siheung Clear Water Imagination Center

At the far end of the Siheung Industrial Complex is the Siheung Water Environment Center, which manages local wastewater treatment. Facilities like these are typically destined to become abandoned industrial relics. Yet, Siheung City has transformed this site into a cultural complex called “Clear Water Imagination Center,” opening its doors to the public.

The highlight is the Vision Tower, a reinterpretation of a sludge digestion tank from the wastewater treatment process. With its soaring height, it now serves as a media art exhibition hall creating a surreal atmosphere where dazzling artworks that empower the space invite visitors to new worlds. Other attractions include the Creativity Center—an interactive exhibition space where visitors can learn about wastewater treatment—and “be, fore,” a venue for art and culture created by connecting the concentration and distribution tanks to host exhibitions and performances.

What sets this space apart is that it is not a fully decommissioned facility. Instead, parts of the still-operational wastewater treatment plant are being reused, layering new memories over old ones and creating new values.

• Address 14 Gongdan 2-daero, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Phone +82-31-310-2993

Ulsan Fe01

In Ulsan, Korea’s leading industrial city, stands Fe01. If you recognized “Fe” as the chemical symbol for iron, you’ve already guessed its identity. This vast upcycling cultural complex—the world’s largest of its kind—showcases junk art made from discarded cars, motorcycle parts, and other industrial scraps, opening the door to an imaginative new universe.

The moment they step inside, visitors are awestruck by intricate sculptures that seem ready to spring to life. The exhibition hall modeled after the Star Wars spaceship “Falcon” is especially impressive. The permanent exhibition “Extension of Origin” features over 1,000 upcycled sculptures by installation artist Hoochul Kim. The exhibition features five themes: Robot Series, Extension of Origin, Imaginary Zoo, Jurassic Park, and Movie Series. The whimsical character “Ruttatta,” a curious space traveler, serves as a guide into the artist’s world.

On the rooftop, a café offers panoramic views of Fe01. As you take in this world built entirely from discarded resources, you are naturally reminded of the value of regeneration.

• Address 160 Yongyeon-gil, Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
• Phone +82-52-237-0102

Seoul Mullae Art Village

After a five-minute walk from Exit 7 of Mullae Station in Seoul, visitors are greeted by striking sculptures made of scrap metal. Mullae-dong was once a bustling hub of ironworks where the clanging sounds of metal cutting filled the air through the 1970s as machine parts were produced daily. Today, the once-industrial neighborhood has been transformed into Mullae Art Village, a creative enclave where art blends with history. Workshops, galleries, artworks, and retro-style shops now line the streets once crowded with factories.

As you stroll through the alleys, you’ll find colorful murals and tin artworks hidden like treasures waiting to be discovered. Trendy shops also attract younger crowds with their unique charm.

One highlight is the Sulsul Center, a fusion cultural space that “welds” together technology and art. It serves as a hub for collaboration and exchange between artists and technicians, and visitors are welcome to stop by and join the conversations.

• Address 13-8 Dorim-ro 128ga-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Busan Kkangkkangi Art Village

Across from Jagalchi Market where Yeongdo Bridge and Namhang Bridge meet, the quay is filled with ships. Though it may look like a harbor, this area is actually home to more than a dozen ship repair yards.

Daepyeong-dong holds historic significance as the site of Korea’s first modern shipyard. The nickname “Kkangkkangi Village” comes from the metallic kkang-kkang sound of hammers striking ships’ surfaces to remove rust, old paint, and marine debris such as seashells. In 2016, through a cultural & artistic urban regeneration project, it was reborn as Kkangkkangi Art Village, opening new channels of communication with the public.

Every weekend, the village offers tour programs three times a day. The Kkangkkangi Marine Tour takes visitors by cruise ship around Busan’s Namhang Port and the Daepyeong-dong repair yards, while the Village Tour lets you explore on foot with a local guide who shares hidden stories of the art village. Even without joining a program, you can stroll down the vibrant Colorful Street lined with dazzling murals and capture unforgettable moments in photos. As you walk, pause to recall that this is still a ship repair hub. You’ll sense the fiery energy of a space reignited after having remained dormant for a while.

• Address 36 Daepyeongbuk-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
• Phone +82-507-1488-3337