Chuncheon Myeong-dong Dakgalbi Alley, Born from Chicken Bulgogi in the 1960s

How 1960s Dak Bulgogi Became the Joyang-dong Alley of the 1970s

The starting point of Chuncheon dakgalbi is believed to have been dak bulgogi restaurants in the back alleys behind Jungang-ro in Chuncheon in the early 1960s. At the time, seasoned chicken was prepared like pork ribs and grilled over a wire grate and briquette fire. Its relatively low price helped it spread as an affordable drinking accompaniment for ordinary people.

After the Myeongdong shantytown disappeared in 1961, more restaurants of the same type opened, and in the 1970s today's Myeongdong Dakgalbi Alley was formed in Joyang-dong. The method of stir-frying chicken, cabbage, sweet potatoes, rice cakes, and other ingredients on a hot plate became widely established in the mid-1970s, in line with the demand for group dining among university students and soldiers.

Choosing Between Hot-Plate and Charcoal Dakgalbi at 4 Geumgang-ro 62beon-gil

The address is 4 Geumgang-ro 62beon-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State, and the coordinates are 37.879622, 127.728090. The alley has both hot-plate dakgalbi and charcoal-grilled dakgalbi, and some establishments also sell Chuncheon makguksu.

Hot-plate dakgalbi consists of stir-frying seasoned chicken and vegetables on a large hot plate on the table, and many diners order fried rice topped with seaweed flakes and sesame oil after the meal. Charcoal dakgalbi is made by grilling seasoned or marinated chicken on a wire grate, so its texture and cooking time differ from those of the brothy hot-plate stir-fry.

• Hot-plate dakgalbi: Suitable when you want a meal with vegetables and rice cakes stir-fried together.
• Charcoal dakgalbi: A good choice if you prefer a smoky flavor and grilled-style dish.
• Makguksu: A good accompaniment when you want to reduce the spiciness or share dishes among several people.

The Alley Has No Set Opening Hours, Which Vary by Restaurant

Chuncheon Dakgalbi Alley is a street made up of several privately operated restaurants, so there are no unified operating hours, common closing days, or representative telephone number for the entire alley. Operating hours therefore vary by restaurant, and before visiting, you should check whether your chosen establishment is open that day by phone, through its official channel, or on its reservation page.

There is no admission fee to walk through the alley, and no separate reservation is required. However, meal costs vary by establishment, menu, and number of servings, and waiting times at lunchtime and dinnertime on weekends may also differ by restaurant. Chuncheon tourism information is provided through Chuncheon Travel ON, while general municipal and tourism inquiries can be made at the Chuncheon City Civil Complaint Call Center at 033-250-3114 on weekdays from 08:30 to 18:30.

Getting from Chuncheon Station to the Myeongdong Commercial District

The alley is located within Myeongdong Street, Chuncheon's central commercial district, and is close to the area where the Gangwon State Government Office, Chuncheon City Hall, and the banking district are concentrated. A practical option is to take a city bus or taxi from Chuncheon Station to central Myeongdong, then head toward Geumgang-ro 62beon-gil.

A nearby bus stop is Bank of Korea (1088), toward Chuncheon City Hall; according to Chuncheon City Hall information, buses 3-S, 7-S, 10-1, 12, and 12-S stop there. However, bus routes and service intervals may change, so it is best to check the latest route map on the Chuncheon City Transportation Portal immediately before departure.

• Walking route: Myeongdong Street, Dakgalbi Alley, Yukrim Gogae, and Chuncheon Central Market are connected to one another.
• Taxi destination: Specify “Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Alley” or “4 Geumgang-ro 62beon-gil.”
• International visitors: Regular foreign-language or wheelchair information for the alley itself has not been confirmed, so it is advisable to ask individual establishments about seating and menu-language support.

For Parking in Myeongdong's Shopping District, Check Public Parking Fees and Availability

Parking conditions differ by restaurant within the alley, and no shared parking facility or unified parking fee has been confirmed. If you are arriving by car, it is best to ask about dedicated parking availability and any free parking period when making a restaurant reservation or calling ahead.

The underground parking lot at Chuncheon City Hall is listed as operating from 07:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, and notices state that it is free on weekends and public holidays. However, it is not a dedicated facility for Dakgalbi Alley and requires walking. Chuncheon Urban Corporation also notes that public and season-pass parking lots may be difficult to use when full, so alternative parking should be considered during meal times.

One to Two Hours Linking Central Market and Yukrim Gogae After Dakgalbi

A meal alone usually takes about one hour, but the total stay, including ordering, cooking, and fried rice, may be longer depending on the restaurant's wait and the menu. Dakgalbi Alley is close to Chuncheon Central Market, and Myeongdong Street and Yukrim Gogae are also connected, making it easy to create a walking route through the commercial district after dining.

Central Market is close to Dakgalbi Alley, making it convenient to combine the meal with browsing the market, while Yukrim Gogae is an alley commercial district extending from Myeongdong. Soyanggang Skywalk is described as approximately 1.6 km from the alley, so it can be combined with a riverside route by taxi or bus after the meal.

Myeongdong Expanded into an International Tourist Destination After Winter Sonata in the 2000s

Chuncheon's tourism portal explains that Chuncheon Myeongdong attracted attention as a filming location for the drama Winter Sonata in the early 2000s, helping Dakgalbi Alley grow into an international tourist destination. This is the background to its becoming part of the Myeongdong shopping district and tourist routes rather than merely a cluster of restaurants.

In April 2024, Chuncheon City announced a landscape-lighting ceremony for two sections of Myeongdong Street and Dakgalbi Alley, and also mentioned a commercial-district event called “Kkokko Day,” held on the 22nd of each month. If your visit falls on the 22nd, check the participating establishments and event details in advance.