The market runs Oct. 2–3, then weekends Oct. 10–25 along Salon Stream on Yangjaecheon-gil, featuring exhibitions, sales and events
Four themed weeks — garden, glocal, handcraft and startup — offer distinctive programming throughout the autumn run
This autumn, Yangjaecheon-gil will transform into a special cultural space blending craft, culture and hands-on experiences for Seoul residents.
Seocho-gu will host the 2026 Yangjae Art Salon Autumn Market along "Salon Stream" — the stretch of Yangjaecheon-gil running from the Yangjaecheon waterfront stage to Yeongdong 1 Bridge — on Oct. 2 and 3, then every weekend from Oct. 10 through Oct. 25, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Yangjae Art Salon is an art market where small-business owners, craft artists and young entrepreneurs display and sell handmade goods and everyday items they have produced themselves. It has grown into a signature cultural attraction that brings vitality to the Yangjaecheon-gil commercial district. This year's autumn edition is organized around four weekly themes — garden, glocal, handcraft and startup — and is designed as a "salon-style market" where visitors can stroll, linger and enjoy the autumn atmosphere along Yangjaecheon.
The first week opens as an "Art Salon for Office Workers." On Oct. 2, operating hours will be extended from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. so that workers from nearby offices can visit comfortably during their lunch break or after work.
Alongside this, the market will extend the garden-city atmosphere of the Seoul International Garden Expo — held at Maeheon Citizens' Forest — along Yangjaecheon-gil. A participatory promotion called "Yangjae Garden" will be held to boost the local commercial district, featuring a stamp tour that connects the Yangjaecheon-gil shopping area with the Yangjae Itgil district around Yeomgok Intersection. Participants can choose one of two routes, visit designated stops and collect stamps to receive coupons redeemable at roughly 200 shops in the area, as well as Seoul International Garden Expo merchandise. The initiative aims to draw visitors from the event venue into the surrounding alleyway commercial district and stimulate local spending.
The market footprint will also expand. The art market will extend to the deck of Sowon Cafe near Maeheon Citizens' Forest, giving visitors more spaces to enjoy the Yangjae Art Salon. Additional offerings include a mobile gardening program called "Gardening on Wheels," while the Yangjae Salon Hall — located on the first floor of the Yangjae public parking garage — will host the "Yangjae Flower Salon," providing a range of hands-on autumn experiences.
The second week is themed "Glocal Week," bringing together world cultures and local values. The Turkish Cultural Center will participate to broaden cultural exchange, and a fair-trade festival organized by the Seocho-gu Social Economy Integrated Support Center will showcase fair-trade products alongside various hands-on programs.
A "fair travel" plogging walk along both Yangjaecheon and Yeoui Stream will highlight the meaning of conscious consumption with people, nature and community in mind. A "Yangjaecheon Coffee Run" combining the everyday scenery of the stream with a healthy lifestyle will also be held, offering residents a fresh and enjoyable experience.
The third week brings "Hanttam Week," celebrating the joy of making things by hand and the appeal of handcraft. Programs include "Death Sewing Club," a project-style participatory workshop, and a "Kantha Pouch Making" workshop using Chiang Mai-style stitching techniques, allowing participants to create their own pieces and experience the satisfaction of handcraft. A citizen-run flea market will also open at Yangjae Salon Hall, giving residents the chance to sell their own goods and connect with one another.
The fourth and final week features "Local-Up Stream," a collaborative program with the Seoul Creative Economy Innovation Center that links local commerce with entrepreneurship. The concept brings together the startup and innovation ecosystem with local festival content to introduce the products and ideas of promising local small-business owners to the public, widening their direct access to consumers and boosting the growth potential of local entrepreneurs.
The Yangjaecheon-gil commercial district, where the Yangjae Art Salon is held, has established itself as a distinctive destination blending local culture and commerce since it was selected in 2022 as the only Gangnam-area district in Seoul's local brand commercial district development project. The Yangjae Art Salon drew 190,000 visitors in the first half of this year alone, with total sales reaching 520 million won ($382,000) — an 11 percent increase from the previous year — reflecting consistent growth.
Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said he hopes visitors will "create special memories with family, friends and loved ones while enjoying a variety of craft goods and cultural programs amid the autumn scenery of Yangjaecheon." He added that the district would "consistently present diverse content so that the Yangjae Art Salon can continue to energize the local commercial district and grow into a sustainable local festival that residents love to visit."
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