Damyang Memory Alley Review 2026: Retro Korea Trip

Last weekend, on a suddenly chilly morning, I paid a visit to Damyang's "Memory Alley" (Choeok-ui Golmok).

A friend told me it's packed with things to see and is an absolute goldmine for photos, so I was super curious. Luckily, a great opportunity popped up, and I finally got to visit!

There's a massive parking lot right in front, so you don't have to worry about parking at all!

Damyang Memory Alley

Address: 282-6 Geumseongsanseong-gil, Geumseong-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do

Hours: 09:30 - 18:00

Phone: +82-507-1338-9494

Admission: Adults ~$6, Children ~$5

From the outside, it might look a bit small, but once you step inside and really start exploring, even 1 or 2 hours won't feel like enough!

Right in front of the ticket booth, there's a rental shop where you can borrow retro school uniforms.

Renting a pair of retro uniforms and taking photos with your partner would make for the ultimate Damyang date activity.

There was also an old-school Korean-style café (dabang) right at the entrance.

It's not an actual operating café, but it's beautifully set up just like a retro movie set.

I even spotted E.T., which was a massive sensation back in the day!

They also had a station set up where you could make your own dalgona (honeycomb candy).

Since the weather was chilly, I passed on it, but this would definitely be a must-try activity if you're visiting with kids.

This is an actual working convenience store located right behind the ticket office.

It's a place where you can buy nostalgic childhood toys and retro Korean snacks.

With so much to look at already, can you believe we're still just hanging around the ticket booth area?

Now, the real adventure begins!

First, a sign for an old tavern (daepojip) caught my eye, followed by all sorts of nostalgic props that instantly take you back in time.

Lucky-Goldstar, the roots of today's LG!

Inside the Goldstar electronics shop, they had retro TVs actually broadcasting old black-and-white dramas.

It was so much fun finding all these quirky, nostalgic little details.

This little corner store (jeombang) wasn't actually open for business.

From this point on, everything you see is designed to look like a realistic movie set.

Everywhere we walked, the alley walls were plastered with vintage posters and retro recruitment flyers.

Once you're inside, simply follow the arrows to guide your tour.

Next, we came across a two-story building that looked like an old mill, which was packed with interesting vintage items.

The retro sign for a traditional soup restaurant was also a fun, quirky touch.

There are also several spots where tiny, vintage rooms have been faithfully recreated just like retro movie sets.

There is even an old-school bookstore!

You’ll also spot plenty of anti-communist posters and spy-related warnings from back in the day.

They've even recreated a traditional Korean herbal medicine clinic!

As you walk a bit further, a large building comes into view. The signs for the cinema, nightclub, bookstore, and pharmacy might look like mere storefront decorations at first, but you'll actually get to step inside and experience all of them later!

There is so much to see at every single turn along the path.

Let's follow the arrows up to the second floor!

What do you think?

If these sights bring back a flood of nostalgic memories, you might be in your 40s, 50s, or beyond! If most of these items look completely new and unfamiliar, you're likely on the younger side.

As you walk through here, you'll hear the lively, nostalgic tunes of an old-school tavern (daepojip) echoing through the air, complete with the sound of chopsticks being used to tap out a rhythm.

It's also wonderful to see posters of legendary actors from back in the day.

These days, with birth rates declining so much, having a big family is seen as patriotic. But back then, there were actually active government campaigns encouraging people to have fewer children!

They’ve faithfully recreated a classic single-room home from the past.

The attention to detail is absolutely mind-blowing!

Here is a look at the winding alleyways. Believe it or not, we haven't even seen half of it yet!

Major historical events that defined the era—like the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the reunions of separated families—are also thoughtfully represented here.

There is even a nostalgic "video room" (DVD bang precursor), a cozy spot that has pretty much vanished from modern streets.

There's also a nostalgic school supply store (munbanggu) that used to sit right in front of elementary schools back in the day.

You can even spot vintage stamps, lottery tickets, and old-school cigarettes.

The name "Damyang Memory Alley" really couldn't be more perfect for this place.

There's even an old public restroom, complete with a quirky display of someone selling stomach medicine right in front of it!

This is a recreation of a classic one-room home from the past.

The older friend I traveled with recognized the vintage "Shinil Rice Dispenser" and got super nostalgic seeing it.

Here is another recreation of a cozy, vintage single-room home.

On the old calendars and the walls along the alleyways, you can spot lots of retro handwritten job recruitment posters.

As you keep walking, a vintage movie theater suddenly appears!

The theater was "screening" the classic anime Galaxy Express 999.

It was so much fun browsing through all those hand-painted retro movie posters.

Heading up the stairs, we stumbled upon the most memorable spot of the entire tour.

Just past the retro arcade, we found...

none other than an old-school 'Gogo Club' (the discotheques of 70s-80s Korea)!

The retro pawnshop sitting right next to the Gogo Club is also a super fun touch.

Stepping back outside, you'll wander past all sorts of vintage shops before arriving at a recreation of an old-school elementary school.

Daeseong Elementary School—this was actually a real school that existed in Gwangju!

And right in front of the set-piece schoolhouse, there is a surprisingly spacious schoolyard just like the real thing.

Out on the field, you might even cross paths with some "cool-guy" alpacas who look like they rule the schoolyard!

You can even meet some adorable little bunnies here!

How did you like this little trip back in time at Damyang Memory Lane, where you can travel from the post-liberation era all the way to the 1980s?

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Mellow Trip's Final Verdict

That wraps up our review of Damyang Memory Lane—a wonderful destination that brings back fond "ah, those were the days..." nostalgia for parents, and offers a fascinating history exploration for kids who have only ever seen these times in textbooks.

Rather than just displaying old objects, the alleyways are alive with retro music and incredibly detailed sets that genuinely make you feel like you've stepped off a time machine. With the upcoming holidays around the corner, why not rent matching vintage school uniforms with your loved ones, snap some unforgettable photos, and escape the daily grind with a beautiful journey into the past?