A "moon town" (dal dongne, also called san dongne) is a neighborhood of poor homes at the top of a high hill (we call them mountains here in Korea) in a city. They have mostly disappeared in Seoul. The one pictured here is Seongbuk 2-dong, Chongno-gu. While the houses in this moon town are poor, they are clean and well-maintained for the most part; ordinary city services like electricity and water and paved roads and garbage collection are all provided, along with facilities expected in modern day Seoul, like a small park and indoor meeting places for the elderly. It seems that this moon town doesn't have long to go, though: at the top of the mountain there is a "Seongbuk 2-dong Redevelopment Office."

The photographs here are missing people, unintentionally. The dal dongne was a favorite subject of photographer Kim Gi-chan; his photos are much more interesting than these because he included the residents. If you have a chance, check out any of the several editions of his Golmokan Punggyeong (Neighborhood Scenes).