Sangam DMC & Susaek Food Guide: Where TV Crews Eat Lunch

Two neighborhoods on Seoul’s western edge carry the river in their names. Susaek means “water color,” after a village that turned into marsh every rainy season. Sangam takes its first syllable from Susang-ri, a riverside village the Han River reached in floods. For most of the twentieth century this was the city’s back door: low fields, a rail yard, and, from 1978, the vast garbage mountain of Nanjido.

Then came the 2002 World Cup, and after it Digital Media City — DMC — where most of Korea’s big broadcasters now have their headquarters. On a weekday at noon, the streets fill with producers, writers and camera crews heading to lunch. This guide is about where they eat, and about the older railway town of Susaek one stop away.

What does "Susaek" mean?

Water color — after the floods. Seoul city’s media hub explains that Susaek was known by the native name 물빛골 Mulbitgol, a village where water collected in the rainy season and turned the fields into marsh; written in Chinese characters it became 水色, Susaek. Its neighbor got its name the same way. According to the city, 상암 Sangam combines Susang-ri — the village across the fields from Susaek, reached by the Han River when it flooded — and Hyuam-ri, a valley named for an owl-shaped rock. In 1975 part of Susaek-dong by the river was folded into Sangam-dong.

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Can tourists visit MBC and the broadcasters?

You can walk the plaza, but the buildings are workplaces. We couldn’t confirm a regular public studio tour at any of the DMC broadcasters. What you can do is walk the public spaces between them: Seoul city’s media hub suggests a 40–50 minute loop from Digital Media City Station Exit 9 past Mulbit Culture Park, the MBC plaza and DMC’s Star Park. On weekdays you’ll see people with lanyards and coffee hurrying between buildings. For K-pop activities you can actually book, see our guide to booked K-pop experiences.

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Where do DMC office workers eat lunch?

In the ground floors and basements of office and officetel buildings, mostly on weekdays. The best food in DMC doesn’t face the street. It’s in arcades under buildings like the DMC Ian officetels and Nuri Dream Square, and on the side streets between Seongam-ro and World Cup buk-ro. Prices and hours below are from Naver Place, checked on October 1, 2026.

Deokseungjae, main branch (World Cup buk-ro 361, DMC Ian Officetel 2, #221) — A hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant on an upper floor of an officetel arcade, the place for a sit-down business lunch rather than a quick bowl. Open 11:30–22:00 with a 15:00–17:00 weekday break; also open weekends without the break. More than 2,000 Naver reviews.

📍 Open in Naver Map

Sangam Gureumsan Chueotang (Seongam-ro 13-gil 38) — Chueotang is a thick, peppery soup of ground loach (a small freshwater fish) with greens; it’s a classic stamina lunch. This branch also does bossam wrapped in lotus leaves for groups. Open 10:00–21:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 on Sundays, one of the few DMC places that is.

📍 Open in Naver Map

Tojonggol (World Cup buk-ro 375, DMC #205) — A ssambap restaurant: rice, stews and grilled pork served with a basket of lettuce, perilla and other leaves to wrap everything in. Recent listings put ssambap sets at 12,000–13,000 won and kimchi stew at 10,000 won. Open 11:00–21:00 with a 15:00–17:00 break; closed Sundays.

📍 Open in Naver Map

Solsot, Sangam branch (Maebongsan-ro 75, B1) — Rice cooked in individual stone pots with toppings — steak, eel, salmon, squid — that you finish with hot water to make scorched-rice tea. Recent prices were about 15,900–25,900 won. Open 11:00–21:00 with a 16:00–17:00 break, weekdays only (closed Saturday and Sunday). Expect a noon queue.

📍 Open in Naver Map

Wonjo Duruchigi (Susaek-ro 256, 2F, above Susaek Mart) — On Susaek’s old main street, across from the blacksmith. Duruchigi is pork stir-fried with kimchi and chili, here 10,000 won a portion; pork belly is 15,000 won, and big pots of chicken stew or gamjatang are for groups. The kind of second-floor restaurant every old Seoul neighborhood used to have.

📍 Open in Naver Map

🍽️ More around DMC (Naver Place, Oct 2026)

Place	What	Price guide	Hours / closed	Map
Myeongdong Kalguksu Dakhanmari	Kalguksu and big Pyongyang-style dumplings	Kalguksu 9,000 / dumplings 10,000 won	10:00–21:00, closed Sat–Sun	📍 Open in Naver Map
Shikanoie, Sangam	Japanese home cooking: omurice, salmon rice bowls	Field check	11:00–21:00 (weekends to 19:35)	📍 Open in Naver Map
Onmyeon Gukbap	Gukbap counter for a quick solo lunch	Field check	10:30–21:00 (break 15:00–17:00)	📍 Open in Naver Map
Yeongmihwa Gimbap	Morning gimbap for crews heading to shoots	Field check	08:00–19:00 (Sun to 14:00)	📍 Open in Naver Map
Sure Galbi	Pork galbi near DMC Station Exit 9 — the after-work dinner	Field check	Field check	📍 Open in Naver Map
Cafe Moim, Mapo Sangam	Large café among the broadcasters’ buildings	Field check	Field check	📍 Open in Naver Map

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What's left of old Susaek?

A rail yard, a blacksmith and a few blocks of low buildings — for now. Cross to the north side of the tracks at Susaek Station and the city changes abruptly from glass towers to two-story shops. On Susaek-ro, Hyeongje Daejanggan (“Brothers’ Blacksmith,” Susaek-ro 249) has been forging hoes, sickles and kitchen knives for more than 40 years, according to Seoul city, and is designated a Seoul Future Heritage. Seoul’s media hub also describes a family barbershop near the old station that kept its 1960s interior. The area is lined up for redevelopment, so what’s here today may not be in a few years.

Beside the station is a large train depot, where Mugunghwa trains and tourist trains are serviced, a favorite of railway photographers.

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A weekday half-day: DMC to Susaek

• 10:30 — Digital Media City Station Exit 9. Walk the broadcasting loop: Mulbit Culture Park, the MBC plaza, DMC Star Park (40–50 minutes).
• 11:30 — Early lunch before the crews: Solsot, Tojonggol or Gureumsan Chueotang.
• 13:00 — Coffee in the DMC arcades.
• 14:00 — Susaek. Walk to Susaek Station and over to Susaek-ro: the blacksmith, the low shops, a look over the rail depot.
• 15:30 — World Cup Park or Haneul Park back across DMC for the landfill-turned-park, or dinner at Wonjo Duruchigi.