Central Seoul's disappearing industrial core comes alive in Greek filmmaker Liron Shalit's documentary 'Living Euljiro'

Greek filmmaker Liron Shalit holds his camera equipment in central Seoul's Euljiro area, Jan. 28. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Greek filmmaker Liron Shalit's documentary "Living Euljiro" explores the hidden losses faced by people in central Seoul's Euljiro area, who were about to be evicted due to a massive urban redevelopment project. His film captures the beauty of the centuries-old alleys and the deep relationships formed with residents whose lives were upended.

Shalit has been creating award-winning short documentaries since 2017, exploring themes such as social issues, human rights, disability, natural disasters and urban life.

He came to Korea in 2020 to work on a documentary about digital sex crimes, specifically the notorious Nth Room case. But like many projects that year, it was interrupted by COVID-19, leaving the film unfinished.

“On a winter day during the pandemic, I was wandering through Euljiro, where I encountered something that would change the course of my work," he told The Korea Times. "The streets were alive with the sounds of metalworkers, cutting, hammering, shaping raw material by hand. Then, almost impossibly, I stepped into a gallery hidden in the same alley — clean, well-organized and contemporary. From the gallery balcony, I could see the chaotic, mechanical beauty of the workshops below. And I asked, 'How can these two worlds exist in the same alley?'”

A machine shop in central Seoul's Euljiro area / Courtesy of Liron Shalit

He began filming Euljiro casually at first, capturing its textures, rhythms and people. Soon after, he learned the area was scheduled for demolition. Shortly after that, he was called back to Greece for mandatory military service. When he returned a year later, the area was no longer just a place he admired — it was a place he felt compelled to return to.

Since relocating to Seoul in 2022, he has focused on documenting the disappearing spaces and communities of Euljiro, capturing its distinctive culture and the stories of the people living and working there.

He connected with a collective called Listen to the City. Together, they began interviewing the people most affected by redevelopment: small shop owners, technicians and metalworkers, many of whom had worked in Euljiro for half a century.

From February to April 2022, he filmed daily life in the alleys of an area that was just weeks from being cleared out. He documented hands at work, conversations over lunch, the slow and painful process of packing decades of life into boxes and finally, the demolition itself.

“It was shocking, not just because of the loss, but because I didn’t want to make a film that only showed sadness. I didn’t want people to be portrayed as victims,” he said.

A worker in Euljiro talks to the camera. Courtesy of Liron Shalit

For Shalit, the initial process wasn’t emotionally and ethically easy. He struggled with his position as a foreigner who had only been in the area for a short period of time and didn’t speak Korean fluently.

“At the beginning, filming in Korea was very difficult. I didn’t speak the language, and still don’t speak it very well, so I often had to find people who were already working in the area and join them through their networks," he said.

"But what I love about Euljiro and the people who work there is their openness. They didn’t mind being filmed. If they sensed that you were genuinely interested — if you shared the process, showed them what you were doing and explained why — it became something natural, even enjoyable. Filming would simply become part of their day: everyday work, and then suddenly someone comes in with a camera, taking photos, asking questions. It felt light, almost playful.”

The production itself became highly collaborative. It lacked funding, so he supported the film through freelance video editing work, using the money to pay translators, buy transcription tools and buy meals for the people helping him on the project. He worked with both Koreans and foreigners. “In one part of the film, for example, sculptures were created from scrap metal found on the streets — made by a Korean artist," he said. "And because I was already behind a large camera, I invited an Argentinian filmmaker to film me. In that way, the documentary grew into an international collaboration.”

He mentioned that there is an understanding of doing things in "the Euljiro way," and ideas are rarely owned by one person. Someone comes up with an insight, and others gather to help make it real, sharing whatever resources are available. Work gains meaning through collaboration, inspiring him to make his film the same way.

He spoke with gallerists, feminist bar owners, older craftsmen, artists, locals and foreigners. The film slowly transformed from a personal project into a collective one.

Metal is melted in a shop in central Seoul's Euljiro area. Courtesy of Liron Shalit

"Although I came up with the initial idea, the film quickly became shaped by many other people," he said. "I received a great deal of help. More than anything, I wanted the people in the film to feel that their stories were told with care, that the film could serve as a kind of legacy. Very few people have documented their lives so closely, and many of these individuals worked in Euljiro for decades. To see their world disappear is deeply painful. I hope they can watch the film and feel how much their lives and work are appreciated.”

In addition to honoring and preserving stories of Euljiro's unique industrial ecosystem and people, Shalit hopes architects and urban planners will rethink how urban development is imagined and executed.

“Living Euljiro” has screened at architecture-focused festivals in Europe, as well as festivals in Turkey, Portugal, and in Seoul.

He will screen it again this Sunday at Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul. Tickets cost 10,000 won each. The one-hour film will be screened in two sessions starting at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by discussion time.

“In addition to sharing the story of 'Living Euljiro' with anyone interested, we hope to start a community discussion around the process of making meaningful work after learning from the people of Euljiro and its unique ecosystem. At the end of each screening session, we will offer snacks and drinks to help facilitate a lively discussion. The discussion will have an interpreter so everyone can understand what is being said.”

Follow @livingeuljiro and @Lsh.20 on Instagram.

A poster for the upcoming screening of "Living Euljiro" / Courtesy of Liron Shalit

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.