Seongwoo Barbershop
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 The storefront (2025) | |
Native name | 성우이용원 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Barbershop |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | Seo Jae-deok |
| Headquarters | 4-1 Hyochangwon-ro 97-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea |
| Reference no. | 2013-161[1] |
 | |
Seongwoo Barbershop (Korean: 성우이용원; RR: Seongu iyongwon) is a historic barbershop in Seoul, South Korea. It is the oldest active barbershop in Seoul, having been founded in 1927.[2][3] It has remained a family business, and as of 2024[update] was operated by the third generation of the family.[3] The store opened and has since remained in the same location since its founding, although it was originally a thatched-roof hanok.[2] The Seoul Metropolitan Government registered it as an Oraegage, a store of historic value,[4] as well as a Seoul Future Heritage,[3] and provided funds for reconstruction after typhoon damage caused the collapse of the historic facade in 2019.[5]
The business was founded by Seo Jae-deok (서재덕), whom was reportedly the second person in Korea to obtain a barber license.[2][4] Lee Seong-sun (이성순) was an employee at the barbershop; Seo took such a liking to him that he had Lee marry into the family, and he designated Lee as the successor.[2] In 1935,[4] Lee took over the business and renamed it (성우이발관; Seongu ibalgwan).[2] In 1971, Lee's son Lee Nam-yeol (이남열) took over.[4] The younger Lee had worked at the barbershop since he graduated from middle school in 1965.[2] Some of the store's equipment has been used for most of the store's history, with a hair dryer dating back 90 years and a blade from 1934.[2] The store was reportedly having difficulty securing a successor in 2019.[4]