1. Phillies is a pretty popular expat bar that opened in 1997, back when the neighbourhood was an ageing refugee village with sweatshops everywhere.
2. Above it were apartment flats, and below it was a pretty good live music venue.
3. The landlord informed them their lease would not be getting renewed after over 25 years, and they would have to move out at the end of last year. But they dragged it out in court, staying in the place until their 26th anniversary.
4. They finally closed it at midnight on April 16, moving to a new, better location about 50 meters uphill.
5. Here's the building on its first day of closure. It has been left like that for the next three months.
6. Here's a view from its roof. Downhill to the right is a large mostly closed US military garrison. When the Americans moved back in in 1953, they found it overrun with refugees from the North, who were evicted out of the base and set up camp uphill, forming this neighbourhood.
7. For years it avoided redevelopment because of being close to the base, and also on the slope of this mountain which is a development restriction zone.
8. Three months later, I stopped by to jiggle the doorknobs and look inside.
9. I noticed that the door to the second-floor apartment was ajar, and there was a light on in the entryway. I knocked, no answer. I opened it and called out, and still no answer. I freaked out and left. Later that night, I confirmed that the light was still on and the door was still ajar as I had left it, implying no one had come in since my visit. You can see the door here, with a light glowing through the glass.
10. After careful monitoring, I came back today for a closer look. Repeated entry procedure, but this time I was certain no one was inside.
11. Here's how the main bedroom looked.
12. Looking back at the entryway.
13. The kitchen. I'll look in the fridge next time, and check if it's plugged in.
14. The bathroom light works.
15. So does the bedroom light.
16. All lights could be turned on except in the common area. In this photo, the left bedroom light is on. I didn't play with the kitchen light for long because it would be more visible from outside.
17. In Korean culture, you're not supposed to clean up after you move out. If you do so, the ghosts will know you've left and follow after you. Leave your filth and they'll stay behind.
18. A few pairs of shoes left behind.
19. And keys. This may help me access the bar downstairs.
20. The security system still has power, but presumably isn't being monitored.
21. Final beer.