I live in the ‘coolest neighbourhood’ in the world. It’s not as great as you’d think

A rainbow walkway laid for an LGBTQ+ night event in the backstreets of Jongno 3-ga, June 2022. Seoul, South Korea. Photograph: Raphael Rashid/The Guardian

In 2021, I was asked by Time Out to nominate a Seoul neighbourhood for its annual list of the world’s coolest. I didn’t think much of it and put forward the one I live in, Jongno 3-ga, in the old centre of the city. Somehow, it got ranked third.

This week, the same area was named the coolest neighbourhood in the world. I should be pleased, but instead, I’m devastated.