This collection is a compilation of scenes captured during my stay in South Korea. It is a stroll through a Korea that coexists with—and often contrasts against—the ultramodernity and futurism that define the country’s major cities. These images carry a retro feel, fragments of life that seem slightly out of place amid the frantic pace and extreme automation surrounding them, yet precisely because of this, they retain an unexpected charm.

Much like old digital cameras—obsolete to many, yet capable of offering a nostalgic and imperfect aesthetic that captivates us—Korea’s traditional markets preserve a special atmosphere. They keep alive a way of living that resists the passing of trends and become unique corners where time seems to stand still, with scenes that feel touched by the aesthetics of analogue film.

This collection is meant to be a tribute to all those women who, day after day, surrounded by sacks and colorful baskets, fill the asphalt sidewalks and work to carve out a place for themselves amid the urban chaos. In a country where ultraconvenience and the rush toward over-automation seem to leave them no space, they remain there—with patience and admirable resilience—defying a kind of progress that nips at their heels.

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