Hongdae by the numbers

Trains carrying anthracite coal to the power plant ran here from 1929, and passenger service ended in 1975 and freight service in 1980.

Street performances are allowed only at designated places and not after 10 p.m. The Mapo Tourist Information Center (22 Hongik-ro) gives information in English, Chinese and Japanese from 10:00 to 19:00, and is closed on the day before and the day of holidays such as Seollal and Chuseok.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — Hongdae Pedestrian-Friendly Street · Introduction mcst.go.kr · Photo Michaela den · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Checked Oct 22

It is named for the "ttaeng ttaeng" sound the crossing gate made as it came down when a train passed. Mapo District presents it as the birthplace of the Hongdae culture represented by music and art.

Seoul's park guide says that on the Wau Bridge section of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park (about 370 m, about 15 minutes on foot), the railway crossing once called Ttaeng Ttaeng Alley has been restored as it was. The Gyeongui Line Book Street and an observation deck are in the same section.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — main tourist spots of Hongdae (Ttaeng Ttaeng Alley) · Photo Christian Bolz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Checked Oct 22

The operator describes the building, on Picasso Street near Hongik University, as a place meant to help artists create and let citizens enjoy culture.

Inside are an independent and art cinema on the 4th basement floor, a live hall on the 2nd basement floor, a gallery, Design Square (a living and gift store) and a cafe. The Signature Tour, with a docent's commentary, must be paid for up to 3 days before the day of use and is for ages 14 and over, up to 15 people.

Source: KT&G Sangsangmadang official — Hongdae introduction and directions · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

It uses the 1st basement floor and the 2nd floor, and its official site says it was registered as a performance venue under the Performance Act in January 2012.

Both seated and standing shows are listed, so you need to check the viewing type for each show. The official site gives the price, viewing type and running time in each show's details.

Source: Rolling Hall official — greeting and directions · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

Every evening it plays two sets with a break between (set 1 at 8:00, set 2 at 9:20). Its official introduction says nothing stands between the stage and the guests' tables.

Because it serves alcohol, minors can enter only with a guardian (legal representative). You must order one drink in addition to the entrance fee.

Source: Club Evans official — About and FAQ · Photo hojusaram · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Checked Oct 23

Seoul selected it as Seoul Future Heritage in 2013, and its site compares the shape to a train standing still.

The road in front of the buildings falls within the "Red Road" (the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Hongdae, Seogyo 365 and the Dangin-ri power plant, about 2 km), designated a Hongdae tourism special street in 2023.

Source: Seoul Future Heritage — Seogyo 365 in front of Hongdae · Checked Oct 23

Mapo District presents it as a place that brings back today the chaekgado (bookshelf painting) culture of King Jeongjo's time.

Seoul Tourism Organization says a walking program on books is held once a month and visitors can meet authors. The district office's guide lists a different book program for each day of the week (Tue humanities, Wed art, Thu travel, Fri literature, Sat children, Sun performance and lectures), and these change with operations.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — Gyeongui Line Book Street · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

Seoul Tourism Organization writes that it has been merged with the Red Road, which it counts as a center of art, culture and tourism.

It has a shared studio where individual artists and art groups work, and it also holds exhibitions. Its old name was Hongik Cultural Park (Hongik Children's Park, also called Hongdae Playground), so the district office's guide still carries that name.

Source: Seoul Tourism Organization VisitSeoul (English) — Hongdae Playground (Drawing Village) · Checked Oct 23

Waiting for Godot is still the company's signature work, and it was staged again in 2015 for the theater's 30th anniversary.

The basement is the small theater, and floors 1 and 2 are a gallery, art shop and workshop called Sanwoollim Art & Craft. The first floor also sells coffee, drinks and wine, and you can rest on stage furniture used in the plays.

Source: Theater Sanwoollim official — about and directions · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

Its official site says it does not stock independent publications, so that each bookstore nearby can keep its own character.

It sells sundries as well as books, and members (free to join) earn 10% of what they spend as points, which can be used on both books and sundries.

Source: Thanks Books official — About · Checked Oct 23

Seoul selected it as an Old Shop in 2018 and as Seoul Future Heritage in 2020. The Seoul Future Heritage article records a story of art students who ran out of materials while working and held the shutter open, and an explanation that it has opened with a rule of closing only two days, Seollal and Chuseok.

A shop specializing in art materials, using the 1st and 2nd floors. The Seoul Future Heritage article writes that it is known well enough that buyers come from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Source: Homi Art Supplies official shop — store information · Introduction futureheritage.seoul.go.kr · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

The section has a waterway that recreates the old stream Segyocheon.

The roughly 200 m from Hongdae Station Exit 3 to the Yeonnam police box is the busking zone, where performances are allowed only between 11:00–13:00, 14:00–16:00 and 17:00–19:00 every day. Park information is given at the Yeonnam guard post (in front of the Yeonnam police box).

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government Parks — Gyeongui Line Forest Park · Photo Brit in Seoul · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Checked Oct 22

The Cafe Pokpo opposite opened in 2023 as the first of Seoul's "waterfront sensibility city" sites. Seodaemun District gives student scholarships from a fund made from the cafe's profits.

The Seodaemun Tourist Information Center, Hongjeguk Falls branch (next to Cafe Pokpo), is open daily 10:00–19:00. Seoul Tourism Organization says that in winter the falls turn into a huge wall of ice and people come to see it.

Source: Seoul Tourism Organization VisitSeoul — Seodaemun Hongje Falls · Introduction english.visitseoul.net · Photo Huntsmanleader · CC0 · Checked Oct 22

Its exhibition halls include "Sharks of Korea" and "3 Billion Years of the Korean Peninsula," and its collection holds 56,000 specimens.

Seodaemun residents enter free with ID and a residence certificate issued within the past 6 months, and on "Culture Day" (the last Wednesday of each month) the admission fee is 20% off. There is a Book Park for reading on the 3rd floor, and a dinosaur slide and a fossil-hunting playground outdoors.

Source: Seodaemun Museum of Natural History official — admission · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

Its 19 writing rooms are divided among four buildings named "Kkeullim," "Hollim," "Ullim" and "Deullim," and the outside paths are open for citizens to walk while the writers work.

Chaekdabang Yeonhui, in the basement, is an unstaffed cafe where you can read about 8,000 books and periodicals. Literary events such as readings are held on the open-air stage "Yeollim" (100 seats). The schedule is posted in the program section of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture site.

Source: Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture — Yeonhui Literary Creation Village facilities · Checked Oct 23

The first 450 m section is covered with a greenhouse-style roof so it can be walked in snow and rain, and a fog system in the lamps keeps the clay from drying out.

There are three foot-washing stations, and next to the first is a red clay foot bath. At the opening, a notice said that people with athlete's foot or foot wounds and pet dogs cannot use it. The district office said the number of visitors since opening has passed 1.2 million.

Source: Seodaemun District Office Culture & Tourism — Ansan Red Clay Trail · Photo An Yeonggwan · Korea Tourism Organization Photo Korea · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

About 10,000 ㎡ beside the Youth Training Center behind Seodaemun District Office hold a cherry blossom yard and a herb garden.

It has a herb garden, a cherry blossom yard, a lawn, the Ansan Pond and an octagonal pavilion in one place. A wetland, a stream facility and the Hongjecheon waterside yard are also introduced as part of the same area.

Source: Seodaemun District Office Culture & Tourism — Yeonhui Forest Rest Area · Introduction tongblog.sdm.go.kr · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

Inside the park are the Gungdongsan gym where residents exercise and a level loop path that anyone can walk easily. The Yeonhui Hill 104 Battle Monument is on the same Gungdongsan slope.

Source: Seodaemun District Office, Yeonhui-dong Community Center — neighborhood sights (Gungdong Neighborhood Park) · Checked Oct 23

In September 1950 the Korean Marine Corps took the hill, the route to retaking Seoul, after fierce fighting. Seodaemun District writes that 178 allied soldiers were lost and 1,750 Communist soldiers were killed.

Seoul has selected the "Yeonhui Hill 104 battlefield" as Seoul Future Heritage and manages it. In front of the monument is an inscription honoring the marines who died.

Source: Seodaemun District Office blog — the story of Yeonhui-dong Hill 104 (Yeonhui Hill) · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

The well, said to have given her water, was restored close to its original form in 2009 under the "Treasure Hunt in Our Neighborhood" project.

The district office explains that after King Jeongjong gave up the throne he used this place as a refuge palace, that it was called Yeonhuigung in the time of King Sejong, and that wells appeared throughout the village as homes of the officials and palace women who looked after the palace were built.

Source: Seodaemun District Office, Yeonhui-dong Community Center — neighborhood sights (Jang Hui-bin Well Site) · Checked Oct 23

Mapo District Office says the alley came alive as small shops such as leather workshops, wine shops and tailor shops and studios moved in one by one.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — Yeonnam-dong Semo-gil · Checked Oct 23

The present building was rebuilt in 1989 after the original was lost in the flood of 1925; the outer plaque reads "Mangwonjeong" and the inner plaque reads "Huiujeong."

Gangbyeonbuk-ro lies between the pavilion and the Han River. We could not find an official guide on opening and closing times or on whether you may go up and sit inside the pavilion.

Source: Korea Heritage Service heritage portal — Mangwonjeong site (Seoul Monument No. 9) · Introduction mediahub.seoul.go.kr · Photo Cultural Heritage Administration · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 22

Ernest Bethell, the Briton who founded the Daehan Maeil Sinbo newspaper, lies here, and Soda Kaichi, who cared for more than a thousand Korean orphans, is the only Japanese buried here.

Food and drink may not be brought into the cemetery, and photos may be taken only on the paths between the graves. With a guided visit, watching a video, a tour of the cemetery and a visit to Yanghwajin Hall take about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.

Source: Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery official (Centennial Church) — visitor information · Photo Seefooddiet · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Checked Oct 22

The martyrs executed here are estimated at around 200, but only 29 can be identified by name from records.

The shrine grounds are alcohol-free and smoke-free, and photos inside the church and museum may be taken only by prior arrangement. Food may not be brought into the church and museum, and bicycles, kick scooters and other personal transport may not be used in the outdoor exhibition space.

Source: Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine official — museum guide and visiting hours · Photo Golbaengi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Checked Oct 22

The generating equipment is now underground and the ground above is used as a park, where a promotion hall inside the park shows the 90-year history of Seoul thermal power.

The promotion hall in the park, Komipo Energium, is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and visits are limited to 15 people (tours of the underground power plant are not offered). The hall's guide says passenger cars cannot park and to use public transport.

Source: Seoul Tourism Organization VisitSeoul — Mapo Saebit Culture Forest · Introduction mcst.go.kr · Checked Oct 22

It is a small building with a total floor area of 15.65 ㎡, but it became Registered Cultural Heritage No. 231 in 2006, and in the early Joseon period King Taejo is said to have disliked it, so for a time it was called the "New Shrine."

With a total floor area of 15.65 ㎡, the shrine is not big enough for several people to go in. A village ritual (the shrine rite) is held every year on the first day of the 10th lunar month, and traditional culture classes are held at Gwangheungdang, to the right of the shrine.

Source: Korea Heritage Service heritage portal — King Gongmin's Shrine, Changjeon-dong, Seoul (Registered Cultural Heritage No. 231) · Introduction khs.go.kr · Photo Seoul Tourism Organization, Seoul Tourism Archive · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 22

Mapo District Office gives one address, 15 Wausan-ro 3-gil, and its introduction explains that cafes with views of the Han River stand scattered around this area.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — Sangsu-dong Cafe Street · Introduction hangang.seoul.go.kr · Checked Oct 23

Murals and graffiti are scattered along the hill roads, residential streets and the outer walls of buildings, mixed right into the everyday scenery of an old residential area.

Mapo District Office gives the address as 34 Wausan-ro 22-gil, and VisitSeoul (English) gives Sangsu-dong 72-36. There is no fixed route for walking around the alley.

Source: Seoul Tourism Organization VisitSeoul (English) — Hongdae Mural Street · Introduction mapo.go.kr · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

Performances and events funded each week by voluntary donations from the audience are held here.

By day it is a cafe, and in the evening it turns into a bar called "Chwihan Jebi" (Drunken Swallow). VisitSeoul (English) says performances are free to watch and the audience's donations go to the musicians on stage.

Source: CTR (Culture Topography Research Institute) — about Jebi Dabang · Photo Yu Seongnak · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Checked Oct 23

It is on the 3rd floor of the Library Building on Hongik University's Seoul campus.

The official collection introduction lists among its holdings the Treasure-registered 〈Calligraphy of Patriot An Jung-geun〉 and the Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage 《Uiryeong Nam Family Painting Album》. The guide does not say whether an exhibition is on now.

Source: Hongik University Museum official — exhibition hall guide (opening hours) · Checked Oct 23

Bamseom, which you face from Bamseom Park, disappeared in the 1968 blasting and grew back from piled-up sediment.

The stops are the Gwangheungchang site, King Gongmin's Shrine, the Bamseom Bugundang shrine, the Seogang Ferry marker stone and Bamseom Park, and the last is Hyeonseok Interchange. The guide does not go inside paid cultural facilities with the group, and you must bring your own water and snacks. Children under 14 without a guardian are cancelled on the spot.

Source: Seoul Future Hangang Headquarters, Hangang Story Travel — Han River History Walk, Seogang Naru Route · Introduction hangang.seoul.go.kr · Photo Ox1997cow · Public domain · Checked Oct 23

Because the route passes through the cemetery, only 7 people are taken at a time.

The theme is "the inflow of foreign culture." The guide does not go inside paid cultural facilities with the group, and you must bring your own water and snacks. Children under 14 without a guardian are cancelled on the spot.

Source: Seoul Future Hangang Headquarters, Hangang Story Travel — Han River History Walk, Yanghwa Naru Route · Photo travel oriented · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Checked Oct 23

In 2013, when a large supermarket opened in Hapjeong-dong, the merchants closed their shops five times in protest, and the supermarket agreed not to sell 17 items such as vegetables and fish.

The merchants' association says that from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 it takes about 55 minutes: take the Airport Railroad to Digital Media City Station, change to Line 6 and get off at Mangwon Station. The main entrance has no step, so wheelchairs can enter.

Source: Mangwon Market Merchants' Association — how to get here · Introduction mediahub.seoul.go.kr · Photo Enamoradadecorea · CC0 · Checked Oct 22

The Mangwon Green Path in the park was built over Gangbyeonbuk-ro's Hapjeong Interchange, which was sunk underground (built in 2014).

Cooking is not allowed in the park; leaving trash behind is subject to a 100,000-won fine, and parking outside designated spots a 50,000-won fine. Seoul Battleship Park inside (three retired warships) charges a separate admission and is closed on Mondays.

Source: Future Hangang Headquarters official — Mangwon Hangang Park introduction · Photo Brit in Seoul · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Checked Oct 22

A Seoul citizen reporter wrote that in March 2017 a photo studio that had been taking neighborhood photos for 40 years, since 1977, closed because of the rent burden.

Mapo District Office's site lists a free neighborhood tour, "A Telescope in My Hand" (about 2 hours, in Korean, English and Japanese, minimum 2 people), that walks the stories of the Mangwon-dong alleys. Applications must be made one week ahead, and same-day applications are not accepted.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — recommended tour, Mangwon-dong Road (Mangnidangil) · Introduction mediahub.seoul.go.kr · Photo Lee Bumsu · Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

The park says the Chamsuri was first called "Gireogi" (wild goose), a bird name, and in 1993 was renamed "Chamsuri" (sea eagle), the name of a bird of prey.

You tour the inside of the Seoul frigate, the Chamsuri patrol boat and the Dolgorae-class submarine, and on weekends a free exhibition commentary (docent) is held. Visitors gather in the 1st-floor lobby of the information center at 13:30 and 16:00 in summer and 13:30 and 15:00 in winter, subject to change. There are no toilets in the building, so you have to use the ones at the multipurpose plaza.

Source: Seoul Battleship Park official — visitor guide · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

On the timetable, the only boats leaving Mangwon go to Yeouido and Magok, so for Apgujeong and Jamsil you must change at Yeouido. The disabled transport welfare card can be used, and in bad weather such as strong wind or storms service stops at all piers.

Source: Hangang Bus Co. official — fare FAQ and sailing times · Checked Oct 23

Of its five tanks, T3 stays as a Seoul Future Heritage site just as it was when it held oil, and T6 was newly built from the steel plates of the tanks that were taken apart.

Each tank has a different use: T1 glass pavilion, T2 performance hall, T3 original tank, T4 cultural complex, T5 story hall, T6 community center (cafe and rooftop deck). It connects to the Maebongsan walking trail, and pets may enter on a leash but must be carried indoors.

Source: Seoul Parks site — Oil Tank Culture Park · Introduction mapo.go.kr · Photo Choe Rin · Korea Tourism Organization Photo Korea · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

The tour is a visit and experience of about 1 hour through the pitch and player areas inside.

A January 2024 review by a Seoul citizen reporter says visitors saw the players' waiting room, the manager's room and the home team's warm-up room, and tried dribbling a soccer ball. They say the grass on the pitch could not be stepped on, to protect it.

Source: Seoul Facilities Corporation, Seoul World Cup Stadium — stadium tour course · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

It uses football history materials and media technology to show events and stories from the history of football.

It is on the west gate side of the stadium, and the current exhibition is the "2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Commemorative Special Exhibition." Opening hours are extended on days when there is a match or event at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Source: Football Faentasium official — CONTACT (hours, address, parking) · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

It is said to have been called Seongsan (castle mountain) at first because the hill surrounds the area like a wall, and Seoul Shinmun reported in 2010 that even villagers give different answers when asked where the summit is.

The "Seongmisan Neighborhood Road" that Mapo District Office introduces is about 3.5 km, takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to walk, and is rated "difficult." The hill has a mineral spring, a barefoot path (with foot-washing facilities) and outdoor exercise equipment, and a Seoul citizen reporter wrote that Baengnyeonsan, Bukhansan and Ansan can be seen from the scenic spot near the summit.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — Mapo's 10 best walking paths, Seongmisan Neighborhood Road · Introduction m.go.seoul.co.kr · Photo Seoul Tourism Organization, Seoul Tourism Archive · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23

Of its 50 or so stalls, many are wholesale-focused, which is introduced as its feature.

Mapo District Office's guide says about 50 stalls sell farm and sea products, meat and household goods, and also hold cultural events enjoyed by residents and visitors. The subway station that Mapo District Office gives is Mapo-gu Office Station, not Mangwon Station.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — traditional market, Mangwon-dong World Cup Market · Introduction korean.visitkorea.or.kr · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 3 · Checked Oct 23

Its stalls are organized around fresh food such as fish, fruit and vegetables, and it has an attached parking lot.

Mapo District Office introduces it as a leading market for buying fresh, good-quality farm, livestock and sea products. Opening hours are not in the official guide, so ask the merchants' association (02-309-0419) before you go.

Source: Mapo District Office Culture & Tourism — traditional market, Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market · Introduction khan.co.kr · Photo Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 · Checked Oct 23