[One Day Walk] Shall We Take a Walk Around Seodaemun Station After Lunch?

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A panoramic view of Gyeonghuigung Palace.
Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Near Seodaemun Station on Subway Line 5, major institutions such as the National Police Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation are concentrated, along with many companies. Perhaps because of this, the streets fill with neatly dressed office workers at lunchtime. The nearby bustling food alleys and restaurant districts often have long lines.

However, if you look around a bit, the area around Seodaemun Station has many great places for walking. There is Seodaemun Independence Park, which holds the painful history of the Japanese colonial period; Yeongcheon Market, famous for its food; Gyeonghuigung Palace, one of the five grand palaces of the Joseon Dynasty; and Jeongdong-gil, known for its beautiful scenery. The walking course introduced today is a loop around the Seodaemun Station area, perfect for lunchtime.

You can start anywhere, but for convenience, begin at Seodaemun Independence Park. The Seodaemun Prison History Hall, which vividly remembers the suffering of our ancestors during the Japanese era, and the Independence Gate, which symbolized Korea’s independence will impress you. If you head a little south, Yeongcheon Market appears on the right. Recently, Yeongcheon Market has become a ‘hot place’ among young people through SNS.

Passing through Seodaemun Station intersection and walking further, you will see Seodaemun Police Station and the National Police Agency, responsible for Korea’s public safety. Across from the National Police Agency is a small Police Memorial Park, a space dedicated to honoring police officers who died in the line of duty for the people.

Further down, under the overpass, a railway track passes by. This is the famous Seosomun Railroad Crossing among railway enthusiasts. Due to the Gyeongui Line trains passing, the road is occasionally blocked by train operations, a rare sight in downtown Seoul. The Seosomun History Park here is the largest Catholic martyrdom site in Korea. Even if you are not a Catholic, it is a well-maintained park where you can enjoy a tranquil atmosphere in the heart of the city.

Turning toward Deoksugung Palace, you enter Jeongdong-gil, which offers a charm not found in the forest of buildings. Walking along Jeongdong-gil leads to Gyeonghuigung Palace. Among the five grand palaces of Joseon, Gyeonghuigung is the only one with free admission, making it easy to visit. The key is to enter Gyeonghuigung and take a walk around. There are benches to rest and simple exercise equipment like pull-up bars.

Leaving Gyeonghuigung and heading down toward Gangbuk Samsung Hospital, you will return to Seodaemun Station. If you feel the one-hour lunchtime is too long, you can start at Seodaemun Station instead of Independence Gate and follow the same course afterward. Skipping the walk inside Gyeonghuigung and heading straight back to Seodaemun Station makes it a 30-minute course.