[One Day Walk] The Romance of Wangsong Lake and the Railroad... Uiwang Station

Editor's NoteThe subway is a transportation method that anyone can easily access and travel safely, and it is also an important point for daily walking. We introduce walkable places around subway stations.

Today's course is Uiwang Station on Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1. The history of Uiwang Station dates back to 1944, during the late Japanese colonial period. It opened as Bugok Station on the Gyeongbu Line and was renamed Uiwang Station in 2004 after the name of its jurisdiction, Uiwang City, which it has kept to this day.

Although it is not widely known to the general public, Uiwang Station is quite familiar to railway enthusiasts. Korea National University of Transportation (formerly Korea Railroad University) is nearby, and there is a Railway Museum close by where you can see trains that once traveled across the country all in one place. You can see steam locomotives, narrow-gauge trains, the presidential carriage used in the past, and nostalgic Tongilho and Bidulgiho trains.

Railroad Museum. [Photo by Uiwang City Hall]

Another attraction near Uiwang Station is Wangsong Lake. Since its opening in 2016, it has become a landmark in southern Gyeonggi Province, featuring Uiwang Rail Park, Wangsong Ecological Wetland, a camping site, a nature learning park, and the zipline Uiwang Sky Rail, offering a variety of sights and activities. Uiwang Rail Park is a rail bike that circles the embankment of Wangsong Lake. The total distance is about 4.3 km, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenery and atmosphere of the lake from the rail bike. Wangsong Lake itself is also a great place for walking. The decked walking trail is well maintained, and it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to walk around the lake.

The Bird Ecology Science Center is also gaining attention as a great spot to visit with children. It is a themed science center where you can learn, observe, and experience the birds breeding in Wangsong Lake and the natural ecology. You can find CG videos, various experiential learning facilities, and bird taxidermy exhibits. Especially, the rooftop Wangsong Observatory is equipped with binoculars for birdwatching and offers views of the surrounding scenery.