[One Day Walk] From Sky to Pond... World Cup Stadium Station

Editor's NoteThe subway is not only a transportation method that anyone can easily access and travel safely with, but also an important point for daily walking. We introduce places around subway stations that are good for walking.

Today's course to introduce is World Cup Stadium Station on Seoul Subway Line 6. As the name suggests, it was built as the gateway station to Seoul World Cup Stadium, constructed for the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. It is the largest football-only stadium in Korea with 66,704 seats and the third largest in Asia. It is currently used as the home stadium for FC Seoul, a K League 1 professional football team, and gets crowded with people on game days.

With the construction of Seoul World Cup Stadium, the Sangam-dong area of Seoul, which included the 'landfill site' Nanji Island, underwent significant changes. To increase the utilization of the stadium after the World Cup, a cinema and large mart were built in the stadium area, Nanji Island was reborn as World Cup Park, and with the establishment of Digital Media City (DMC), it was transformed into a completely new town.

World Cup Park is divided into five themed parks: Peace Park, Sky Park, Sunset Park, Nanji Stream Park, and Nanji Hangang Park. The recommended route starts from Peace Park, the closest to the station, then goes through Sky Park, Sunset Park, and Nanji Stream Park in a loop. Nanji Hangang Park, located by the Han River, is recommended for additional walking depending on your physical condition or mood.

Seoul World Cup Stadium [Photo by Korea Football Association]

The first stop is Peace Park. It is the entrance to World Cup Park, centered around waterside spaces like Nanji Pond, with various themed gardens hidden in different sizes. Unlike other parks with hills, it is built on flat land along Nanji Island, allowing anyone to enjoy a comfortable walk.

Next is Sky Park, the highest point in World Cup Park, meaning 'the place closest to the sky.' In spring, white flowers bloom, and in autumn, the silver pampas grass creates a spectacular view. On clear days, you can see major Seoul landscapes such as Bukhansan, Namsan, and the Han River all at once.

Following that, Sunset Park means 'the place where you can see the most beautiful evening sunset in Seoul.' With a wide lawn and observation decks, you can see the red light of the Han River created by the setting sun in the west. There are also activity spaces for families, such as a park golf course and camping site.

Panoramic view of World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul [Photo by Seoul City]

Lastly, Nanji Stream Park is built along Nanji Stream, which flows from the northern part of Nanji Island into the Han River. When Nanji Island was a landfill site, various pollutants flowed here, but now, after purification, it has become a clean stream where aquatic plants live and fish swim. After enjoying the park walk, you may visit Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market near the World Cup Stadium for a pleasant meal with family and friends.