[One Day Walk] Ecological Park and Traditional Market Blended with Prehistoric Era... Amsa 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 Amsa Station on Seoul Subway Line 8. During the Silla Dynasty, there were nine temples here, so it was called Guamsa (九岩寺), and among them was Baekjungsa, commonly known as the 'Rock Temple,' from which the name Amsa (岩寺) originated. It is especially well known for the Amsa-dong archaeological site from the Neolithic period. This site is evidence that people have lived here for a very long time and is archaeologically very important as the largest village-level Neolithic site confirmed in Korea so far.

When you exit Amsa Station, the first place to greet you is Amsa General Market. Formed as an alley-type market in the 1970s, Amsa Market has become the center of the local economy, blending with the residents. Through modernization projects in 2009, an arcade was installed, and with continuous support and the efforts of merchants, it has grown into a representative traditional market of the area. You can enjoy various foods such as jokbal (pig’s trotters), tteokjeon (rice cake pancakes), fish cakes, dumplings, and jeon (Korean pancakes), fully experiencing the atmosphere of a traditional market.

Amsa General Market. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Passing through Amsa Market and heading north, you will find the famous Amsa-dong archaeological site. This site is so well-known that it is featured in textbooks, attracting children, parents, and tourists alike. Currently, a large-scale Amsa History Park is being planned in front of the site, with Gangdong-gu aiming to complete it by 2026. Once opened, this park is expected to become a new landmark of Amsa-dong. Every autumn, the Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival is held at the Amsa-dong site, which is the only festival in Seoul themed around prehistoric times, making it a truly representative local festival.

From the Amsa-dong site heading toward the Han River, you will reach the Gwangnaru area of Han River Park. Especially, the Amsa Ecological Park here is a treasure of Han River Park, where soil has naturally accumulated to form a wetland ecosystem. In autumn, beautiful reeds form clusters, and various plants such as Nakjidalri and Jwibanguldeonggul, protected by the Korea Forest Service, can be found. The ecosystem also includes natural monuments like the Eurasian kestrel and common kestrel, as well as protected species such as the black kite. Walking quietly and leisurely here allows you to fully enjoy the feeling of becoming one with nature.

Main stops: Amsa Station - Amsa General Market - Amsa-dong Archaeological Site - Amsa Ecological Park

Course distance: 3.3 km Duration: 50 minutes