[One Day Walk] Daehangno Embracing Both Past and Present... Hyehwa 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 pleasant walking spots around subway stations.

The course introduced this time is Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. The name Hyehwa comes from Hyehwamun (East Small Gate), one of the four small gates of the Hanyang Fortress Wall. The song "Hyehwa-dong" released by Dongmulwon in 1988 is famous, and many junior singers have since remade it, so it is still well known even after 35 years. The lyrics include "the road to find by riding the rattling subway," and since Hyehwa Station opened in 1985, it seems reasonable to interpret this as conveying the atmosphere around Hyehwa Station at that time.

The area around Hyehwa Station is one of Seoul's representative university districts. The term Daehangno (University Street) refers to this bustling area. It is also the mecca of the domestic theater scene, with numerous small theaters near Marronnier Park, where dozens of plays are performed daily. It is a neighborhood where you can truly feel youth. Exiting from Hyehwa Station Exit 3, you will find Seoul National University Hospital and the Seoul National University Yeongeon Campus, which consists of the medical fields including the College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, and College of Nursing. Right in front of Seoul National University Hospital, a building constructed in a modern architectural style stands out ? the old Seoul Daehan Clinic building. It was built in 1907 by the Korean Empire directly under the State Council on the hill of Hamchunwon, the outer garden of Changgyeonggung Palace. The clock tower soaring in the center is in Baroque style, showcasing the characteristics of full-fledged Western-style architecture.

Back alley in Daehangno. Many establishments use part or all of residential houses converted into commercial facilities such as restaurants or cafes. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

If you walk across Seoul National University Hospital, you will reach Changgyeonggung Palace. It is one of the five grand palaces of the Joseon Dynasty and is currently loved as a tourist attraction and a place for outings. In spring, it is a popular picnic spot for new university students nearby. Nighttime viewing is available until 9 p.m. One lesser-known fact is that Korean nationals aged 24 and under and 65 and over can enter for free. Also, visitors wearing hanbok and on "Culture Day," the last Wednesday of every month, can enter free of charge. The palace is closed on Mondays.

If you go a little further from Changgyeonggung Palace toward the National Children's Science Museum, you will find Sungkyunkwan University. Inside the school, the Sungkyunkwan, the highest educational institution of the Joseon era, still remains. Sungkyun (成均) is derived from the first characters of "Seonginjaeji Michwi (成人材之未就)" and "Gyunpungsokji Buje (均風俗之不齊)," meaning "to achieve what talents have not yet accomplished and to harmonize customs that are not yet uniform." At the main gate of Sungkyunkwan University, there are the Tangpyeongbi and Hamabi stones. These are historic relics often overlooked; Tangpyeongbi was erected during King Yeongjo's reign of Joseon, and Hamabi during King Jungjong's reign.

Walking toward Hyehwa-dong Rotary, you will pass Dongseong High School, which boasts over 100 years of history, and then reach Daehangno and Marronnier Park, lined with small theaters and popular restaurants. The park also has an outdoor stage where concerts, dance performances, and plays are frequently held.

Main stops: Hyehwa Station - Seoul National University Hospital - Changgyeonggung Palace - Sungkyunkwan University - Daehangno - Marronnier Park

Course distance: 3.5 km Estimated time: 1 hour