[One Day Walk] From the War Memorial Hall Reflecting the Pain of War to Daegu Tang Alley... Samgakji 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 pleasant walking spots around subway stations.

Today's walking course starts from Samgakji Station. The name Samgakji comes from the triangular land connecting three directions: the Han River, Seoul Station, and Itaewon. After the Russo-Japanese War in 1906, the Gyeongbu Line railway and Hangang-ro were constructed by the Japanese colonial government, which shaped the terrain into a triangular form. Near Samgakji, there are the War Memorial of Korea, the Ministry of National Defense, and Yongsan Park site (former Yongsan US military base), making it closely related to our national defense. Additionally, the nearby Daegutang Alley and tree-lined street are other notable attractions of Samgakji.

The walking course starts from Exit 11 of Samgakji Station and heads straight to the nearby War Memorial of Korea. The War Memorial, operated by the Ministry of National Defense War Memorial Project Association, was opened in 1994 to honor the painful history of the Korean War, one of the greatest tragedies in modern Korean history. This war museum dedicated to patriotic spirit includes an outdoor exhibition hall, outdoor sculptures, a memorial hall, and nine indoor exhibition rooms across three floors. It exhibits materials related not only to the Korean War but also the Vietnam War, anti-espionage battles, and other war-related artifacts and records of our military. The War Memorial is also known as the largest war weapons museum in Asia. Today's walking course does not include the interior of the War Memorial, as it takes more than two hours to tour the entire museum.

Next is Daegutang Alley, boasting a tradition of over 40 years. This area became famous through word of mouth among soldiers due to the nearby Ministry of National Defense and US military base. The first Daegutang restaurant was established in Samgakji in 1979, and since then, several Daegutang restaurants have been operating around Samgakji. Daegutang Alley remains a popular spot especially among elderly patrons who visit for hangover relief.

The final course is the tree-lined street of Samgakji. This approximately 1 km-long path, stretching from the west gate of the War Memorial toward Noksapyeong Station, offers a quiet and lush atmosphere. Following this path toward Noksapyeong Station leads to Haebangchon and Gyeongridan-gil, popular spots among young people. The walking course concludes at Exit 4 of Noksapyeong Station on Line 6.

Main stops: Line 6 Samgakji Station Exit 11 - War Memorial of Korea - Samgakji Daegutang Alley - Samgakji Tree-lined Street - Line 6 Noksapyeong Station Exit 4

Course distance: approximately 2.5 km, about 2 hours (over 4 hours including War Memorial visit)