Nowon Hwarangdae Railroad Park Selected as 'Local Cultural Landmark' by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Local100... Reborn as a Unique Theme Park Preserving the Gyeongchun Line Tracks · Transforms into a Light Garden After Sunset
Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that Nowon-gu Hwarangdae Railroad Park has been selected for the ‘Local Culture Attraction Top 100 Selection Contest (hereinafter Local100)’ hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
'Local100' is a project aimed at realizing the ‘local era where anywhere in Korea is a good place to live’ by selecting and nurturing 100 unique tangible and intangible cultural resources such as local attractions, contents, and masters, and promoting them intensively both domestically and internationally for two years.
‘Nowon-gu Hwarangdae Railroad Park (Bulbit Garden)’ was selected as a final Local100 site after big data attractiveness analysis, public discovery group and expert evaluations were conducted on 461 places recommended by local governments nationwide and the public discovery group.
The district has preserved the section of the Gyeongchun Line railroad, which ceased operation in 2010, centered around Hwarangdae Station, and has developed it into a unique themed space full of sights and activities with the theme of ‘train,’ while branding the story of Hwarangdae Station, the last simple station in Seoul.
During the day, various trains welcome visitors at Hwarangdae Railroad Park. Exhibits include real trains such as the ▲Mika steam locomotive and streetcars displayed on the old railroad tracks, the ▲Time Museum created by converting six Mugunghwa passenger cars into exhibition spaces, the ▲Nowon Train Village (Swiss Pavilion) featuring a diorama and detailed train models running on 410 meters of rails that look like a replica of Switzerland, and the caf? ▲Scenery with Trains where a mini train delivers coffee directly. These attractions stimulate visitors’ curiosity and provide enjoyment, making this place recognized as a distinctive tourist destination.
After sunset, Hwarangdae Railroad Park transforms into Bulbit Garden, showcasing spectacular night lighting. Colorful ▲Light Tunnel, a dazzling laser show projected on the wall of the old Hwarangdae Station building, the ▲Media Train which creates the illusion of floating images in the air, and the ▲Avatar Tree reminiscent of a large Christmas tree all play significant roles as nighttime scenic spots. Since its opening in 2019, it has attracted 770,000 visitors and has established itself as a healing space not only for local residents but also for citizens of Seoul.
Additionally, the district successfully held the first ‘Nowon-gu Craft Beer Festival’ at Hwarangdae Railroad Park in June this year, attracting about 50,000 visitors. The collaboration of local breweries, small business owners, university students, and regional networks discovered and developed various charms of the district into content, creating a unique festival brand for Nowon-gu that received positive external reviews.
With the recent selection in 'Local100' and the expected increase in visitors to Hwarangdae Railroad Park, the district plans to continuously discover various contents and linked programs that can captivate not only residents but also external tourists.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to widely promote ‘Local100’ sites including Hwarangdae Railroad Park domestically and internationally until 2024 through events such as Culture Month, promotional ambassadors like artist Kikni, overseas cultural promotion channels, broadcasting, OTT, and online platforms.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “With the selection in Local100, Hwarangdae Railroad Park (Bulbit Garden) will rise as a famous destination not only domestically but also overseas,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to discover and develop local attractions and build Nowon into a cultural city.”
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