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Hongdae Hot Places

Seoul

Photo: Ken Eckert · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hot place1–2h each

Two walks through the student quarter: the Gyeongui Line Forest Park from Yeontral Park past the Book Street to Seogang, and the Red Road busking street from Hongik University Station down to the Han River.

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✨ About this walk

🎸 Hongdae is where Seoul goes to be young. The quarter around Hongik University, the city's art school, is home to indie music, busking and very late nights, and I have never once managed to walk through it quickly. Two very different walks start at Hongik University Station: a linear park on a buried railway line, and the red-paved busking street that runs down to the Han River.

Do the park by day or early evening and the Red Road after dark. Together they are 4.6 km, with the station in the middle for a break.

🚶 The route

  1. Gyeongui Line Forest Park, 2.7 km: Gajwa Station exit 1 along the stream into Yeontral Park, the lawn stretch of Yeonnam-dong lined with cafés and bakeries where everyone picnics.
  2. Under the main road at Hongik University Station exit 3 and on to the Book Street: 250 m of book kiosks shaped like train carriages, open from about 11 am, closed Mondays.
  3. Ddaengddaeng-geori, the lane of bars named after the old crossing bell, then Seogang Station and the sky bridge. The park continues 1.5 km to Gongdeok if you want more.
  4. Red Road, 1.9 km: Hongik University Station exit 9 opens straight onto the busking street along Eoulmadang-ro. Dance crews and singers most evenings, biggest on Friday and Saturday nights.
  5. The Red Road stage and art centre at the midpoint, with Sangsu Station's café streets a short detour east.
  6. The road ends at Mapo Saebit Culture Forest, the park around the old Danginri power station, and the Han River path. Hapjeong Station is 10 min north-west.

💡 Good to know

  • ✂️ Shorter park walk: start at Hongik University Station exit 3 instead of Gajwa, 1.3 km to Seogang.
  • ⏰ Yeontral Park is packed on weekend afternoons; weekday mornings are the time for photos.
  • 🍜 Busking peaks between about 7 and 10 pm. Street food and the Hongdae Playground are beside the main stretch.
  • ⏰ Hongdae is Seoul's late-night district. The last trains leave around midnight; after that it is taxis or the all-night cafés.
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  • #KoreaTravel