Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeontral Park)

The Gyeongui Line Forest Park follows the route of an old railway that once ran from Seoul toward Sinuiju. When the city stretch of the line was moved underground, the land above was turned into a 6.3 km linear park, and its Yeonnam-dong section is by far the most visited. Locals nicknamed it Yeontral Park, a play on Yeonnam and New York's Central Park. This stretch runs about 1.2 km from Hongik University Station Exit 3 to the Yeonnam intersection, roughly a 30 to 35 minute stroll. Along the way you will find open lawns where people sit and chat, a long ginkgo-lined path, an 860-meter water channel that recreates the old Segyocheon stream, and preserved bits of track and rest areas designed to look like small train stations. Both sides of the park are lined with cafes, restaurants and small boutiques, so it works as the spine of any Yeonnam afternoon. Near the station end, a short stretch is set aside for licensed street performers, and on a pleasant evening the lawn fills with music and picnicking students.