Seoul subway - light blue line

Today took the light blue line from Yongsan to Deoksu. I had a really good time because I spent most of the trip talking to another passenger. Meeting people is one reason that I like traveling by train.

This line goes into Gangwan-do and once it gets out of Seoul, the scenery is really beautiful. Within Seoul it runs along a river for a while and is a good way to see the city. This line is really more like a regular train line than a subway line. It is less crowded than the other subways, faster and all above ground.

Deoksu Station
Lodging: No
Tourist Office: No
Sights: None

Deoksu Station is both the end of the line and station on the train to Wonju. I walked around the town. It is a fairly typical suburb. Nice landscaping and better than average sidewalks, but worse than average traffic. I was really careful crossing the street.

If you are interested in a short trip into Gangwon-do, I recommend getting off at one of the earlier stations.

Daejeon's subway

Subway is kind of rail, so I am going to include information on subway lines in Korea. I am going to focus on lines that are above ground.

Daejeon's subway is a single line. None of it is above ground. It is comfortable and fast. After it was built, I got a much better sense of where different parts of town were in relation to each other. Here is a map. The information under the map is a little inaccurate.

More Train Routes

That last post wasn't all the trains in Korea, was it. Doing this list is a little boring, but useful. It will get more interesting, I promise.

Next is another line that goes out of Cheongnyangni in western Seoul. Like most of the trains on this list, it is good line to take if you want to see mountains.

Jungang

Cheongnyangni (In Seoul), Doekso, Yangpyeong, Yongmun, Jipyeong, Seokbu, Gudun, Maeguk, Yangdong, Pandae, Ganhyeon, Wonju, Jecheon, Danyang, Huibangsa, Pungki, Yeongju (change for Taebaek line), Ongcheon, Andong, Uiseong, Tapri, Hwabon, Sinnyang, Yeongcheon, Seogyeongju, Gyeongju, Bulguksa, Hogye, Ulsan, Deokha, Namchang, Walnae, Jwacheon, Gijang, Songjang, Haeundae (in Busan), Dongnae (in Busan), Bujeon (in downtown Busan)

A branch of this line serves Pohang. Same from Bujeon (in Busan) to Hogye.

Angang, Hyoja, Pohang

Taebaek

Same as Gyeongbusan from Busan to Gimcheon.

Oksan, Cheongni, Sangju, Hamchang, Jeonchon, Yonggung, Gepo, Yecheon, Yeongju

Most trains end at Yeongju, but a daily train from Daegu takes an alternate route further into the mountains.

Dongdaegu, Hayang, Bokyeongcheon

Sinnyang to Yeongju same as the Jungang line.

Bonghwa, Chunyang, Imgi, Hyeondong, Buncheon, Yangwon, Seungbu, Seokpo, Cheolam, Tongri, Dogye, Singi, Donghae, Jeongdongjin, Gangneung

Yeongdongsan

Same as Jungang line from Cheongnyangni to Wonju.

Shinrim, Bongyang, Jecheon, Ssangyong, Yeongwon, Yemi, Jeungsan, Sabuk, Gohan, Taebaek, Mungak, Tongni

Same as Taebaek line from Dogye to Gangneung

A feeder line comes from Daejeon.

Daejeon, Sintanjin (in Daejeon), Jochiwon, Cheongju, Ogeumjang, Cheongjugonghang (Cheongju Airport), Jeungpyeong, Eumseong, Judeok, Dalcheon, Chungju, Dokhaeng, Samtan, Bongyang, Jecheon

Train Routes in Korea

There are nine train lines in Korea. The Gyeongbu and the Honam lines run both high speed (KTX) and regular speed trains. Here are a list of the all the rail lines that cover Korea. Please note that not all trains stop at all stations.

Gyeongbu Line

Haengshin (KTX only)

Seoul (KTX)

Gwangmyeong (in Seoul, KTX only), Yeongdeungpo (in Seoul), Anyang, Suwon,

Osan, Pyeongtaek, Cheonan (KTX trains stop at Cheonan-Asan station.), Jochiwon, Sintanjin (Daejeon), Daejeon (KTX), Okcheon,

Iwon, Yeongdong, Chupungryeong, Gimcheon, Gumi, Waegwan, Daegu, Dongdaegu(KTX), Gyeongsan, Chyeongdo, Miryang (KTX), Samrangjin, Mulgeum, Gupo (KTX) (Busan)

Busan (KTX)

Honam

Haengshin (KTX only)

Yongsan (in downtown Seoul, KTX)

Same as Gyeongbu line from here to Shintanjin except no stop at Anyang or Osan.

Seodaejeon (KTX), Gyeyreong (KTX), Yeonsan, Nonsan (KTX), Ganggyeong (Nonsan), Hamyeol,

Iksan (KTX), Gimje (KTX), Sintaein, Jeongeup (KTX),

Baekyangsa, Jangseong, Gwangju (KTX) (All trains for Mokpo stop at Gwangju Songjeong instead.)

Naju (KTX), Dasi, Hampyeong, Muan, Mongtan, Irro, Mokpo (KTX)

Janghang

Yongsan (in downtown Seoul)

Same as Gyeongbu line from here to Cheonan except no stop at Osan.

Asan (This is the same station as Cheonan-Asan KTX station.), Onyang-oncheon, Dogo-oncheon, Sillewon, Yesan, Sapgyo, Hongseong, Gwangcheon, Daecheon, Ungcheon, Pangyo, Seocheon, Janghang, Gunsan,

From Iksan same as Honam line to Seodaejeon Station.

Jeolla

Yongsan

Same as Honam to Iksan.

Samnye, Jeonju, Osu, Namwon, Guggyeong, Guryegu, Suncheon, Deokyang, Yecheon, Yeosu

Trains that run along the southern edge of Korea are also considered to be part of the Jeolla line. It starts same as the Homan line until Gwangju Sonjeong.

Seogwangju, Hycheon, Nampyeong, Hwasun, Neungju, Iyang, Myangbong, Boseong, Deukryang, Yedang, Joseong, Beolgyo, Suncheon, Gwangyang, Okkuk, Jinsang, Hadong, Huingcheon, Yangbo, Bukcheon, Wansa, Jinju, Gaeyang, Nammunsan, Galchon, Jinseong, Banseong, Jinjusumokwon, Pyeongchon, Wonbuk, Gunbuk, Haman, Jangri, Masan, Changwon, Jinyang, Nakdonggang, Samrangjin, Mulgeum, Hwamyeong (Busan), Gupo (Busan), Sasang (Busan), Bujeon (in Busan)

Gyeongchun

Cheongyangni (in Seoul), Seongbuk, Hwangrangdae, Twaegewon, Sareung, Geumgok,

Pyeongnaihopyeong, Maseok, Daeseongni, Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong, Gangchon, Gimyujeong,

Namchuncheon

Seodaejeon Station

Of interest: Costco

Lodging: one motel
Tourist Office: Yes
In Station Computers: Yes

Note: There is also a Seodaejeon subway station which is a fifteen minute walk away from the train station.

Seodeajeon is the secondary train station in Daejoen. Seo means west. This station handles traffic going to the southwest. These trains go to Gwangju and Mokpo. Trains going north go to Yongsan Station in Seoul. There is a KTX line here, but trains are much less frequent than the ones running on the Seoul-Busan line. The upside is that they are also less crowded except for peak tourist season.

The station is located in a residential neighborhood about fifteen minutes by bus from Daejeon Station. The Daejeon Costco is right next door. Several good, but modest restaurants are in the area. There is also a department store, cinema, grocery store complex about five minutes away. Really this area is nothing special although it is a good place to live. It takes about ten minutes to walk to the subway.

There is one motel visible from the main station exit, however, I can't find the entrance when I walk down the street. Actually, getting to this motel may be more difficult than it appears at first.

Daejeon

Of interest: old downtown, traditional food and clothing market, art cinema, city tour

Lodging: Motel

Tourist office: Yes, a good one. There is also an international center across the street.

In Station Computers: Yes

Nearest Int'l ATM: In the underground subway station

Daejeon Station is the main train station for Daejeon. It also has the main tourist information office for Daejeon. This is unusual because few train stations have tourist info offices anymore. The people working here are a good source of information about Daejeon AND Seoul. Note that while the maps and pamphlets on local attractions are in multiple languages, those for Seoul are only in Korean. However, it may be worth stopping here before starting a trip to Seoul because there is NO tourist office at Seoul Station. They are inside. If you leave with the crowds when you arrive in Daejeon, you have to walk back into the train station. The tourist office is on the second floor, the same floor as ticket purchases.

Trains from Daejeon Station run southeast to Daegu and Busan, north to Seoul Station, and into Chungcheongbuk-do. KTX trains run along the Seoul-Busan route. Seoul is about an hour away to the north. To the south Daegu is also about an hour away, while Busan is two hours, all by KTX. Saemaeul and Mugungwha trains take about twice that long, but they are also half as much. There are also five Mugungwha trains a day that run to the mountains. (Trains running southwest leave from Seodaejeon Station.) Cheongju Station, near the capital of Chungcheongbuk-do, is 37 minutes away to the northwest. The line ends at Jecheon, two and a half hours away. At that point travelers can transfer to two other mountain lines.

Daejeon Station is also the name for a subway station which runs underneath the train station.

Daejeon Station is in old downtown. The station plaza is sometimes the location for citizen sponsored events. For the downtown food market, turn to your left when you leave the train station. It starts at the edge of the parking lot.

To get to the international center or the art cinema, go into the subway station to cross the street. There is an underground shopping center. Walk into this. The first set of stairs to your left will take you up to the international center. Keep walking straight away from the train station and shortly you will see some movie posters and flyers. The art cinema is on the third floor. Their website is http://cafe.naver.com/artcinema (Korean). There is also a more conventional multiplex near the station.

There are some good traditional Korean restaurants a five to ten minute walk from the train station. Again, cross under the street through the subway station and exit on the first set of stairs to the left. Keep walking straight, parallel to the train station, until you come to the first street on your right. Walk down this street. On it you will find used clothing stores, a couple of Buddhist stores, and various other small shops. The small streets to your left will take you to a market for luggage, hats, and clothing. Near the end of this small street there are several restaurants.

On the weekends, a city tour leaves from in front of the station.