A Night Stroll Along Cheonggyecheon with a Friend - A Much Better Urban Healing Course in Seoul Than Expected

Reason for Visiting Cheonggyecheon

Lately, I've been so stressed with work that my friend suggested, "Let's take a walk along Cheonggyecheon!" Honestly, I thought Cheonggyecheon was just a place for tourists, but once I went, my perspective completely changed haha.

We decided to meet at around 7 PM on Friday at Gwanghwamun Station Exit 5, and as soon as I came out, I could see Cheonggye Plaza right away. I didn't know it was so accessible!

Starting at Cheonggye Plaza!

As soon as we arrived at Cheonggye Plaza, it was "Wow, amazing." The large fountain was spectacular with its powerful jets. My friend said, "Let's take a picture here first," so we took a proof shot!

There's also an artificial waterfall next to the fountain, and the sound of the water is really refreshing. It was fascinating to hear such natural sounds in the middle of the city. Since it was evening, the lights started to come on, creating a perfect atmosphere!

Tip: The fountain operates only from April to November, so keep that in mind!

Starting the Cheonggyecheon Walk in Earnest

There's a staircase leading down to Cheonggyecheon, and as soon as you go down, it's a completely different world. It was noisy with car sounds above, but once you go down, you only hear the sound of water and birds. It truly feels like an oasis in the city.

The first bridge we encountered was Mojin Bridge. Under the bridge is a place called Palseokdam, where they say if you throw a coin, your wish will come true. I tossed a 100 won coin, wishing, "Please let me get a good job~" haha.

According to my friend, about 50 million won worth of coins are collected here annually. Isn't that amazing? The money is used for scholarships at specialized high schools in Seoul, which is meaningful too!

Time Travel into History

The most fascinating thing while walking was the historical relics scattered around. There's a bridge called Gwangtong Bridge, which is said to be made from the stone materials of Queen Sindeok's tomb, who was the wife of King Taejo during the Joseon Dynasty. Looking closely at the bridge, it really has cloud-like patterns engraved on it.

And the mural of King Jeongjo's royal procession was truly impressive! It's a long mural, 186 meters in length, depicting King Jeongjo's journey to Suwon with his mother. It felt like riding a time machine back to the Joseon era.

The Night View is Truly Art!

As the sun sets, the night view begins, and it's truly a spectacle. Each bridge has different lighting, so you encounter a new scene with every step.

Especially, the night view of Sewoon Bridge was the prettiest. The bridge has illuminated letters saying "Stop your steps, Sewoon," which was very emotional. There were a lot of people taking pictures here.

Saebyeok Bridge was unique too. There's a sculpture made in the shape of a traditional market tent, and it looked even prettier at night.

Foot Dipping Paradise in Summer

Since it's August now, there were a lot of people dipping their feet in the water. We also dipped our feet for a while and rested, and it was really refreshing haha. It's amazing to have such an experience in the city!

But you shouldn't go all the way in, just dip your feet. Safety personnel were patrolling constantly. Still, it was plenty refreshing~

The Nearby Restaurants are Awesome!

After the walk, we were hungry, so we looked for nearby restaurants, and there were more options than expected.

Jinjung Woo Yuk Myeon Gwan

It's a Michelin Guide selected restaurant! The Cheonggyecheon branch is the main store, and they say the beef noodle soup is really delicious. I plan to visit next time.

Seonggyeong Mandu Yori Jeonmunjeom

It's a handmade dumpling shop right next to Cheonggyecheon. It's known for its great value for money.

Gwangjang Market

It's a 5-minute walk away, perfect for buying bindaetteok and mayak gimbap.

In the end, we bought some beer from a nearby convenience store and ate it with chicken at Cheonggyecheon haha. It was quite romantic in its own way!

Instagrammable Photo Spots

There are so many great places to take photos!

• Cheonggye Plaza Fountain: A representative proof shot spot
• Mojin Bridge Palseokdam: Great for capturing the coin tossing scene
• Mural of King Jeongjo's royal procession: Makes you look like you're wearing a hanbok as a background
• Night view of Sewoon Bridge: Top night view photo spot
• Various bridges: Each bridge has its own charm

My friend and I took over 200 photos haha.

Good Tips to Know

• Operating hours: Open 24 hours (Access restricted during rain)
• Lighting hours: From sunset to 10 PM
• Things to bring: Comfortable shoes are a must, bring a towel in summer
• Restrooms: Available at Korea Tourism Organization, Hwanghakgyo, and other locations
• Parking: Long wait times on weekends. Public transportation recommended!
• Rainy days: Access may be restricted for safety reasons

Seoul Lantern Festival Information

This year, the Seoul Lantern Festival will be held at Cheonggyecheon from December 13 to January 12 next year! With the theme 'SOUL LANTERN: Seoul, Playing with Light,' over 200 light sculptures will be installed, and I'm already excited.

It's the 16th year, and it's a representative winter festival in Seoul that attracts over 3 million visitors annually. I must visit this year!

Honest Overall Review

At first, I thought, "Isn't it just a tourist spot?" but my perspective completely changed. It's truly a healing space.

Good Points:

• Excellent accessibility (right in front of the subway station)
• Free with plenty to see
• The night view is really beautiful
• You naturally learn history
• Great to go with friends, partners, or family

Points of Improvement:

• Too many people on weekends
• Some mosquitoes in summer
• Can't go when it rains

Overall, I'm completely satisfied! I regret not knowing such a great place existed as a Seoul citizen ㅠㅠ

Recommended Course

This is the course we actually walked:

19:00 Gwanghwamun Station Exit 5 → Cheonggye Plaza
19:30 Enter Cheonggyecheon → Mojin Bridge (Coin Tossing)
20:00 Gwangtong Bridge → Viewing the Mural of King Jeongjo's Royal Procession
20:30 Enjoying the Night View of Sewoon Bridge
21:00 Walk to Saebyeok Bridge
21:30 Chicken & Beer nearby

It took about 2 hours and 30 minutes in total, and it wasn't boring at all!

In Conclusion...

My friend and I promised to "come again next time." This time, we plan to come during the day and walk other sections. I'm especially curious about the section leading to DDP.

I should come for a walk along Cheonggyecheon whenever I'm stressed. It's truly a healing spot in the city! You should visit when you have time. It's much better than you might think.

In the next post, I'll be back with a food tour around Cheonggyecheon! Please subscribe and like.