6-HOUR subway trip to the northernmost metro station in Korea

Today, I tried the whole line of the subway line 1! It was a long journey of exactly 6 hours. Starting at Sinchang Station, along Janghang, Gyeongbu, and Gyeongwon line, I visited some stations and enjoyed them. I tried both the old and new subway cars of Korail and reviewed them, too. Finally, I visited Yeoncheon Station, the northernmost metro station in Korea. The tracks were reconstructed and electrified. Yeoncheon is famous for a Palentholic site as well, which is of great importance in Asian prehistory. Get on board with me and follow the long but exciting journey!

Total cost: KRW 6,100 (USD 4.7)

#Korea #train #subway #trip

I survived 6 HOURS on the subway! Today, we will take the WHOLE line of the subway line 1 and go to Yeoncheon Station, the northernmost metro station in Korea! Don’t you wanna join my trip? Let’s get on board! February 25, 2024, 09:20 a.m. Sinchang Station, Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1

It’s a rainy day, again. Sinchang station is a terminus for the subway line 1. There are two terminus for the subway line 1, and the other one is Incheon. Sinchang Station is a small station in a rural area. Most of the visitors are local residents or students of universities around here.

So, in the station are only a few amenities such as vending machines. Today, we will make a long trip along the subway line 1. Starting at Sinchang, we will go to the last station, Yeoncheon. It is the northernmost metro station in Korea. The whole line is 187km(116 mi). Yeah, we are going.

Unfortunately, subways are being delayed due to the signal malfunction at Geumcheongucheong Station. What a great day to travel…… I found a timetable sheet. This station is very far from Seoul, so the subway does not run very often. We will take one departing at 10:24 a.m.

The basic rate for Seoul Metropolitan Subway is KRW 1,400, just one dollar. Pretty cheap, huh? There are two platforms at this station, but only one is being used. Today’s platform is 2. The way to the other platform is blocked. All stations on the subway line 1 are 10-car long.

It is about 200 meters long. And almost every station has screen doors. The platform is almost empty. The two lines, each starting at Sinchang and Incheon, merge at Guro Station. Let me show you it later. Finally, today’s first subway is approaching. Various kinds of subway cars are in operation on the line 1,

And each of them has its own nickname. This one is called ‘Snake Eyes’ because its headlight resembles the eyes of snakes. There are only a few passengers. “Snake Eyes” Now that everyone has left, let’s get inside and take a look of the train. A typical subway of Korail.

The cabin is so clean and shiny. It has a bluish and white interior. I came to the first car. Unlike Japanese subways, the operating rooms of most subway cars are blocked by a wall. The seats have fabric sheets, and one long seat has seven sections.

There are priority seats for the pregnant, colored in pink. A space for wheelchair users and priority seats. The train will depart at 10:24 a.m. Now today’s journey begins. It is what I really wanted to try, so I am really excited now. A small tip for subway travelers: The cars at each end do not have power motors on them, which means you can travel quietly and comfortably.

That’s why I chose the first car. We are stopping at Onyangoncheon Station. It is the farthest station on the line 1 that you can access by train. I came to this station by train for today’s filming, too. We are approaching Cheonan Station.

It is the junction of Janghang line, which we are taking now, and Gyeongbu line. You can transfer to trains bound for many regions in Korea here. I will get off here and transfer to another subway. This subway will continue its journey to Gwangwoon University Station.

I can go to Seoul Station by this, too, but I will take an express subway. Cheonan Station is very busy with trains. Now a Saemaeul train is approaching the platform. Saemaeul trains refer to upper-class trains with diesel locomotives.

Most of them were replaced with ITX-Saemaeul trains, but a few still remain as some parts of Janghang line are not electrified yet. Another subway approaches… But we will not take this. We will get aboard on the next one. The next subway, an express one, will outrun this later.

Look! An ITX-MAUM train is approaching. The introduction of ITX-MAUM trains is almost done now, and most of them started the operation. If you are interested in the new intercity trains, please check the recommended video at the end! Now our express subway is approaching.

It came from Cheongnyangni, the terminus for express subways bound for Sinchang or Cheonan. This one was recently introduced in 2021, and it’s called ‘Mouth’. The second subway of the day The cabin looks like a really new one, isn’t it? Notably, there are no doors between the cars. What a stunning view! It looks like a scene from Inception. There are new screens that show travel information. Let’s start again with a new car, new mind!

Another feature to note is that the seats are plastic. Fabric seats are disliked by many people because of their dirtiness. We are slowly leaving Cheonan Station. How do you feel about apartment forests in Korea? Some people say it is interesting, and some say it is weird. I don’t like it, either.

Another subway passes After Cheonan Station, the subway changes to Gyeongbu line from Janghang line. Oh, I forgot to mention that the seats got wider. One long seat with the same width as that of “Snaked Eyes” has six sections, not seven.

As we departed Seonghwan Station, we exited Chungcheongnam-do and entered Gyeonggi-do, a part of Seoul Metropolitan Area. System: You are challenged by a Mugunghwa train! Trains are usually faster than subways. They can usually speed up to 150km/h. However, as both approach a station, we are going faster than the train. Yay!

This is the power of EMUs, bourgeois! The subway driver is honking the horn. It’s a melody from a children’s song, saying “Get out of my way”. Anyhow, both stopped at Pyeongtaek Station at the same time. We are approaching Suwon station, the major station in Gyeonggi-do.

Many people got on board here, and every seat was taken. We finally entered Seoul, and we are approaching Gasan Digital Complex Station. It’s been over two hours after the departure, so I will stop by this station and take a rest. Gasan Digital Complex Station Gyeongbu line is always hectic.

Many trains and subways are making their way. See you later. It’s already 12:40 p.m., and I’m hungry. There are some snack corners and convenience stores on the platform. Today, I would like to visit this food stall. It’s on the platform, which means trains pass right next to you. How lovely it is.

This stall sells snacks such as gimbap, udon, ramen, or tteokbokki. You can eat them either standing or seated. It takes just a few minutes for the dish to be made. It’s kind of fast food for people waiting for the subway. I ordered ‘Special Udon’ topped with fried tofu, fish cake, and chili powder.

Udon is originally a Japanese dish, but many Koreans enjoy it in a Korean style. Let’s give it a try. The noodles are chewy and a little sweet, and the broth made of anchovy and veggies is so savory. A touch of chili powder adds a delightful flavor. Fish cake There is a boiled egg in it, too. Delicious food and trains You can see KTXs here, too. Oh, the approaching chime is ringing.

Don’t worry about the winds. There are plastic curtains. I think I look like a hectic salaryman. Thank you for the meal. The next destination awaits! We are going to Seoul Station. We are approaching Guro Station, the junction of Gyeongin line (for Incheon) and Gyeongbu line (for Cheonan). Now the two branches joined together.

We are about to pass my favorite section of this line. We are crossing Han River. There are four railway bridges here, and all-stop subways use the second one. After crossing the river, we will be at Yongsan Station. Howdy! We are finally approaching Seoul Station. Unlike trains, the platforms for the subway are underground.

Now it’s the real ‘sub’way. Seoul Station, underground I’m going to go out of the gate first. Passengers cannot stay longer than 5 hours inside the gate, and I think my journey will get longer. OK, let’s see how much it costs from Sinchang. The additional fee was KRW 2,200(USD 1.5). Welcome to Seoul Station.

This is the former building of the station, constructed in 1925 by Japan. The next year is its 100th anniversary. It is currently being used as a museum. Let’s take a short look. Now an exhibition regarding Korean traditional games is being held. This building had been used until 2004, so it is well preserved.

It’s like a small palace. All of the rooms were remodeled into exhibition areas, either temporary or standing. Each room was restored according to pictures taken during its construction. This is a photo studio, previously used as a VIP room. You can go upstairs, too. There is a beautiful lamp above the stairs.

This room, ‘Grill’, had been used as a big restaurant. But it became an exhibition room for Hanbok, Korean traditional clothing. There are also rooms for the remains of the former building. Some bricks and ornaments A beautiful chandelier Blueprints for the building

It does not take so long to look around all the rooms, so I recommend visiting this museum if you can. OK, let’s continue our journey again. A lot of people are transferring between metro and trains. It’s always not easy to pass through this crowd.

I paid the basic rate of KRW 1,400(USD 1) again. I missed a subway bound for Yeoncheon, so I will take this one to Soyosan Station and wait for the next subway there. It is very crowded. Let’s just stand up. We are approaching Cheongnyangni Station, one of the major train stations in Seoul.

You can transfer to trains bound for the east regions of Korea. The tracks between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station are the only underground part of this line. After Cheongnyangni, the subway goes out of the ground. Now we are taking Gyeongwon line.

It connects Seoul and Wonsan, a coastal city in North Korea, but the tracks are disconnected at the border between the two Koreas. The north part of the subway line 1 was built along it. Recently, the tracks from Dongducheon Station to Yeoncheon Station were electrified, and the subway line 1 was extended there.

We are passing Dobongsan Station. It meets the subway line 7, so you can easily see cars on the line. That looks like a new one. Another small tip: On the subway are a lot of crazy people. Even now, a solicitor is bothering the passengers to sell car toys.

The subway line 1 is the best example of Korean Harlem. It’s still crowded. By the way, it’s 3:15 p.m., and it has been almost five hours since the departure. Many people left at Uijeongbu and Dongducheon Station. 🎶🎶 When approaching the final destinations of subways, the song of Korail is played.

We will soon arrive at Soyosan Station, the last stop of this subway. The tracks starting from Dongducheon Station were rebuilt recently, so the gravels look very clean. The platforms were rebuilt, too. They were on the ground level, but now they are elevated.

This station has two platforms, but only one is being used because the construction is not done yet. This station is visited by many mountain climbers because Soyosan Mountain is near the station. Not many for today, though. This platform is for subways to both Seoul/Incheon and Yeoncheon.

The subway we took stops here for about ten minutes and goes back to Incheon right away. What a view! The new track looks nice. On the first floor, you can see the remains of the former platform on the ground level.

After the reconstruction, the new section stopped operation because of malfunctions of the electric lines. It’s okay now. The subway bound for Yeoncheon will arrive in minutes. 🎶🎶 By the way, Korail uses a text-to-speech program for their announcements. It is the last subway for today’s trip. Let’s get on the last car.

Luckily, the cabin is not crowded. It takes 20 minutes to Yeoncheon Station. Have you heard of Yeoncheon? I don’t think you have, but it is famous for a Paleolithic site. Greg Bowen, an American soldier, found a hand axe whose type has never been discovered in Asia.

It wholly changed the theory regarding the immigration of human beings in the world. And this river is where the axe was found. You can easily access the site by this subway. Wow, that mountain is fully covered with snow! It snowed a few days ago, so I didn’t expect that.

We are approaching Cheongsan Station. It is the least visited station on the subway line 1. The next station is Jeongok Station. Do you remember the prehistorical site I mentioned earlier? It is near this station. The new track was relocated to increase its maximum speed, so some stations were relocated or even closed.

However, thanks to it, trains can speed up to 200km/h(124mph) on this section. Listen to the high-pitched engine sound! These farms cultivate marshmallows. Just kidding. Those are the remains of cultivated rice. Finally, we are approaching the final destination, Yeoncheon Station. The long journey finally ends!

This Gyeongwon line continues to Baekmagoji Station right in front of DMZ. However, the section between Yeoncheon and Baekmagoji is not electrified yet, and no trains are in operation because of the lack of appropriate diesel trains. So this is the last station you can access by trains and subways now.

Welcome to the north end of Korean subways. It is the northernmost metro station in Korea. There are platforms for trains, too. In late 2024, trains will start operation until Baekmagoji Station. Tracks to Seoul and to Wonsan, North Korea Let’s see how much it costs. I paid extra KRW 1,100(USD 0.8).

Totally, I paid KRW 6,100(USD 4.7) today. We arrived at the station at 4:23 p.m., so it took exactly six hours for today’s trip. Thank you for following me for six hours today. This station is reconstructed, too, so everything is new. I wish Korail would also rebuild my house.

It seems Yeoncheon has an official city tour program. I will try it in the future. This one is the latest version of Korail’s subways, called ‘Cube’. I hope trains can run beyond the border and beyond countries someday. The subway is returning to Incheon Station. Goodbye! Yeoncheon Station, the northernmost metro station in Korea.

The backside of the building looks like this. This is the former building of the station, used until 2019. It was remodeled into a tourist information center. Next to it is a replica of Japanese Mikasa-class steam locomotives. The original one is displayed at Korean Railroad Museum in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do.

Water towers were used to provide steam locomotives of water, and one is preserved here. Actually, there is almost nothing to sightsee around the station. So I just walked down the street and took a rest. Are you gonna kill someone And that’s it for today’s video! Thank you for watching my long video.

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