Serving the southeast regions of Seoul and the neighboring city of Seongnam, Seoul’s subway line 8 is one of the shorter lines of the Seoul metro lines but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of things to see and do!
Not too far from Amsa Station is the Amsa Prehistoric Settlement Site. Here, a Neolithic village was discovered in 1925 after a flood and which was, at the time, the largest prehistoric settlement discovered in Korea. There are two main exhibition halls that displays the many relics such as tools and pottery that were found here though part of the halls are under renovation until the end of the year. There are also recreations of the huts and grounds that were used by these prehistoric settlers. Admission is very cheap making it great for families though the grounds are closed on Mondays.
Afterwards, you can enjoy the nearby Gwangnaru Park which is not only one of the 12 Hangang Parks but the largest at 12km in length. The park has an outdoor swimming pool in the summer seasons but cycling enthusiasts will especially want to make a visit as there is a special Gwangnaru Bike Park. Here, a special bike racing track is found and special courses with ramps and jumps for advanced bmx riders. Don’t have a bike? No worries as the bike center here offers bike rentals.
At Mongchontoseong Station, the sprawling Olympic Park offers a bit of something for everyone. Those into history can check out the remnants of the Mongchontoseong Fortress which was used by the Baekje Kingdom several thousands of years ago. Though there isn’t much left of the fortification remnants, the nearby Mongchon Museum of History and the Hanseong Baekje Museum will shed greater light on this era. Additionally in the park, various outdoor art installations are found while the small Soma Museum of Art will appeal to art lovers. As the name suggests, the park is filled with the venues and stadiums that were used for the 88 Seoul Olympics which still hosts sporting events and musical concerts today.
At Jamsil Station, one can access the popular Lotte World Amusement Park with its numerous amusement park rides both indoors and outdoors. In this massive sprawling complex is also an enormous shopping mall as well as the Charlotte Theater where global and musical productions are held throughout the year. Across the street the massive Lotte World Tower just recently opened. One of the world’s tallest structures at 123 stories tall, this tower has it all including shops, restaurants, luxury hotel, concert hall, and an observatory atop that offers some of the widest spanning views on clear days in all of Korea.
From Garak Station, you can get to the massive Garak Market. Though less known than some of the city’s other traditional markets, this immense public wholesale market measures over half a million square meters in size which sells fresh meat, seafood, and produce at wholesale prices. The sections are divided over 17 buildings but the extremely low prices make it a favorite of restaurant and business owners alike. But visitors can also pick up very cheap goods here and many say the fresh meat and seafood here are much cheaper than some of Seoul’s more famous meat and fish markets. The livestock market has a lively auction at 10:30 and 2:30 PM every day except Sundays while the fishery market holds its auction between 2 and 5 AM daily except on Sundays.
Jangil Station holds the massive Garden 5 Complex which holds shops, movie theaters, restaurants, and a huge and clean jjimjilbang. Namhansanseong Station, just a few stops away, is technically not in Seoul but the UNESCO World Heritage Namhansan Fortress remnants is found here on the Namhansan Mountain. This fortress served an important role in the Joseon Dynasty to protect the city as well as serving as a temporary residence for the royal family during warfare. The mountain itself is very popular with mountain climbers.