The streets around Hongik University in Mapo-gu, west of the river. Busking, clubs, photo booths and shops, with three rail lines meeting under one station.
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홍대 (hong·dae) is short for 홍익대학교 앞, the streets in front of Hongik University in Seogyo-dong. The Korea Tourism Organization lists it at 20 Hongik-ro and describes shops for clothes, cosmetics, living goods and books, an ateliers' street, a street it calls Picasso's Street and a Club Street, with buskers and dance crews on the pavements.
Three lines meet at Hongik University station: line 2, the Gyeongui-Jungang line and the airport railroad. Exit 8 puts you 170 m from the busking street, exit 9 is 220 m from the start of Red Road, and exit 3 opens straight onto the Gyeongui Line Forest Park and Yeonnam-dong, 447 m away by Visit Seoul's count.
Mapo-gu has tied the main streets together as 레드로드 (re·deu·ro·deu), Red Road, a tourism street of about 2 km running from the Gyeongui Line park to the old Dangin-ri power plant in seven sections, R1 to R7, about 25 minutes on foot. Since 16 May 2025 kickboards are banned on it, the first street in the country with that rule.
Take line 2 or the airport train to Hongik University. Exit 8 or 9 for the busking street and the shops, exit 6 for the book street and the small design shops behind the station, exit 3 for the park and Yeonnam. Sangsu station on line 6 drops you at the south end, by the live halls and the jazz club.
Where is Hongik University station exit 8?
Tip Kickboards have been banned on Red Road since 16 May 2025, so walk it.
checked Nov 4, 2026Last checked Nov 4, 2026.
동네 Neighborhoods · 길연남동Yeonnam-dongThe neighbourhood north of Hongik University station, built along the old railway line that became a park. Low-rise alleys of cafés, small shops and restaurants.오늘 올라옴 up today
동네 Neighborhoods · 길망원동Mangwon-dongA low-rise neighbourhood one stop west of Hongdae on line 6, between the shops and the river. A forty-year-old market, a café street and a Han River park.오늘 올라옴 up today장소 Places · 길홍대 레드로드Hongdae Red RoadMapo-gu's name for the main Hongdae streets, marked with a red line on the ground. About 2 km from the Gyeongui Line park to the old Dangin-ri power plant, in seven sections from R1 to R7.오늘 올라옴 up today장소 Places · 소리홍대 걷고싶은거리Hongdae Walking StreetThe pedestrian street in front of Hongik University station where the buskers set up. Mapo-gu now calls it R2 of the Red Road.오늘 올라옴 up today장소 Places · 길경의선숲길Gyeongui Line Forest ParkA 6.3 km linear park laid over the old Gyeongui railway, from Gajwa to Yongsan. The Yeonnam stretch starts at Hongik University station exit 3.오늘 올라옴 up today방법 How-to · 놀이인생네컷in·saeng·ne·keotFour cuts of your life. An unmanned photo booth with frames to choose from, open all night, on every corner.먹을것 Food and drink · 맛라멘스테디 Steadyra·menJapanese-style ramen as Seoul makes it: tonkotsu, a ticket machine, a counter, a line outside.장소 Places · 놀이노래방no·rae·bangA singing room. A private room with two microphones, a tambourine and a songbook in four languages.방법 How-to · 맛웨이팅we·i·tingThe queue outside a restaurant, and the app you joined it with. From the English word waiting.
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛양꼬치YangkkochiLamb skewers turned on a rack at the table and dipped in cumin. The Korean-Chinese street by Konkuk University is where Seoul eats them, with Tsingtao.오늘 올라옴 up today
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛마라탕MalatangA numbing, spicy Sichuan soup you build yourself. Pick the ingredients from a cold case and hand over the bowl.오늘 올라옴 up today
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛크로플CroffleA croissant pressed in a waffle iron, served with ice cream or syrup. The home-café dessert of 2020 that stayed on the menu.오늘 올라옴 up today
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