Subway. Especially Line 1.
If you know Seoul, you might laugh already.
Yeongdeungpo?
Really?
When I was a college student in Korea, my home was in Seoul but my school was in the Incheon area. Every day I commuted by train—about an hour and a half each way. Nearly three hours on the subway every day.
The trains were always packed. Sitting down was almost impossible. I think during all those years I managed to sit for the whole ride maybe fewer than five times.
My stop was Yeongdeungpo Station on Line 1. From there the train continued toward City Hall and deeper into Seoul.
At the time, the area around Yeongdeungpo was nothing like it is today.
It was dusty and industrial, full of factories. The air quality was not exactly wonderful. I grew up there, and I remember that the bottoms of my white socks were almost never truly white.
In those days, many building owners lived on the top floor of their own buildings, and my family did the same.
There was also Yeongdeungpo Market, a large traditional market. When people asked where I was from and I said “Yeongdeungpo,” sometimes they reacted a certain way. The neighborhood had a rough reputation.
But the people there had very big hearts.
After the Korean War, many North Korean refugees settled in that area. In those days there was no internet, no computers, no easy way to search for missing family members. People who were separated often stayed in the same neighborhood for years, hoping their relatives might someday find them.
So when I was growing up, many of my neighbors—and even some of my college friends later—had families originally from North Korea.
Interestingly, I found that I often got along with them naturally. Their personalities felt a little different from typical Seoul culture.
How different?
Maybe like Wyoming compared to California. Still the same country, but the rhythm of life feels different.
Years later, something unexpected happened.
Times Square was built in Yeongdeungpo.
Today it’s one of the busiest shopping and entertainment complexes in Seoul. When my college friends meet now, we often meet there—usually near the escalators where the second floor opens up.
Every time we see each other we say the same thing:
“Oh my God, you look exactly the same.”
Of course, we are probably just being polite.
Recently I even saw videos of big movie premieres there—actors from films like Kingsman standing on the lower floor while crowds gathered on the escalators and upper levels cheering and screaming.
Watching those videos, I couldn’t believe it.
The same area that once felt quiet and industrial during my commuting years had become such a lively attraction.
Life is funny like that.
Small travel tip
If you ever visit Seoul and want to stop by the Yeongdeungpo / Times Square area, here’s one useful thing to know.
From Incheon Airport, taking the airport limousine bus can actually be easier than the subway. The subway works, but you will probably have to change lines once or twice.
The airport bus is usually simpler, especially if you’re carrying luggage.
Another tip
If you visit Times Square, you can easily spend an entire day there.
The complex is connected directly to Shinsegae Department Store, and the basement food area alone is worth exploring. Sometimes I feel sorry for my stomach because there are simply too many things to try.
You can find everything from kimbap and signature tteokbokki to naengmyeon, bibimbap, and all kinds of Korean snacks. Many famous food shops from around Korea open small counters there, so you can taste a little bit of everything.
There are also Korean pastries that practically melt in your mouth.
As for the calories…
that part is your responsibility.
Underground there is also something like a small IKEA-style home goods section where you can find simple household items—wooden spoons, bowls, table decorations, and small kitchen things. The prices are surprisingly reasonable and the designs are charming.
There is also a large electronics section that focuses on smaller home appliances. I once stopped there while helping my mother look for something simple and was amazed at the selection—things designed especially for one-person homes.
If you are traveling with someone who is not very interested in clothes or cosmetics shopping, you can easily leave them there for a couple of hours.
Of course there is also Olive Young, cosmetic stores, cafés, and restaurants throughout the complex.
Upstairs you can even enjoy a traditional Korean hanjeongsik meal served in beautiful yugi bangja brassware. It is a little more expensive than casual food, but still very reasonable compared to American restaurant prices. A full course meal might be around $35.
After dinner, walking around the complex for another hour or two is almost mandatory.
There is a huge bookstore, many international brands, and another connected department store that is perfect for window shopping. Some luxury items can be shocking—you sometimes look at the price tag and wonder if you accidentally counted an extra zero.
But window shopping costs nothing.
So you can easily spend a full day there:
eat, explore, drink coffee, have cake, and wander around.
Just be prepared—you might need a serious diet the next day.
Creative connection
Those subway memories eventually inspired a small creative project.
I made a Seoul subway–inspired Procreate stamp brush set and line color palette. Instead of only using real station names like Yeongdeungpo, I also created a few playful stations of my own—like LALATOWN.
You can use the brushes in digital planners, journals, or illustrations and create your own little subway map of memories.
The price starts at zero.
I’m going through a darker chapter of my adult life right now, but creating this set was surprisingly joyful. I wanted to share that small piece of joy with anyone who might be going through a difficult time too.
If these brushes help your shoulders relax a little, even for a moment, use them to make something—draw, plan, sketch, or build your own small map of memories.
And if you do create something with them, I’d love to see where your line leads.
Have a good trip.
You can download the Seoul Subway Procreate Brush Set and color palette here:
LALATOWN LIFE 
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