Wandering Songpa: Seoul Trail Course 8 and Revisiting My Old High School
My next journey along the Seoul Trail (서울둘레길) took me to Course 8: Jangji· Tancheon (8코스: 장지·탄천), which winds through Songpa-gu (송파구). This section is themed as an urban riverside path, where a restored ecosystem lets you walk alongside a variety of life and a gentle natural landscape.
The course was meant to start near Olympic Park, and I expected the starting point to be easy to find. Instead, I spent over an hour circling the park. Even after I finally located a sign for the Seoul Dulle-gil, the path itself remained tricky to follow.
Part of the challenge was that Songpa has its own local Dulle-gil, and unfortunately, the signs didn’t make it clear which trail was which. Still, with some patience—and a little guesswork—I eventually found my way to the course’s endpoint at Suseo Station (수서역).
For lunch, I had jjajangmyeon (짜장면), a dish that always reminds me of childhood. Sadly, it didn’t quite taste like the one I remember from years ago. This has been a bit of a theme on this trip—still searching for that perfect, old-school jjajangmyeon flavor I grew up with.
After lunch, I visited my old high school, just two subway stops away. The building had been remodeled and looked different from the outside, but standing there stirred something deep in me. So many memories, so many footsteps taken on these streets—it felt like I was revisiting a piece of who I used to be.
Searching for the Dulle-gil trailhead in Olympic Park
I was confident I could find the starting point of Dulle-gil Course 8 without much trouble. What I didn’t fully consider was just how large Olympic Park is, how few people there knew anything about the Dulle-gil, and how, once again, not having internet access became a hurdle. I didn’t mind wandering around the park — it was beautiful, and I’d gladly come back to explore it properly — but at that moment, I really just wanted to get started on my main walk.
I eventually found the information center, where a kind employee pointed me in the right direction. My next mission was to make my way to Ogeum 1 Bridge (오금1교), the official starting point of Seoul Dulle-gil Course 8.
Seongnaecheon (성내천)
At the start of the track, I walked alongside Seongnaecheon (성내천) until I reached Freeway 100.
The History of Seongnaecheon (성내천의 유래)
- Location: Songpa-gu, Seoul
- Length: 7.71 km
- Area: 605,735 m²
Seongnaecheon is an ecological stream that starts at Cheongnyangsan in Namhansanseong and flows through Machon-dong, Geoyeo-dong, Ogeum-dong, Oryun-dong, and Olympic Park before entering the Han River. It stretches 7.71 km. The stream was named Seongnaecheon because it flows past Pungnap-dong, historically known as Seongnae-ri (城內里), meaning "village within the fortress."
Due to a lack of natural water inflow, the stream had long been dry. However, through ecological restoration efforts that began in June 2005, underground water and water from the Han River have been drawn in to create an environment where various aquatic plants, fish, amphibians, birds, and insects now thrive. The area has become a natural ecological space visited by many people. In 2009, it was selected as one of Korea’s "100 Beautiful Rivers" by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.
Ogeum 1 Bridge (오금1교)
I finally arrived at the official starting point.
The public art project “Where Are You Living Now?” by artist Song Su-hee transformed a dark and neglected underground passage along Seongnaecheon (성내천) into a vibrant media installation reflecting the stories of local residents. Over five months, 155 community members shared their experiences and thoughts on home, migration, and identity through interviews. These narratives were transcribed into 250,000 characters of text and incorporated into the artwork, which includes audio elements and an online publication.
The installation features LED displays and sound art that play recorded voices three times daily (10 AM, 2 PM, and 6 PM), inviting passersby to reflect on the meaning of dwelling and their place in history. The project also serves as a time capsule, with participants recording messages to their future selves, to be revisited on June 30, 2024. This initiative combines personal histories with broader social themes, using the concept of "spatial life history" to explore how individuals' lives intersect with their environments.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Songpa District, this work exemplifies how public art can foster community engagement and preserve collective memory.
Leaving Las Vegas Seongnaecheon
To continue along the Seoul Dulle-gil path, I had to leave Seongnaecheon and head toward Jangjicheon.
All these lovely tree-lined paths ran alongside apartment buildings, connecting to their playgrounds and exercise equipment. I’m quite sure this part of the Dulle-gil trail is a daily walking route for local residents. How nice it is to have something like this in the city.
Jangjicheon may be small and short, but it’s mighty
Jangjicheon (장지천), near the freeway, was a small stream, but it was well maintained and seemed to offer a pleasant atmosphere for those who live nearby or pass by.
Jangjicheon meets Tacheon
At the end of Jangjicheon, I entered a wide open area where Tancheon flows.
Tancheon origin story related to Samcheongapja Dongbangsak
Long ago, Dongbangsak (東方朔) was said to have lived for Samcheongapja (三千甲子) — about 180,000 years — making him an extraordinarily wise and long-lived figure. His immense lifespan and sharp intellect became a source of trouble even for the Jade Emperor and the officials of the underworld.
After failing multiple times to capture Dongbangsak, the Jade Emperor devised a plan and sent a grim reaper (messenger of the underworld) to trick him. The reaper staged a bizarre scene by washing charcoal in a stream, something unheard of.
When Dongbangsak saw this, he exclaimed:
“I have lived for 180,000 years, but I have never seen anyone try to wash charcoal white.”
By revealing his deep knowledge and long life through that statement, he unwittingly exposed his identity. The reaper immediately captured him and brought him to the Jade Emperor, thus ending Dongbangsak’s earthly journey.
The stream where the reaper washed the charcoal is what is now known as Tancheon (炭川).
Because of this event, the stream was called ‘Sutnae’ (숯내), meaning the stream where charcoal was washed, and over time, it became known as Tancheon—literally Charcoal Stream.
Gangnam Gu (강남구) - Suseo Dong (수서동)
The version below is slightly different from what the sign in the photo says, but I found it online: Suseo-dong (수서동) in Gangnam-gu gets its name from the phrase "west of the water," referring to its position west of Tancheon. Historically, it was called Gungmal ("palace village") because of royal tombs in the area. It was part of Gwangju-gun during the Joseon Dynasty, incorporated into Seoul in 1963, and became part of Gangnam-gu in 1975. Today, it’s known for Suseo Station and green spaces like Tancheon Park.
중동고등학교
I graduated from Jungdong High School (중동고등학교) in 1991 as part of the 84th class. When I was young, the spirit of the school helped me build confidence and pride. Through my time there, I met many people who have remained connected throughout my life. I have always loved my school, both then and now. It was not only the heart of my youth but also a turning point in my life — and if I could live my life over again, I would choose the same high school without hesitation.
중동고등학교 교가
대동이라 대한에서
서울 한복판
우뚝 솟아 눈 띄우는
우리 중동은
벌개이는 새 배빛을
그러 안아서
그늘지는 그 곳까지
비추일 마당
모이었다 각 길로서
서울 복판에
닦고 생각 뛰 놂으로
솟대 삼아서
겉과 속이 한결같이
세고 크거라
하나마다 선량됨이
이 곳의 배움
꽃이 피어 열매 열음
오죽 애일까
작은 샘이 내 히이러
바다이로다
배움이나 가르침이
이것으로써
꾸준하다 그지없는
중동의 이상
A Quiet Journey Through Familiar Streets and Fading Memories
I began my journey in the bustling Olympic Park, but as I continued along the path, a surprising calm settled in. Though many people shared the trail, my walk felt undisturbed and steady. Perhaps it was the warmer weather, easing the lingering chill of spring. Or maybe it was the gentle, flat path that asked little of my legs. More likely, it was my heart moving through two districts that had shaped my youth.
Walking through a familiar city along an unfamiliar route stirred a mix of emotions — like visiting a foreign place I somehow knew better than most. Passing by my old school, now surrounded by a landscape completely transformed, brought a quiet moment of reflection on the past, my youth, and the present.