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Seoul Subway Line 3 Guide: Gyeongbokgung, Insadong, Apgujeong
Seoul Subway Line 3 (Orange) connects Gyeongbokgung Palace, Anguk (Insadong/Bukchon), and Apgujeong. The essential line for palace-hopping and K-drama neighborhoods.
subwayline-3guideevergreengyeongbokgunginsadongapgujeong
Seoul Subway Line 3 (Orange) cuts diagonally through Seoul, linking the royal palaces and traditional heart of Gangbuk (north of the Han River) with the luxury boulevards of Apgujeong and Gangnam in the south. It is the essential line for palace tours, hanok villages, tea houses, and the Rodeo Street.
Route Overview
- Color: Orange (Line 3)
- Length: 38.2 km, 34 stations
- Runs: Daehwa (northwest) ↔ Ogeum (southeast), via central palaces and Gangnam
- Ridership: Medium — less crowded than Line 2, pleasant for tourists
Must-Visit Stations
Gyeongbokgung (경복궁, 327)
Exit 5 leads straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace — Seoul's grandest Joseon palace. The changing of the royal guard happens at 10 AM and 2 PM. Free entry when wearing hanbok. Exit 7 for the National Folk Museum of Korea and Cheongwadae (the former presidential Blue House, open to the public since 2022).
Anguk (안국, 328) — Insadong / Bukchon
The heart of traditional Seoul. Exit 6 drops you into Insadong's main pedestrian street — tea houses, calligraphy shops, and Ssamziegil. Exit 2 heads uphill to Bukchon Hanok Village, the photo-famous neighborhood of traditional wooden houses.
Jongno 3-ga (종로3가, 329)
Transfer to Lines 1 and 5. Exit 6 for Pimatgol — a hidden traditional eatery alley with grilled mackerel joints and makgeolli bars.
Apgujeong (압구정, 336)
Luxury Seoul. Exit 2 for the Cheongdam-dong flagship row (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gentle Monster). Exit 3 for Rodeo Street — K-pop agencies (SM Entertainment is 10 min walk), plastic surgery clinics, and Michelin-starred Korean fine dining.
Sinsa (신사, 337) — Garosu-gil
Exit 8 leads to Garosu-gil (가로수길), Seoul's Champs-Élysées — tree-lined boutique street with designer cafes, concept stores, and photogenic facades.
1
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Dating back to 1395, Gyeongbokgung is Korea most magnificent royal palace. In KPop Demon Hunters, it appears in Jinu story — 400 years ago, after selling his soul to Gwi-Ma, he and his family were invited to live on the palace grounds by the Joseon royal court.
서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161
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2
Bukchon Hanok Village
A traditional Korean village in Jongno featuring centuries-old hanok architecture along narrow winding alleys. In KPop Demon Hunters, Rumi and Jinu meet here for the first time, and later sing Free while levitating above the tiled rooftops.
서울특별시 종로구 계동길 37
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3
Jeontong Dawon
Jeontong Dawon is a serene traditional Korean tea house nestled inside the Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art courtyard in the heart of Insadong. Housed in a beautifully preserved 19th-century hanok, it offers over 15 varieties of traditional Korean teas including omija-cha (five-flavor berry tea), maesil-cha (plum tea), and premium sejak green tea, paired with traditional sweets like yugwa (fried rice cookies). The tranquil garden transforms with each season, making it a perfect escape from the bustling Insadong streets.
서울특별시 종로구 인사동10길 11-4
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4
Ssamziegil
An iconic four-story cultural shopping complex in Insadong with a unique spiral walkway that connects over 70 shops, galleries, and cafes from ground to rooftop. Opened in 2004, its open-air courtyard design lets visitors naturally explore artisan crafts, traditional snacks, and art galleries while walking upward to a rooftop garden with panoramic views.
서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 44
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5
Apgujeong K-Pop Demon Hunters Mural
A vibrant street mural at the Apgujeong underpass featuring Sussie and Derpy — the beloved characters from KPop Demon Hunters inspired by traditional Korean Minhwa folk art. The tiger-and-magpie motif artwork is a must-visit photo spot for fans exploring Gangnam.
Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
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6
Garosu-gil
Garosu-gil is a charming tree-lined street in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, famous for its 160+ ginkgo trees, trendy boutiques, designer cafes, and stylish restaurants. Often called the street of artists, it is one of Seoul's most fashionable walking streets, especially beautiful in autumn when the golden ginkgo leaves fall.
서울특별시 강남구 가로수길 23 (신사동)
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Transfer Tips
- Jongno 3-ga: Lines 1, 5 — Seoul Station area and Gwanghwamun
- Euljiro 3-ga: Line 2 — Myeongdong and Gangnam direction
- Chungmuro: Line 4 — Namsan Tower and Myeongdong
- Express Bus Terminal: Lines 7, 9 — south Seoul, Gangnam
Tip: Apgujeong Rodeo Station is on the Shinbundang Line (Red), not Line 3. Don't confuse the two — they are 600m apart.