Seoul Subway Line 5 Guide: Gwanghwamun, Yeouido, Olympic Park

Seoul Subway Line 5 (Purple) is the east-west backbone of central Seoul. It passes directly beneath Gwanghwamun Square (the civic heart), Yeouido (financial district and cherry blossom paradise), and Olympic Park. A western branch reaches Gimpo Airport.

Route Overview

• Color: Purple (Line 5)
• Length: 52.3 km, 56 stations — the longest single-operator line in Seoul
• Branches: West branch splits at Gangdong → Macheon (east Seoul) and Sangil-dong
• Runs under the Han River at Yeouinaru ↔ Mapo — the only subway line that directly tunnels beneath the river

Must-Visit Stations

Gwanghwamun (광화문, 533)

Exit 2 leads to Gwanghwamun Square, the King Sejong statue, and the Korean National Museum of Contemporary History. 5-minute walk to Gyeongbokgung and Cheonggyecheon.

Yeouinaru (여의나루, 527)

Exit 2/3 for Yeouido Hangang Park — the prime riverside picnic and cherry blossom spot. In April, Yunjung-ro (Yeouido) becomes a tunnel of 1,800 cherry trees. Summer is chicken-and-beer season on the grass.

Yeouido (여의도, 526)

Transfer to Line 9. Exit 3 for IFC Mall (underground shopping), Hyundai Department Store and the financial district. Nearby: 63 Building observatory.

Gwanghwamun to Jongno 3-ga stretch

Line 5 passes Seodaemun Prison History Hall (Seodaemun Station, 532), a moving WWII-era historical site.

Olympic Park (올림픽공원, 550)

Exit 3 for Seoul Olympic Park — 1.5 km2 of green space, sculpture garden, and the 1988 Olympics venues. Hanseong Baekje Museum is at Exit 1.

Gimpo Airport (김포공항, 512)

Transfer to Line 9, AREX, and the Gimpo Goldline. Domestic flights + direct access to Incheon via AREX.

Transfer Tips

• Jongno 3-ga: Lines 1, 3 — Insadong and old downtown
• Yeouido: Line 9 — express to Gangnam
• Gimpo Airport: Line 9, AREX — flights
• Wangsimni: Line 2, Suin-Bundang — east Seoul
• Gunja: Line 7 — Konkuk University direction

Tip: Line 5 splits into two eastern branches at Gangdong Station. For Olympic Park, make sure you board a train toward Macheon, not Sangil-dong.