[블로그기자단] Seongnaecheon Trail <Songpa Trail>

* 본 기사는 외국인을 위해 영문으로 작성되었습니다.

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글·사진 : 블로그 기자단 장소영

❣ 송파로(Road), 쉰일곱번째 이야기 ❣

Are you a hiking enthusiast? Then you’ve probably heard of the Songpa Trail.

Recently, Songpa-gu proudly took first place in the ‘2025 Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Special Tourist Zone Recovery Project,’ an initiative to boost local tourism. Indeed, there's so much to see and enjoy in Songpa. The city is a vibrant hub of culture, art, tradition, nature, history, and modernity. While you can’t leave out any of these when describing the area, Songpa is especially well-known for its scenic trail―stretching 21 kilometers and beautifully framed by four waterways: Seongnaecheon, Jangjicheon, Tancheon, and the Han River.

Starting today, I’d like to share the charms of Songpa’s four waterways―one trail at a time. First up is the Seongnaecheon Trail. It’s conveniently located near a subway station, making it an easy and accessible starting point.

Take the Green Line and get off at Jamsillaru Station. Then turn left as you come out of Exit 1. Walk straight toward the dark gray building called “Seoul CHAEKBOGO,” a public cultural space centered around books. Keep walking around the building, then continue straight. You’ll soon spot a Songpa Trail rest area on your left. By the time you complete the trail, you'll be quite familiar with the “송파둘레길 (Songpa Trail)” signs and the names of its four routes: 성내천길 (Seongnaecheon Trail), 장지천길 (Jangjicheon Trail), 탄천길 (Tancheon Trail), and 한강길 (Hangang Trail). By the way, “cheon” means stream and “gang” means river in Korean. Now the trail names make more sense, right? You might even learn a bit of Korean along the way!😊 Also, here’s a tip! You can use ‘Google Lens’ to translate the Korean text on signboards and get a better understanding of the details.

Do you see the road sign? You might also spot Songpa’s characters, Haha and Hoho, dressed in their orange and white tiger suits! As you head up the stairs, you’ll see the ‘Songpa Trail’ signboard. To your left, there’s an outdoor gym; to your right, the lush green Seongnaecheon Trail stretches out ahead. Oh! I almost forgot to mention―bike paths are marked in red, and walking paths are green.

As I walk along the trail, I see rest areas and cute little flower box gardens. The views are lovely all around, so it’s great to take a short or long break while soaking in nature.

Can you see all the greenery and the little yellow flowers blooming along the stream? It truly brings a sense of inner peace and healing.

You might come across a few forks in the road from time to time. Don’t worry! Just remember you’re on the Seongnaecheon Trail and check the signs at each turn.

Now, can you see the first aid kit and the stamp boxes near Seongnae Bridge? If you need to use the first aid kit, call 02-2147-3090 during the day or 02-2147-2200 at night. They’ll give you the code to unlock the box. First aid kits are placed at several spots along the trail.

Ready to get your first stamp? Ta-da~! You can either scan the QR code or grab a stamp book from inside the stamp box. Since they’re planning to switch fully to the QR system, the stamp books will no longer be available once the current stock runs out. If you choose the stamp book option, make sure to open it fully so the embossing stamp comes out clearly.

If you go with the QR code, there’s no English version available yet―but don’t worry! Simply enter your phone number twice, check the box to agree to share your info with the district office for the Stamp Tour, and tap the '확인 (Confirm)' button. Once you get your certificate, just tap ‘인증서 저장 (Save Certificate)’ to save it!

Now that you’ve got your stamp, let’s fully enjoy the many charms of the Seongnaecheon Trail, surrounded by nature.

Tricolor willows, fully bloomed false acacia trees spreading their sweet scent, Retusa Fringe trees, canola flower fields, stepping stones across the stream, and the Seongnaecheon itself flowing in perfect harmony with nature―what more could you ask for?

There are also plenty of wild animals living in and around the stream. You’ll find information boards listing them―mostly in Korean―but each animal has its own QR code, so you can easily look them up. I even ran into a couple of bronze ducks and a great egret enjoying its dinner.😁

You may have passed a few bridges by now. Among them, as you walk under Seongnae 5gyo (5th Bridge), you'll see an LED display of water bubbles that mimic the rhythmic flow of four waterways―Seondnaecheon, Jangjicheon, Tancheon, and the Han River―all part of the theme, “Songpa Trail―Where Water and Light Flow.”

It was already 7:01 p.m. when I was almost at the end of the Seongnaecheon Trail. You’ll find a restroom just across the stream when you see the ‘Songpa Trail’ sculpture.

As I crossed the stream, I saw a bronze duck. It felt like he was trying to tell me that this area turns into a Water Playground in the summer.

Heading back to the sculpture, you’ll soon see some road signs. Only 0.51 km to go until you reach the starting point of the Jangjicheon Trail! Go up the small slope, cross at the crosswalks, and follow the path marked on the pavement―you’ll soon reach the Jangjicheon Trail. Haha and Hoho will be walking with you all the way!🤩

Congratulations! You’ve just completed the first trail! How was your walk along the Seongnaecheon Trail? This trail draws quite a crowd during cherry blossom season, from late March to early April―but honestly, I don’t think the season really matters. I truly enjoyed my time here. Being close to the stream―hearing it, watching it flow―I felt like all my worries were being washed away. It was as if the nature surrounding Seongnaecheon gently healed the little scars I carried inside. I hope you felt the same peace, and that you enjoyed the stroll as much as I did.

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Now, are you ready for the next trail? If so, I’ll see you at the Jangjicheon Trail!🤗

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※ This article was written by a blog reporter and may differ from the official position of Songpa-gu.