Guide To Dongducheon, Gyeonggido | 6 Must-Visit Spots

Have you ever wondered where Soyosan Station, the last stop on Seoul Subway Line 1, is? 

Today, we will take you around Dongducheon, Gyeonggi-do, where Line 1 ends. 

Are you curious about what special attractions are here? Keep on reading!

Special Tourist Zone
외국인관광특구

Address: 경기 동두천시 생연동
Saengyeon-dong, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Transportation: 200m walk from Bosan Station Exit 1

The U.S. Military in Korea has a base in Dongducheon, so there are a mix of many cultures, and the Special Tourist Zone we'll introduce today in particular has its own distinct color.

The streets are lined with colorful shops and bars, and huge figures catch the attention of pedestrians.

However, maybe because it was a weekday morning, many stores weren't open so the streets were pretty quiet. We recommend you check the business hours before you go if you want to check out any stores.

Donggwang Theater
동광극장

Address: 경기 동두천시 동광로 33 동광극장
33 Donggwang-ro, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Opened in 1959 and still in operation, Donggwang Theater has a total of 283 seats and is currently the oldest movie theater in Korea.

However, there aren't many movie and showing time options to choose from. When we arrived, the owner said he wasn't opening today and closed the doors, so we we couldn't take a picture of the inside.

Source: tvN

Don't look down on this movie theater where the traces of time can be seen just because it's old. It's a filming location for dramas Reply 1988 and Signal. In Reply 1988, when Taek and Deok-sun meet here for a movie date, some passers-by recognize Taek and ask for pictures. 

Songwolgwan
송월관

Address: 경기 동두천시 큰시장로 28-10
28-10 Keunsijang-ro, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: 11:30-21:00

Songwolgwan in Dongducheon is a 100-year-old restaurant that specializes in tteokgalbi, or grilled short rib patties, and has gained a good reputation among locals. It even opened a second floor!

Once you enter, go to the second floor to order. For lunch on weekdays, you'll have to wait in line, so you can tell how popular this restaurant is, right?

Galbitang (갈비탕)
14,000 won

You have to order at least 2 servings of tteokgalbi at once and because of the chilly weather, we chose galbitang (beef short rib soup), the second most popular dish here. It definitely warmed us up on this cold day! 

Peppers and kimchi come with the galbitang and you can dip the meat in the sauces. If the soup is a little bland, you can add salt to your taste.

Ever Knock
에버노크

Address: 경기 동두천시 평화로2349번길 43
43 Pyeonghwa-ro 2349beon-gil, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: 11:00-21:00

Ever Knock, a 10 minute walk from Songwolgwan, is a famous cafe in the Dongducheon area. It's pretty, elegant exterior attracts attention right away.

The hand-painted menu was so cute, it made us want to order everything.

There's not only drinks, but also desserts like cookies, cakes, tarts, and pies.

The interior is mainly green and white, making it feel fresh. The many green plants inside make you feel like you're outdoors.

Strawberry Latte (딸기라떼): 6,500 won
Orange Tart (오렌지타르트): 6,300 won

The strawberry latte is so cute with the strawberry on top. Make sure to mix the strawberry chunks on the bottom well before drinking!

The orange tart has a delicious cream in the middle and the sweet and sour orange goes well with it. The crust is perfectly crispy.

Nijimori Studio
니지모리 스튜디오

Address: 경기 동두천시 천보산로 567-12
567-12 Cheonbosan-ro, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: 11:00-21:00
Last Entry 19:30

Cost: 20,000 won

Now, we'll introduce our favorite spot from this trip, Nijimori Studio. Inside, you'll find Japanese furniture and ceramic stores, Japanese-style lodging, kimono stores, sushi and ramen restaurants, a Shinto shrine, and Japanese-style cafes. 

The park isn't too big, but there's nothing it's missing and it was enough to satisfy us, who haven't been to Japan in over two years!

You can write postcards for free here, and many tourists write their wishes and gratitudes.

There are cute little Japanese souvenirs on the street, making people feel like they've been transported to Kyoto in an instant.

At the Japanese-style bakeries, they also sell imported ramen, candy, snacks, and drinks, which will satisfy your shopping needs.

Niji Ramen
니지 라멘

Address: 니지모리 스튜디오 광장1동 1층
1F Plaza 1, Nijimori Studio

Hours: 11:00-21:00

This is a ramen restaurant that can be easily found on the main street when you enter Nijimori Studio.

You can see the Japanese influence in the exterior and interior. It's a large restaurant and all the staff are wearing Japanese-style clothes. They paid attention to every little detail to make it seem like Japan!

Tonkotsu Ramen (돈코츠라멘)
12,000 won

The broth of the tonkotsu ramen wasn't as rich as the broth in Japan, but was still very fragrant and came with a soft-boiled egg.

If you visit Nijimori Studio and are looking for something to warm you up, we recommend Niji Ramen!

What did you think of our little tour around Dongducheon? 

It's a little over an hour away from Seoul, but we recommend it for those who want to experience different cultures. 

Let us know which attraction was your favorite!