Key takeaways
First-time visitors to the Hangdong Railway picture a moody, atmospheric spot for photos on an "abandoned track." But this railway is actually part of the Oryu Line, which runs from Oryu-dong through Bucheon to Siheung, and it was never officially decommissioned — train service was simply suspended because of a nearby development project. Fact The line was built to transport raw materials and finished goods for Gyeonggi Chemical Industry (now KG Chemical), breaking ground in 1957 and completed in 1959, and it also carried freight for Samcheolli Coal Briquettes, Yeongpung Steel, and Ilsin Steel (later Dongbu Steel). Fact
And right beside this railway sits Seoul's last public housing district, built on land released from protected greenbelt status. Fact FIT TRIP reads this site as a place where the popular idea of "abandonment" diverges from the railway's actual legal status — an industrial railway's remains, overlaid with a housing district carved out of released greenbelt land.
What the postcard image misses
"A romantic abandoned railway" tells only half this story. FIT TRIP asks the sharper question: was this railway truly decommissioned, or is it simply paused?
✅ Before you go
- Remember that this is an active rail right-of-way, and take care with safety when walking or taking photos on the tracks
- Check in advance for any access restrictions in ongoing redevelopment zones
- Weekend afternoons draw large crowds of photographers
- The Seoul Botanic Park keeps its own separate opening hours
FAQ
Q: Was the Hangdong Railway officially decommissioned?
A: No. Train service was suspended because of a development project, and there's no confirmed record of a formal decommissioning process. Fact
Q: Was this railway originally built for tourism?
A: No. It was built as an industrial line to transport raw materials and finished goods for a fertilizer plant, along with freight for coal briquette and steel producers. Fact