I decided to check this station out since it would be my home for the time being. Shindaebang Station is a mix of markets, street stalls, and a somewhat antiquated attempt in making a modern train station. Built on top of the Dorim Creek (도림천), it expresses a huge amount of depth and is a great subject for any urban type photographer. Time hasn’t been too kind on this place over the years, but that adds to its character. There are so many layers with a subway, over a freeway, over a bridge filled with food tents, over a park, over a creek.
Like most creeks and rivers in Seoul, there is a recreational park with a bike path that runs along the whole creek, exercise equipment, and basketball courts. I really appreciate the city planning that goes into these parks because they are a great use of otherwise empty space.
There are foot bridges for you to cross the stream.
Above the street, further West from the station, you can find a foot bridge that puts you above the freeway. You can take awesome freeway photos here and cross the creek to the other side as well.
A note for those that suffer from arachnophobia out there. I was walking down from the footbridge when a gigantic spider crossed my eye. It was a huge, vividly yellow spider with strange proportions. It was easily over an inch and the elongated body of the thing made it seem far larger. I had fun filming the guy because I was honestly quite repulsed and intrigued by it at the same time. I later learned it was a jorou spider. As I walked home, I began to notice that there was one equally as big for every other tree I came across. I was quite shocked to see how something so big, could hide from my sight for so long! Now that it’s fall, it seems most of them are gone now, but do expect them during the summer!
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, so I also made a video:
Anyways, hope you enjoyed this place. Although it’s not the prettiest of places, it does have a lot of shooting opportunities! Be sure to check out more photospots in Seoul here!
Finding the Seoul 