From an Artificial Island in 1917 to a Cultural Island Under Construction in 2026 — Nodeul Island, Seoul

From Jungjido in 1917 to Nodeul Island on September 28, 2019

Nodeul Island is not a naturally remaining island, but an artificial island created in 1917 by building the embankment for Hangang Bridge. At the time, it was called Jungjido (中之島), and in an era when people crossed the Hangang by boat, it played the role of supporting the bridge so that people and vehicles could cross the river via the bridge.

Hangang Bridge was damaged by an explosion during the Korean War and took on its current form after restoration in 1957. Until the 1960s, the white-sand beach around the island was a place for swimming and boating, but later, as Hangang development eliminated the sandbar, it drifted away from citizens' daily routes for a long time.

"Nodeul" comes from the place name once used for the area opposite Yongsan. In 1414, the 14th year of King Taejong of Joseon, Nodeul Naru was created here, and Nodeul/Nodeol, meaning "stepping stones where egrets played," remains today in the place name Noryangjin (鷺梁津). The current cultural space, Nodeul Island, officially opened on September 28, 2019.

An island where indoor facilities are open until 21:00 or 22:00 from March to October 2026

The indoor operating hours for the summer season of March to October 2026 are 10:00~21:00 from Tuesday to Friday, and 10:00~22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Every Monday, the indoor facilities are closed, but outdoor spaces including the lawn yard and Nodeul Square are open 24 hours a day.

Admission is free. However, viewing conditions and reservation fees for Live House performances and special exhibitions vary by event, and Live House is a performance venue with 456 seats or standing room for 708 people, operating only during performances and rentals. Nodeul Island's main phone number is 02-749-4500, and the official website is https://nodeul.org/.

As of August 2, 2026, the indoor cultural spaces are operating, and from August 6 to 19, the 1st Hall of Nodeul Gallery will host the 1st Korea Student Architecture Biennale free of charge. In accordance with the operating principle that if Monday is a public holiday, the facility closes on the following day, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 was announced as the closure day for the indoor facilities in August 2026.

• Nodeul Gallery: usually 10:00~20:00, depending on the exhibition schedule
• Nodeul Lounge: 10:00~21:00 on weekdays in summer, 10:00~22:00 on weekends and public holidays
• Nodeul Square and the lawn yard: open 24 hours except for the inside of the building

About 700 m toward Hangang Bridge from Exit 2 of Nodeul Station on Line 9

If you are using the subway only, Exit 2 of Nodeul Station on Line 9 is the simplest option. Walking about 700 m from the exit toward Hangang Bridge will take you to Nodeul Island, and the official walking estimate is about 10 to 20 minutes. Since this route crosses a bridge over the river, on rainy or windy days a windproof outer layer is more practical than an umbrella.

From Yongsan Station and Sinyongsan Station, it is better to connect by bus. From Exit 1 of Yongsan Station on Line 1, it is about 300 m to Sinyongsan Station stop (03-004), and from Exit 3 of Sinyongsan Station on Line 4, it is about 100 m to the same stop, then get off at Nodeul Island stop (03-340).

Nodeul Island stop is on the west side of the island, and if you get off at the east-side stop, you can move to the west-side complex cultural space via the connecting bridge. On days of major events, pedestrian traffic around the bridge and bus stops increases, but the route of walking directly from the subway station is easy to time without transfer waiting.

• Main bus routes: 150, 151, 152, 500, 501, 504, 506, 507
• Main bus routes: 605, 750A, 750B, 751, 752
• Local bus: 6211

69 spaces on the west side and 21 on the east side; on some days the bus is faster than parking

Nodeul Island parking has capacity for 69 regular vehicles and 1 large bus on the west side, and 21 regular vehicles on the east side. Accessible spaces are separately assigned with 6 on the west side and 2 on the east side. Parking fees are 1,000 won for the first 30 minutes, then 300 won per 10 minutes, with a daily maximum of 15,000 won, and it has been operated as a paid facility since August 15, 2021.

Payment is a 24-hour unmanned card-payment system, and charges apply starting 11 minutes after entry. A discount rate of 80% applies to persons with disabilities and persons of national merit, 50% to compact cars, low-emission vehicles, holders of the Multi-Child Happy Card, and single-parent families, and 20% to persons of distinguished service to the state and distinguished military families.

In the second half of 2026, vehicle entry or parking use may be restricted depending on the scope of construction. If parking on Nodeul Island is unavailable, the official alternatives listed are Ichon 3 Parking Lot with 172 spaces, Ichon 4 Parking Lot with 33 spaces, and Nodeul Naru Park Parking Lot with 19 spaces. Rather than heading toward the lower area under construction, it is better to move based on the west-side complex cultural space and bus stops.

The roles of the 456-seat Live House and Nodeul Gallery Halls 1 and 2

The core of Nodeul Island's complex cultural space is the Live House on the 1st and 2nd floors. With 456 seats or standing room for 708 people, it is not a general permanent exhibition venue but a specialized music space that opens according to performance and rental schedules. According to the facility guide, operating hours are 10:00~23:00, closed on Mondays.

Nodeul Gallery Halls 1 and 2 are exhibition spaces on the 1st floor and are usually open from 10:00~20:00. Nodeul Lounge is a free media art and project space on the 1st floor, and when there is no exhibition it is used as a shared resting area. The rehearsal studio is on the 1st floor inside Live House and is reserved in 4-hour blocks only from 11:00~15:00 and 17:00~21:00.

Nodeul Seoga is a book-and-music-centered space connecting the 1st and 2nd floors. The exhibition "Crafts by Chance in Nodeul Island," which started on March 26, 2026, and "Art Space_Edge" from January 1 to October 31 are being held at Nodeul Seoga, so during daytime hours when there are no performances it is nice to see the exhibition and the bookstore together.

Why the Hangang Park area changed between November 2025 and August 2027

Nodeul Island is not a place that simply remains in its finished state. In May 2024, Seoul City selected Thomas Heatherwick's "Soundscape" as the final design in the international place-design competition, and is promoting the "Nodeul Global Art Island" project with a goal of completion in 2030. The project area covers 119,854㎡ around Yangnyeong-ro 445 and 446.

According to the 2026 second-half operating notice, construction in the lower Hangang Park area is scheduled from November 2025 to August 2027, and construction in the upper complex cultural space is planned from the second half of 2026 to the first half of 2028. Accordingly, access restrictions in the lower area, barricades, noise and dust from construction vehicles and heavy equipment, and changes in the landscape may occur.

The most practical changes concern outdoor rentals and convenience facilities. Rentals from July 1 to October 31, 2026 will be limited to indoor spaces only, and outdoor space rentals such as the lawn yard have been temporarily suspended for safety reasons. Food and beverage shops and convenience stores are also unavailable due to the expiration of contracts with existing tenants, so it is more practical to prepare water and simple snacks before entering the island.

The architecture biennale from August 6 to 19, 2026 and a 60- to 90-minute route

As of August 2, 2026, the schedule lists the Korea Student Architecture Biennale in Nodeul Gallery Hall 1 from August 6 to 19, a solo concert by Royal 44 in Live House on August 7, and a Monday Kiz concert on August 20. The exhibition is free, but concerts follow each organizer's reservation conditions, so if your purpose is a free stroll, it is clear that you should focus on the gallery and outdoor spaces.

Under the current conditions, the recommended route for first-time visitors is to enter the complex cultural space from the west-side bus stop or the Hangang Bridge approach, see Nodeul Seoga and Nodeul Gallery, and then follow the open outdoor route to view Hangang Bridge and the riverside scenery in a 60- to 90-minute course. If you have a performance ticket, it is safer to allow more than 2 hours including entry and waiting time.

The 2026 space tour "Nodeul One Round 2.0" runs free throughout Nodeul Island from January 1 to October 31, on weekdays from 10:00~21:00 and on weekends from 10:00~22:00. Completing one QR mission will issue a QR coupon for a Photomatic photo session, and the coupon allows 8 shots, selection of 4 frames, and printing of 1 photo.

• For walks and river views: 60 to 90 minutes
• When visiting Nodeul Seoga and the exhibition together: 90 to 120 minutes
• Including a Live House performance: at least 2 hours, including runtime and entry waiting time