Seoulites Ride the Subway to the Han River for a $3 Bowl of Ramyeon: Convenience-Store Noodles at Sunset

Part 4 of 39 in Only Here: 39 Things You Can Only Do in Korea

Drop a packet of noodles into a foil bowl, press a button, and three minutes later you are eating steaming ramyeon on the grass by the Han River. The colder November gets, the better the broth tastes against a 5:30 sunset.

Featured photo: Ahn Yeong-gwan / Korea Tourism Organization, KOGL Type 1

Only Here: 39 Things You Can Only Do in Korea · Part 4 · Seoul

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At a glance

• What: Buy packet ramyeon at a Han River park convenience store, cook it in the instant machine, and eat it facing the river. Add chicken delivery (chimaek, chicken and beer), the sunset and the night view and it becomes a half-day plan.
• Where: First time? Pick Yeouido Hangang Park (right outside Yeouinaru Station, Line 5) or Ttukseom Hangang Park (right outside Jayang Station, Line 7). Step out of the station and the store and the grass are right there. The store with the widest ramyeon selection is the CU at Jamsil Pier.
• Price: About ₩3,000–4,500 ($2.30–3.40) per packet; egg and cheese toppings cost extra. Riverside stores charge more than neighborhood ones, enough that singer Chanyeol’s surprise at a ₩4,000 ramyeon made the news (TV Report). Seoul says it has required riverside kiosks since 2024 to price within 10% of regular convenience stores (Seoul Media Hub, April 2026).
• Hours: Many riverside stores are open 24 hours or until midnight (Google Maps, checked October 26, 2026). The parks are open 24 hours.
• November tip: Seoul’s sunset is around 5:30 p.m. at the start of November and around 5:15 p.m. by the end. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset, cook your noodles, and you get the sunset and the night view in one go. Nights drop to single digits Celsius, so bring an extra layer.
• Rules: Don’t cook on your own burner in the park. Shade tents are allowed through November only in designated areas from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with at least two sides open (fines up to ₩1 million; Seoul Shinmun, August 12, 2025).

Also read: V's Elementary School Wall Holds a Starry Night: A BTS Mural Walk and Seomun Night Market in Daegu

Han River ramyeon, done right

1. Pick your store first

Most park kiosks are CU, GS25 or 7-Eleven, and almost all have instant ramyeon machines. Ratings are from Google Maps, checked October 26, 2026.

• Yeouido: CU Yeouido Pier stores 1 and 2 (4.1), CU Hangang Yeouido 1 (3.6, 24 hours), 7-Eleven Yeouido Hangang 1 (3.4, 24 hours). The CU on the ground floor of the pier building has indoor window seats, good on a windy day. The names don’t always come up in search, so look for “CU” on the map.
• Ttukseom: CU Hangang Bus Ttukseom (4.5, until midnight), GS25 Hangang Ttukseom 1 (3.0), CU Hangang Renaissance Ttukseom (3.0).
• Jamsil: CU Jamsil Pier. It’s the second “CU Ramyeon Library,” a wall of every kind of ramyeon, and upstairs is Nongshim’s Neoguri Ramyeon Shop. Indoor and outdoor seating.

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2. How the ramyeon machine works

1. Pick a packet from the shelf. Shin Ramyun, Neoguri and Jin Ramen are the basics, and each store adds limited editions or regional noodles.
2. At the counter you get a foil bowl for the machine. Buy an egg, cheese or kimchi at the same time.
3. Put the noodles and seasoning in the bowl and set it on the cooker.
4. Scan the barcode or press the button. The machine pours the right amount of water and starts boiling. About three minutes. Add the egg after a minute or so.
5. Grab disposable chopsticks and head to your spot. The bowl is hot, so hold it with a paper cup sleeve or napkins.

Machines vary by store; some read the barcode, some use buttons. Staff will show you if you look lost.

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3. What to eat with it

• Egg and cheese: The standard toppings.
• Triangle kimbap and kimbap rolls: Dip them in the broth.
• Banana milk or Milkis: They cool the spice.
• Beer: Drinking is allowed in the parks. Sort your empty cans when you throw them away.

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4. Find a seat

• Grass: The lawns in front of Mulbit Stage in Yeouido and around the waterside stage in Ttukseom are wide. Stores sell or lend picnic mats.
• Steps and riverside decks: Good if you have no mat.
• Indoor windows: On a windy day the stores inside the pier buildings are better.
• Ttukseom pier rooftop: Sunset, N Seoul Tower and the Line 7 subway crossing the river, all in one frame (@nite_4all).

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5. Order chimaek

The parks have designated “delivery zones.” Set your delivery address to one and fried chicken comes right to the river.

• Delivery zones: 17 across 11 parks: four in Yeouido, three in Ttukseom, two in Banpo, one each in Gwangnaru, Jamsil, Jamwon, Ichon, Yanghwa, Nanji, Gangseo and Mangwon.
• Discount through November 30: On Seoul’s public delivery app, “Seoul Delivery+ Ttaenggyeoyo,” set pickup to a park delivery zone and orders over ₩25,000 get a ₩3,000 coupon (Seoul Media Hub). Signing up usually needs a Korean phone number and payment method, so visitors may find it easier to pick up from a chicken shop inside the park.
• Chicken in the park: BHC Chicken Yeouido Hangang Park 2 (until 11 p.m.), Ichon Hangang Chicken (until 2 a.m.) and others.

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6. Clean up after yourself

Pour leftover broth into the broth drain outside the store, then sort the bowl, cans and plastic. Trash on the riverbanks makes the news every year.

Top 10 things to do on the Han River

1. The Some Sevit night view in Banpo (photo spot)

Some Sevit, the artificial islands under Banpo Bridge, light up completely after dark. The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Bridge ended its 2026 season on October 31 (@tripnote.io) and comes back next spring. Even without the fountain, the islands and the bridge lights stay on.

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2. Ride the Hangang Bus (experience)

A river bus that launched in September 2025. Since March 2026 it runs as a west line (Magok to Yeouido) and an east line (Yeouido to Jamsil); change at Yeouido at no extra cost. Piers: Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu, Ttukseom and Jamsil, plus Seoul Forest from 2026. The regular fare is ₩3,000 ($2.30) (MTN, September 2026). Boats run about an hour apart, so check the timetable; live departures and seats show up in Naver Map and KakaoMap.

My recommendation: ride from Yeouido to Ttukseom or Jamsil at sunset, then eat your ramyeon there.

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3. Rise 130 m on the Seoul Dal balloon (experience)

A tethered gas balloon in Yeouido Park that rises about 130 m on its cable. Since April 2026 it runs daily from noon to 10 p.m., opening at 10 a.m. on peak-season weekends from September to November (Seoul Media Hub). In the first half of 2026, 43.6% of riders were foreign visitors (Newsis). The adult fare was around ₩25,000 ($19) when it opened; check the current fare and booking before you go. It stops in strong wind.

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4. Ride a Ttareungyi bike along the river (experience)

Seoul’s public bikes, Ttareungyi, have docks all along the Han River bike paths. A non-member day pass costs ₩1,000 ($0.75) for one hour or ₩2,000 for two (Seoul city, March 2026). Go over 60 minutes on the one-hour pass and you pay ₩200 per extra five minutes, but returning within the hour and renting again costs nothing extra. The app has an English screen. The riverside ride is lined with autumn silver grass.

In October 2026, police began cracking down on illegally modified e-bikes on the riverside paths, so keep to the speed limit.

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5. A sunset picnic on Nodeul Island (photo spot)

An island in the middle of Hangang Bridge. When the sun sets in the west, the 63 Building and the railway bridge stand in silhouette against it. It’s one of the most posted sunset spots in Seoul. Ten minutes on foot from Nodeul Station (Line 9).

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6. Mangwon and the Seongsan Bridge sunset (photo spot)

The sun setting behind the red arches of Seongsan Bridge is Mangwon Hangang Park’s signature shot. The underpass tunnel into the park photographs well too. Mangwon Market is 15 minutes’ walk away; pick up croquettes or sweet fried chicken on the way. Mangwon or Hapjeong Station, Line 6.

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7. The Ttukseom “caterpillar,” Hangang PlPl (see)

A long caterpillar-shaped building linking the Jayang Station exit to the park. Inside are a free Han River exhibition and a lounge; check opening hours on the Hangang Park website (closed Mondays). At sunset, the curve seen from underneath makes the photo.

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8. Ttukseom in KPop Demon Hunters (K-pop moment)

The “Seom Yuwonji Station” in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters is Jayang Station on Line 7 (formerly Ttukseom Resort Station), right in front of Ttukseom Hangang Park. Cheongdam Bridge, the double-decker bridge where HUNTR/X fights demons, with the subway below and cars above, is in plain view from Ttukseom (Seoul Media Hub). Jayang’s platform sits on the bridge, so you look down on the river while you wait for your train. The film’s other Seoul spots are in Part 7.

9. Autumn in Yeouido Park (photo spot)

Cross one road from Yeouido Hangang Park and you’re in Yeouido Park. When the leaves turn in early to mid-November, the whole forest path goes red and yellow. Seoul Dal is in this park too.

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10. The Dongjak Bridge sunset (photo spot)

Stand on Dongjak Bridge and the setting sun and the Yeouido towers fit in one frame. You can walk up from Banpo Hangang Park. In November the days are short and the sunset is over before rush hour.

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Nearby

• IFC Mall and The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido: One stop from Yeouinaru. Your rainy-day backup. The Hyundai’s Christmas decorations are covered in our December series Christmas in Seoul and Busan.
• Seoul Forest: 15 minutes from Ttukseom by Hangang Bus or bike. Autumn leaves and deer.
• Mangwon Market: 15 minutes on foot from Mangwon Hangang Park. Snacks for ₩1,000–3,000.
• 63 Building: At the east end of Yeouido Hangang Park. Its gold glass is the backdrop to half of all Han River photos.

Hotels nearby

Prices are Google Maps nightly rates, checked October 26, 2026 ($1 = about ₩1,325). They change by date.

• Yeouido (within 10 minutes’ walk of the river): GLAD Yeouido (4-star, 4.2), about $151; Kensington Hotel Yeouido (4-star, 3.8), about $151; Kobos Hotel (3-star, 3.9), about $95.
• Yeouido luxury: Fairmont Ambassador Seoul (5-star, 4.6), about $631; Conrad Seoul (5-star, 4.4), about $695. Higher floors have river-view rooms.
• Ttukseom and Konkuk University (one or two stops on Line 7): H Avenue Hotel Konkuk (2-star, 4.0), about $65; Hotel The Designers Premier Seongsu & Konkuk (2-star, 3.9), about $95.
• Banpo: JW Marriott Hotel Seoul (5-star, 4.4, right above Express Bus Terminal Station); Ocloud Hotel (4-star, 4.0), about ₩190,000 ($143).

Getting there

① From Gimpo Airport (the airport closest to central Seoul)

• Yeouido Hangang Park, one ride on Line 5: From Gimpo Airport Station, take Line 5 toward Macheon / Hanam Geomdansan to Yeouinaru (no transfer, about 25 minutes). Exits 2 and 3 open straight onto the park. About ₩1,550 ($1.20) with a transit card.
• Ttukseom Hangang Park, Line 9 + Line 7 (one transfer): Line 9 express from Gimpo Airport, change at Express Bus Terminal to Line 7 toward Jangam, ride to Jayang (about 55 minutes). Exits 2 and 3 connect straight to the park. About ₩1,750 ($1.30).

② From Incheon Airport

• Yeouido Hangang Park, AREX + Line 5 (one transfer): AREX all-stop train from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 or 2 toward Seoul Station, change at Gongdeok to Line 5 toward Banghwa, ride two stops to Yeouinaru. About 65–70 minutes, roughly ₩4,300 ($3.20).
• Ttukseom Hangang Park, AREX + Line 9 + Line 7 (two transfers): AREX to Gimpo Airport, Line 9 express to Express Bus Terminal, Line 7 to Jayang. About 95 minutes, roughly ₩4,500 ($3.40).
• Transit card: Buy a T-money card at an Incheon Airport convenience store and top it up. Ttareungyi bikes are paid separately in the app.

From Myeongdong

• Yeouido: Line 4 from Myeongdong, change at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park to Line 5, ride to Yeouinaru (about 35 minutes). Or 20 minutes by taxi.
• Ttukseom: Line 4 from Myeongdong, change at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park to Line 2, change at Konkuk University to Line 7, ride to Jayang (about 35 minutes).
• Banpo (Some Sevit): Line 4 from Myeongdong, change at Chungmuro to Line 3, ride to Express Bus Terminal, Exit 8-1, then 15 minutes on foot (about 30 minutes in total).

Sources

• Riverside instant-ramyeon sales up 286%: Wikitree (citing CU, 2026)
• Chanyeol and the ₩4,000 ramyeon: TV Report
• Riverside kiosk pricing rule (within 10% of regular stores): Seoul Media Hub
• Delivery zones and Ttaenggyeoyo discount (October 1–November 30): Seoul Media Hub
• Shade tent rules: Seoul Shinmun, August 12, 2025
• Hangang Bus routes and fare: MTN, September 17, 2026, MTN, September 29, 2026
• Seoul Dal hours and foreign-rider share: Seoul Media Hub, Newsis, March 31, 2026
• Ttareungyi fares: Seoul city
• Rainbow fountain season end: @tripnote.io and @_tripgoing (October 2026), Hangang Park information
• Ttukseom caterpillar (Hangang PlPl): Hangang Park
• KPop Demon Hunters Jayang Station and Cheongdam Bridge: Seoul Media Hub
• Jamsil CU Ramyeon Library: @kangnam11 (October 2026), Smart Today
• Google Maps ratings and hotel rates: checked October 26, 2026
• Photos: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1), photographer credited on each photo; embedded public Instagram posts and YouTube videos