Exploring the New Travel Options in Dangjin: The Significance of Hapdeok Station

• List
• More options
  • Edit
  • Delete

• Facebook
• Twitter

When traveling to a region, it is common to use public transportation or personal vehicles. Of course, there are also group tours like fam tours and local government-operated tourism programs.

Among public transportation, trains are ideal for planned travel due to their fixed schedules. Until now, traveling to Dangjin usually involved driving on the West Coast Expressway or following national roads to visit places like Myeoncheon, Hapdeok, Sapgyoho, and Waemok Village.

Perhaps that's why the sight of a train station situated amidst the vast fields of Hapdeok is more impressive than expected. Looking at the station named 'Hapdeok Station' under the blue sky, one feels that a new option has been added to the ways of traveling in Dangjin.

The West Sea Line railway passing through Hapdeok Station was included in the first national railway network construction plan in 2006, underwent a long preparation process, and construction officially began in 2015.

This double-track electric railway project connecting 90.01 km from Hongseong in Chungcheongnam-do to Seohwa in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, has seen an investment of about 4.1 trillion won. Finally, after 18 years since its planning, the Seohwa-Hongseong section will officially open on November 2, 2024, marking the beginning of train services at Hapdeok Station.

The process of naming the station also reflects the local story. Dangjin City initially proposed 'Dangjin Hapdeok Station' after consulting residents and the naming committee, but it was ultimately confirmed as 'Hapdeok Station' after review by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Instead of prioritizing the city name, the long-standing name 'Hapdeok' has been preserved as the station's name.

Hapdeok Station is located in the Dorri area of Hapdeok-eup. Stepping outside the station, the expansive Hapdeok Plain catches the eye before any tall buildings or commercial facilities. While one might expect a train station to be in a busy urban center, Hapdeok Station offers a different experience.

The fields, sky, and railway connect seamlessly. This creates a unique landscape where the agricultural and irrigation culture that has developed over the years in Hapdeok intersects with modern transportation facilities. The significance of Hapdeok Station goes beyond being just a place to catch a train. With the opening of the West Sea Line in 2024, Dangjin City described it as the 'dawn of the railway era.'

A new transportation axis has emerged in Dangjin, which was previously car-centric, and the potential to connect with coastal cities like Hongseong, Asan, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong has increased.

During the opening of the West Sea Line, the ITX-Maum train was introduced, connecting the Hongseong-Seohwa section in about an hour. For travelers, the location of Hapdeok Station is particularly noteworthy. It is approximately 1.5 km to Hapdeok Reservoir Park, about 5 km to Solmoe Holy Site, and around 6 km to Sinri Holy Site. This means that historical, religious, and ecological tourist attractions representing the southern region of Dangjin are relatively close to each other.

Especially, the route starting from Solmoe Holy Site, passing through Hapdeok Traditional Market, Hapdeok Reservoir, Hapdeok Agricultural Folk Museum, Hapdeok Cathedral, and Hapdeok Yeonji Village to Sinri Holy Site is a great course for planning a trip centered around Hapdeok Station.

Dangjin City has also introduced this area as the 'Soulmate Course.' Instead of a quick tour of a few famous tourist spots, it is a journey that allows you to experience the history of Catholicism, the agricultural culture of Hapdeok, and the charm of old villages and markets.

Entering Hapdeok Station, one will find facilities for ticketing and a waiting room, as expected of a newly built station. Platforms 1 and 2 lead towards Hongseong. The station is equipped with escalators and elevators, and screen doors are installed on the platforms. Most notably, a tourist information center is located within the station.

This space is designed for travelers disembarking from trains to quickly obtain information about Dangjin tourism. The Hapdeok Station Tourist Information Center opened in early 2025, following the West Sea Line's opening. According to Dangjin City guidelines, it operates from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM, providing information about attractions, transportation, accommodation, and dining.

Upon exiting the station, a bus stop and parking lot are immediately accessible. As of September 2026, the posted timetable indicates that bus 51 connects Hapdeok Terminal and Hapdeok Station, while routes 741 and 751 connect to tourist attractions in the Hapdeok area, including Solmoe Holy Site.

However, the timetable notes that bus operating hours may vary depending on train schedules. If you plan to use Hapdeok Station as the starting point for public transportation travel, it is advisable to coordinate train and bus times before departure rather than checking bus schedules after disembarking from the train. If you want to expand your travel range in Dangjin, using a tourist taxi can also be a good option.

In 2026, Dangjin City will operate 'Half-Price Tourist Taxis' for non-resident tourists, which can also depart from Hapdeok Station. For a 4-hour course, the total fare is 90,000 won, with the user paying 45,000 won, while for a 6-hour course, the total is 130,000 won, with the user paying 65,000 won. Up to 4 people can ride in one vehicle, making it a good option for groups traveling together to reach places like Myeoncheon Fortress, Ami Art Museum, Sapgyoho, and coastal tourist spots that are difficult to access by public transport.

The 2026 program may end when the budget is exhausted, so please check before making a reservation. The Bay Valley Tour Pass information available at the station is also worth noting. This pass is a super-regional tourism product connecting attractions in northern Chungcheongnam-do and southern Gyeonggi-do, including Dangjin, Asan, Seosan, Yesan, and Cheonan.

The composition of the product and available facilities may change over time, so it is best to check the on-site QR code or official tourism information for accurate details. If you consider starting your journey from Hapdeok Station, keep a few things in mind.

For a half-day trip in the Hapdeok area, a route like Hapdeok Station → Hapdeok Reservoir → Hapdeok Agricultural Folk Museum → Hapdeok Cathedral → Hapdeok Traditional Market would be manageable.

For a full-day trip combining history and religion, I recommend the flow from Solmoe Holy Site → Hapdeok Reservoir and Hapdeok Cathedral → Sinri Holy Site.

If you want to explore all of Dangjin, using a tourist taxi from Hapdeok Station to expand your range to places like Myeoncheon Fortress and Ami Art Museum is efficient. Train and bus schedules may change, so it’s a good idea to check the Korail train times and the bus schedules connected to Hapdeok Station, as well as the tourist information center's operating days in advance.

Perhaps the biggest change brought by Hapdeok Station is not just the addition of a new travel destination but a shift in the way we start our journeys. Instead of driving from one destination to another, travelers can now disembark from trains, walk, and take buses to connect to villages and holy sites. When you step off the train that crosses the Hapdeok Plain and come out of the station, the vast sky greets you first. Just a 1.5 km walk will bring you to the historic Hapdeok Reservoir, and a little further is Solmoe Holy Site, where Father Kim Dae-geon was born, and Sinri Holy Site, which bears traces of Bishop Daveluy.

The past agricultural culture, religious history, and the present railway all meet on a single route. Rather than being just a small station at the edge of Dangjin, Hapdeok Station is more like a new gateway to southern Dangjin travel. A long-awaited railway is changing how people move, and this change in mobility is beginning to alter how we perceive the region. This fall, consider starting your Dangjin travel not by car but by train. The moment you arrive at Hapdeok Station, you will start to see a different side of Dangjin.