World Cup Stadium

A large, impressive and stylish construction, Seoul’s World Cup Stadium makes for a worthwhile stop on the itinerary. Located on line 6, with its very own subway station it is easily reachable from central areas of the city.

Built as the centrepiece of the 2002 World Cup in Korea, Asia’s largest soccer-only field is impressive with seating for up to 64,777 people. But upon climbing out of the subway you’ll be faced with some choices. Perhaps the FIFA 2002 World Cup Museum (1,000won) followed by a self guided tour of the stadium (1,000won) and finally a visit to a plethora of stores/restaurants (prices vary).

The museum is a well devised and designed affair covering all things soccer related - from the development of soccer in Korea all the way through to their semi final loss in the 2002 tournament.

There are a number of items (some signed), replicas and distracting gimmicks to try as your progress through the exhibits. Naturally the success of reaching the semi final gets the lion’s share of exhibition space.

A very short walk from the museum gift shop is the self-guided tour of the stadium. Follow the blue arrows to the field and down into the dugouts. From here walk down the players/officials entrance to the field and explore the facilities on offer to them. Considering the price of admission and for the glimpse of how the professionals received makes it worth the fee.

As exploring the stadium be sure to relive a highly emotionally charged (and ultimately nationalistic) video presentation of the team’s 2002 success in the interview room. It is strong enough to stir feelings in even the hardest of foreigner’s hearts.

During winter and the off-season it is quite possible to have the whole place to yourself too, which makes for quite an eerie experience having free access to all of the player facilities with another person about.

When all has been seen and done relax at a number of amenities built into the stadium. The CGV cinema complex, the Sauna, the Homever supermarket and even Starbucks have a premises here.

But that is not all.

Curiously, the section of the Han River flowing next to the stadium claims to have the world’s largest fountain, shooting water some 202 metres into the air. Stop by if time permits.

Now the home of FC Seoul the World Cup Stadium then earns itself a positive recommendation, especially for soccer fans.

Getting there: By subway get off at World Cup Stadium Station (Line No. 6) or Yeonsinnae Station (Line No. 3). Buses 171, 271, 571, 6715, 7011, 7012, 7013, 7715 and 7715 all go near the stadium.