Opening of 'Scenery with Trains' Cafe & 'Time Museum' at Hwarangdae Railroad Park, Nowon-gu

Unique theme cafe 'Gichaga Itneun Punggyeong' where a mini train delivers coffee directly... Time travel on Mugunghwa train at 'Time Museum'... Exhibition of 95 time-themed art clocks... Experience spaces including time calculator and life photo studio

Landscape with a train: exterior view and interior miniature exhibits

Exhibition of Medieval Clocks Inside Timeyujium

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is opening unique cafes ‘Scenery with a Train’ and ‘Time Museum’ at Hwarangdae Railroad Park.

Hwarangdae Railroad Park is a place where the old Hwarangdae Station on the Gyeongchun Line, Seoul’s last simple station, has been reborn as a park. Preserving the abandoned railroad tracks and the old station building, this place, loved as a romantic space with a tranquil walking path and an atmosphere no longer seen in Seoul, is expected to be reborn as a landmark in the northeastern part of Seoul with an upgraded appeal.

□ The Train Carries Coffee... Unique Themed Cafe ‘Scenery with a Train’

The cafe ‘Scenery with a Train’ is located right next to the old Hwarangdae Station building. It offers a panoramic view of the old trains on the tracks and the walking paths around the platform, making it a must-visit spot to fully enjoy the railroad park.

The cafe has a total floor area of 388.66㎡ and consists of three floors. The first floor is a ‘family entertainment space’ where the whole family can enjoy. The most eye-catching feature is a unique delivery system where two miniature trains, not people, deliver coffee. When you order a drink and wait at your seat, a model train, faithfully replicating the real thing, arrives carrying your beverage.

Inside the cafe, there are various attractions that stimulate children’s curiosity and imagination, such as a small train running along the ceiling, a spaceship launch pad, and a miniature train exhibition. At set times, visitors’ attention is captured by dioramas decorated with models symbolizing Nowon-gu, such as Bulamsan and Suraksan Mountains, and a Columbia spaceship launched toward a ceiling painted with trick art.

The second floor is designed as a ‘complex cultural space.’ It will offer tasting programs where visitors can sample various coffees from around the world by type, as well as humanities lectures for residents who want to deepen their knowledge about coffee. Part of the second floor is an outdoor terrace where visitors can leisurely enjoy coffee while overlooking the park.

The third floor is an ‘urban relaxation space.’ From the rooftop, visitors can take in the entire view of Hwarangdae Railroad Park. Especially at night, it is expected to become a popular spot where visitors can enjoy the railroad park’s transformed appearance through dazzling media glass content.

The cafe considers not only visual attractions but also the quality of beverages. Coffee experts with experience both domestically and internationally have been hired to provide premium green coffee beans from countries such as Colombia and Mexico through direct trade with producing regions at reasonable prices.

Additionally, signature drinks unique to Hwarangdae Railroad Park and the train cafe will be introduced. Nowon-gu residents (with ID) can receive a 10% discount on manufactured beverages.

The train cafe operates from 12 PM to 10 PM and is closed every Monday and on major holidays.

□ Time Travel by Train ‘Time Museum’

Opposite the train cafe, the ‘Time Museum’ has opened using a retired Mugunghwa train carriage. The six carriages are themed spaces under the concept of ‘time travel.’

The themes include ▲ Time and Humanity ▲ Time and Art ▲ Time and Resonance ▲ Time and Sharing, with 95 clocks exhibited that explain each theme well.

At the entrance, visitors receive a one-way train ticket replacing an admission ticket. This ticket, punched with holes in the old-fashioned way, evokes nostalgia and carries the message that ‘time once passed does not return,’ marking the start of the time travel journey.

Before the main exhibition, the museum entrance features a video media tunnel utilizing the walls and ceiling three-dimensionally, signaling the beginning of the time travel experience. The intro video, expressing the birth of time with effects resembling passing through outer space, captivates visitors’ attention.

The first theme, ‘Time and Humanity,’ shows the birth of time from the Big Bang through the dinosaur era to the appearance of humans. Visitors can view various clocks arranged chronologically, from Silla Dynasty sundials, Roman water clocks, and hourglasses to modern cesium atomic clocks. The final diorama space, based on Einstein’s theory of relativity and scenes from the movie Interstellar, illustrates the universe’s time and humanity’s quest to understand time.

The second theme, ‘Time and Art,’ allows visitors to appreciate artworks inspired by the beauty of time and clocks. Over 40 medieval clocks are exhibited to provide an overview of the value of clocks as an art form and their historical evolution.

The third theme, ‘Time and Resonance,’ consists of creative artistic clock works by contemporary artists. The exhibited pieces, entries and award winners from the World Luxury Clock Exhibition, showcase unique sculptural clocks and visually explore philosophical inquiries about time.

Finally, ‘Time and Sharing’ emphasizes the preciousness of time and relationships, presenting time as an emotional experience. Interactive spaces include a time calculator that computes the time left to spend with family and a life photo studio where visitors can see their appearance 30 years from now, offering opportunities for self-reflection and imagining the future.

Admission fees are 6,000 KRW for adults, 4,000 KRW for teenagers, and 2,000 KRW for children. Seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans receive a 50% discount. Nowon-gu residents also receive a 50% discount.

The museum operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 1 PM to 10 PM, and is closed every Monday.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Hwarangdae Railroad Park is an example of a railroad space that lost its function being reborn as a new leisure and cultural space,” adding, “With the opening of the cafes ‘Scenery with a Train’ and ‘Time Museum,’ we hope Hwarangdae Railroad Park will become a beloved resting place for even more residents.”

Nowon-gu Office Leisure City Division

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.