Lights That Brighten the Night, at Yangjaecheon

Words by Jeong-Yoon Lee

Lately, I’ve definitely become lazier than last year.

Even my evening walks have been put off again and again.

But one evening, I found myself missing the Chunshik and Ryan installations I saw during the cherry blossom season along Yangjaecheon.

I decided it was time for a nighttime visit.

On weekends, the Seocho-gu side of Yangjaecheon often hosts the Yangjae Art Salon with small booths and events.

You’ll find Haechi characters, lantern festival artworks, and so much more.

Trust me—seeing them during the day and then again at night under the lights feels completely different.

I highly recommend experiencing both.

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The Classic Route: From Yeongdong 1-gyo to Yeongdong 3-gyo

As always, I took the basic walking route.

Starting from Yeongdong 1 Bridge, walking up to Yeongdong 3 Bridge.

Sometimes during the day, I’ll continue past Yeongdong 3-gyo toward Tancheon,

or head the other way toward Gwacheon.

The farther you go,

the more the scenery blends with untouched nature.

It’s beautiful.

Nothing overly landscaped—

just raw, peaceful views that feel incredibly refreshing.

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10 PM, and Yangjaecheon Still Breathes

Maybe it’s because the weather’s warmer now.

Even when I started my walk close to 10 PM, the riverside was alive.

Runners, cyclists, solo walkers, pairs strolling quietly,

people chatting on the phone as they walked—

everyone was enjoying Yangjaecheon in their own way.

On days like this,

staying indoors feels like a loss somehow.

Even catching fragments of strangers’ conversations passing by can be oddly comforting.

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The Lantern Festival: Artworks That Glow

One of the best parts of this walk is stumbling upon lantern festival installations.

When something catches my eye,

I walk closer,

read about the artist and the story behind the work.

It’s true—

knowing the story makes the artwork feel even more special.

At night,

these pieces transform under the lights.

They feel completely different compared to when you see them in broad daylight.

In some cases, the light itself becomes the artwork.

So please,

don’t just visit during the day—

come back at night, too.

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What These Small Steps Leave Behind

It was just a short walk,

but the warm lights, the lively people,

and the art scattered along the way

made my night feel a little more magical.

Maybe,

it’s these small, quiet nights

that slowly build up into the good days we remember.

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Credit

Words. Jeong-Yoon Lee

Photos. Jeong-Yoon Lee