Start with the side of Hongdae you actually need
Hongik University Station is 홍대입구역, often shortened to Hongdae. It connects Line 2, the AREX airport railroad and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line. They share a station name, but that does not make every platform close to every exit. With a suitcase, choosing the right side before walking makes a real difference.
| Where you are heading | Useful starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hongdae pedestrian-friendly street | Exit 9 | The shop or restaurant’s actual address |
| Yeonnam-dong / Gyeongui Line Forest Park | Exit 3 | Which part of the long park you want |
| A hotel described as “near Hongdae” | Its Korean street address | The closest exit may be neither 3 nor 9 |
| Another train | Line/operator transfer signs | Stay on the transfer route rather than following a street exit |
Visit Seoul directs visitors to Exit 9 for the pedestrian-friendly street; Seoul’s park guide identifies Exit 3 for the forest park. Those are district starting points, not universal directions to every business.
Station layout: exits, floors and elevators
The Line 2 diagram also shows the connecting AREX and Gyeongui–Jungang areas. Compare the exit numbers, floor levels and elevator symbols before choosing your route.
Open the full-size station map ↗
“You are here” marks the original sign location, not your live position. Follow current signs and staff instructions; use a live journey planner for train times.
From the airport: choose All-Stop
The AREX All-Stop Train serves Hongik University. The Express Train connects Seoul Station with the Incheon Airport terminals and does not stop here or at Gimpo Airport. Buying an Express ticket because the name sounds faster is the wrong shortcut for a Hongdae hotel.
For Gimpo or Incheon, follow the airport-bound AREX signs and read the displayed destination before boarding. For Seoul Station, use the opposite direction. Check the departure board rather than judging by the platform color. Look up first and last trains and current fares with AREX before travelling.
Transferring to Line 2
Follow the green 2호선 / Line 2 transfer signs from the AREX area. The connection involves walking and level changes. Leave room for this in your journey, especially if someone in your group uses lifts; a platform-to-platform transfer is not the same thing as a short street-level walk.
At the Line 2 platform, check the next stations in your route. A circular line has two directions, and both can eventually reach a destination at very different speeds. Keep the same transit card throughout the trip and follow the marked gates rather than exiting to the street just to change lines.
Toilets, lifts and bags
AREX lists lockers on B2, an accessible toilet and lifts in its Hongik University station area. These are AREX facilities, not a count for the entire three-line station. Follow the restroom and elevator symbols in your current operator zone; an exit number alone does not locate the nearest lift.
Seoul’s storage guide lists T-Luggage on B1 near Exits 3 and 4. This staffed service is different from AREX’s B2 lockers. Check the service’s current opening hours, bag limits, price and availability before relying on it. A locker being listed does not guarantee a space large enough for your suitcase.
Getting to your hotel without another detour
Open the NAVER Map guide and search the hotel’s Korean address. Compare the recommended exit with the station signs while you are still underground. If the pedestrian route uses stairs, ask staff for the elevator route instead of carrying heavy bags down an unfamiliar staircase.
Meeting friends? Agree on the exact exit and a nearby street-level landmark. “Hongdae station” leaves too much room for everyone to wait in a different hall. For a later KTX connection, use the Seoul Station transfer guide; AREX arrival is not the same as reaching the KTX concourse.
Lost property and useful phone numbers
If you have just left something on a train, tell station staff immediately. Have the line, direction, approximate time, carriage or door position and a description of the item ready. The same station name can belong to several operators: contact the one whose train or station area you used.
| Who to contact | Phone in Korea |
|---|---|
| Line 2 lost property · City Hall | 02-6110-1122 |
| AREX lost property · Geomam | 032-745-7777 |
| AREX travel enquiries | 1599-7788 |
| KORAIL enquiries · Gyeongui–Jungang | 1544-7788 |
Numbers checked against operator publications on 6 October 2026: Metro centres · AREX contacts · KORAIL.
Seoul Metro’s lost-property centres for Lines 1–8 open Monday–Friday, 09:00–18:00, excluding public holidays. Other operators have their own hours. Call before travelling to a centre; recently found items may still be at a station. Have the line, time and item description ready when calling, as English-language assistance varies by operator.
These are domestic dialling numbers. From overseas, add +82 and omit the leading zero from a normal 02/031/032 number. Korean 15xx/16xx service numbers may not connect internationally. Registered items can also be searched on the police lost-property portal.