I had occasion to visit the Yeongnam region via the expressway. While traveling from Seoul towards Daegu, I stopped by Chilgok Rest Area for a short break, just as I was nearing Daegu.
“Gyeongbu Expressway Rest Area: Chilgok Rest Area”
Chilgok is located to the northwest of Daegu. It can be considered the last rest area before entering Daegu. It may not be a well-known large-scale rest area, but it’s a small, tidy one. However, Chilgok Rest Area has a quite long history.
The rest area first opened in 1972, facing towards Busan, and in 1986, a rest area facing towards Seoul also opened. It is a well-established rest area with a rich history.
“A Small but Neatly Operated Rest Area”
Chilgok Rest Area is relatively smaller in scale compared to other well-known rest areas. Despite its size, you can find all the essentials in this quaint rest area. On the Seoul-bound side, you can find an economy gas station, S-OIL, and an LPG charging station. Similarly, on the Busan-bound side, you can find an economy gas station, S-OIL, and an LPG charging station.
Furthermore, uniquely, there’s a baseball practice field available in both directions. There’s also a self-service restaurant, and you can find stores within the rest area selling various snacks. In particular, you can taste fried sweet potatoes for KRW 2,500.
“Toilets Decorated in a Western U.S. Highway Theme”
During my visit to Chilgok Rest Area, the most impressive part was the “restrooms.” If you recall the restrooms at expressway rest areas from the past, they were always crowded and had a somewhat dirty atmosphere. However, now even expressway rest areas have come a long way from that kind of ambiance.
The restrooms are well-maintained and decorated in a Western U.S. highway theme, making it a pleasant experience to use them.
Moreover, you can see in real-time which stalls are in use, so when it’s crowded, you can conveniently check restroom availability.
“Ramen Vending Machine: ‘Hyuramen'”
I arrived at Chilgok Rest Area late at night after departing from Seoul, and it was still before sunrise. Since the food court wasn’t operating at that time, I stumbled upon an interesting vending machine that could fill our hungry stomachs.
It was a ramen vending machine called “Hyuramen.” By paying KRW 3,500, you could taste ramen from the vending machine that seemed as if it had been boiled. It had a similar format to the Han River ramen available at convenience stores in Seoul, but there was a difference.
The ramen was a special brand not available in regular markets. It was perhaps exclusive to rest areas. While it left a bit to be desired in terms of taste compared to ramen available in the market, the experience of tasting ramen that seemed freshly cooked from a vending machine, in a different way from the Han River ramen, was a refreshing experience.
“Gyeongbu Line Expressway Rest Area, Chilgok Rest Area (Busan-bound)”
- Address: 159 Gyeongbu Expressway, Waegwan-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 39869
- Phone: 054-975-2277