A Winter Afternoon on the Jeungga Overpass in Yeonhui-dong

A Break in the Cold

Early January was bitter that year. For a stretch it stayed below minus ten Celsius, and even the thought of going outside felt like work. My days had shrunk to a few rooms. When the temperature finally moved back and forth around freezing, I decided that was warm enough to go for a walk.

I started at Yeonhui Literature Creative Village. Its weekday opening had made it hard to time a visit, but everything lined up the previous day. By the time I had walked around the grounds, I had slowed down enough to want to keep going.

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Walking Toward Gungdong Park

From the literary center I headed in the direction of Gungdong Park. I had no destination and no time I had to be back. I prefer winter walks that way. If it still feels good, you keep going. When it stops feeling good, you turn around.

I found myself on the pedestrian bridge over Jeungga Road. Usually I cross it without a thought, moving on to wherever I need to be. I could hardly remember stopping to look down. This time I stopped.

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Two Views From the Middle of the Bridge

From the center, I could look along the road into Yeonhui-dong or turn toward Hongjecheon. It was around five in the afternoon. The sun was still up, but the low winter light lay softly on the road. It was too early for a night view, and the day was already losing some of its brightness.

Toward Yeonhui-dong, I could see ordinary buildings, the steady motion of the road and the familiar density of the neighborhood. The view toward Hongjecheon had a slower pace. Along the water, there was more room to notice the gaps that winter leaves.

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An Ordinary View Worth Staying For

I kept looking because there was so little to announce itself. After days indoors, I was out in the city at a moment when the cold had eased. I had walked without a destination and happened to stop here. That was enough to make a familiar view feel worth a second look.

I took a photo and stayed on the bridge. There was nowhere to hurry to and no reason to stay long. I looked once more in each direction, toward Yeonhui-dong and toward Hongjecheon, and then went down.

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A Quiet End to the Walk

That was the end of the walk. I had started at the literary center, gone in the direction of Gungdong Park and stopped over Jeungga Road in the last of the afternoon light. A winter walk can end quietly and still leave you with a place you remember.

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📌 Jeungga Road Pedestrian Overpass (Yeonhui-dong to Hongjecheon)

• 📍 Location : Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, along the walk from Yeonhui Literature Creative Village toward Gungdong Park