Wangsimni Station

Infobox SMS station


caption=Wangsimni Station
hangul=왕십리역
hanja=往十里驛
rr=Wangshimni-yeok
mr=Wangshimni-yǒk
line2=208
line5=540
jungang=K116
type=Underground (Lines 2 & 5) Aboveground (Jungang)
platforms=Line 2 — 2 side platforms Line 5 — 2 side platforms Jungang — 1 island platform
screendoors=Installed (Line 5 only)
operator=Seoul Metro (Line 2) SMRT (Line 5) Korail (Jungang)
opened=September 16, 1983 (Line 2) November 15, 1995 (Line 5)
address=246 Haengdang 1-dong (Line 2) 192 Haengdang-dong (Line 5) 168-1 Haengdang-dong (Jungang) Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Wangsimni Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 2, Seoul Subway Line 5, and the Jungang Line. It will also be a transfer point to the Bundang Line in a few years' time.

The name of the station, "Wangsimni," is related to an interesting historical account dating from 14th century Korea. After establishing and becoming the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Yi Seong-gye presented the great Buddhist monk Muhak with the the task of finding a site for the new capital. After searching for a suitable place, the monk stopped in this neighborhood, and saw an old farmer passing by on his ox. This farmer pointed northwest and said to him, "wangsimni" (往十里), literally meaning 'go ten more ri.' The startled Muhak went as he was told, and ended up at the southern foot of Mt. Bugak, where Gyeongbokgung now stands. This was how Hanyang (present-day Seoul) was born.

All three stations (Line 2, Line 5, Yongsan-Deokso Line) are located within Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

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