---
title: "How to Avoid the Crowds After a Concert at Goyang Stadium"
description: "The gates and platform at Daehwa Station jam up the moment a concert ends. Take the KINTEX Station shuttle if you are in a hurry, walk one stop to Juyeop Station if you have time, or wait 30 to 60 minutes if you are staying in Ilsan."
language: en
canonical: https://goyangcon.com/en/guides/goyang-stadium-avoid-daehwa-crowds/
verified: 2026-07-20
---
Walking straight to Daehwa Station (대화역) the moment a concert ends is often the slowest, most tiring choice. Locals in Ilsan split the answer three ways: if you need central Seoul fast, take the shuttle bus to KINTEX Station (킨텍스역); if you are on Line 3 but not in a rush, walk one stop to Juyeop Station (주엽역); and if you are staying in Ilsan, move 30 to 60 minutes after the show ends. At past large concerts, the city of Goyang expected crowding at Daehwa and posted marshals to steer people toward Juyeop Station.

The key is not to lock your destination onto Daehwa alone just because it is closest.

## Decide Before the Show Ends

Agree on one of these with your group before the show ends. Afterward, network delays and crowds make it hard to decide on the spot.

| Situation | Recommended destination | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fast trip to Seoul Station, Gangnam, or the east side | **KINTEX Station → GTX-A** | Skips the Line 3 queue at Daehwa; fast regional run |
| Going home along Line 3 | **Daehwa, but not immediately** | Direct line, no transfer |
| Dinner, lodging, or car pickup in Ilsan | **Juyeop or Jeongbalsan Station** | Sidesteps the crush concentrated at Daehwa |
| With small children or seniors, or heavy bags | **Shuttle bus or a delayed departure** | Minimizes long walks and stairs |

## Escape via the KINTEX Station Shuttle

If you need central Seoul quickly, peeling off to GTX-A KINTEX Station instead of Daehwa is the most practical move. On concert days, when an event shuttle runs between Goyang Stadium and KINTEX Station, it has in past cases run one-way from the stadium toward KINTEX Station after the show.

At past large concerts this shuttle was bus 98-1, costing 1,650 won by transit card, running at roughly 3-to-4-minute intervals, and it was announced to run from 9 p.m. to midnight after the show. From KINTEX Station, the GTX-A reaches Seoul Station in about 16 to 17 minutes.

Do not fixate on hailing a taxi just because the shuttle line is long, though. Right after a show, both ride-hailing and dispatch around the stadium clog up. It helps to set a personal cutoff in advance, such as "if the line has not moved in 20 minutes, switch to the Juyeop Station plan." Whether the shuttle runs, and its last departure, differ by concert, so confirm the day-of official notice and look up bus 98-1 in a map app.

## Spread Out by Walking to Juyeop Station

If you have time and you are taking Line 3, the detour locals recommend most is walking one stop to Juyeop Station. Daehwa is the Line 3 terminus, so its platform saturates fast right after a show, while Juyeop Station stays comparatively clear.

- **Line 3 home, not in a hurry:** Catch a bus toward Juyeop Station near the stadium, or wait for the Daehwa queue to clear before moving.
- **Late dinner or lodging in Ilsan:** Rest 30 to 60 minutes near Juyeop Station, then head home.
- **Picking up a car:** Basing yourself at a lot in the Juyeop Station area rather than near Daehwa eases the exit. One concert write-up described taking a bus a few stops from the stadium to park near Juyeop Station.

## Detour via Jeongbalsan or Madu Station

Juyeop, Jeongbalsan, and Madu Stations run along Ilsan's Jungang-ro, lined with restaurants and cafes. This corridor is a good place to spend time and let the crowd thin instead of funneling into Daehwa. If your plan is dinner or a cafe before heading home, the Jeongbalsan Station area is less packed than Daehwa.

## Bus Terminus Detours & Local Bus Routes

If the subway gates at Daehwa Station are blocked or the queues are too long, traveling to the **origin stops** (depots) of other bus routes to secure a seat, or taking a local city bus to Digital Media City (DMC) Station to transfer to other subway lines, are highly effective escape strategies.

### 1. Detour via Jungsan Village ➡ Bus M7412 (Gangnam Area)
* **How to get there**: From Daehwa Station, board local town **Bus 070** (running at 10～15 minute intervals) and ride about 15～20 minutes to the 'Haetae Shopping / Jungsan Kolon Apartment' (해태쇼핑·중산코오롱아파트) depot stop. Alternatively, rent a shared e-bike and ride about 3.8 km (15 minutes) along the bicycle paths on Ilsan-ro or Gyeongui-ro.
* **The Route**: Board **Bus M7412** at its starting stop. You are guaranteed a seat for the ride to Sinsa, Nonhyeon, and Gangnam Stations. (Last bus departs the Jungsan depot at **22:50**.)

### 2. Detour via Paju Unjeong New Town ➡ Bus 7101 / 3100 (Hapjeong/Hongdae Area)
* **How to get there**: From Daehwa Station, board Paju city **Bus 80** and ride about 20～25 minutes to the 'Sannae Maeul Blocks 6 & 8' (산내마을6·8단지) stop in Unjeong.
* **The Route**: Board **Bus 7101** (to Hongik Univ. Station, Sinchon, and Gwanghwamun; last bus at **22:50**) or **Bus 3100** (to Hapjeong Station, Hongik Univ. Station, and Ahyeon Station; last bus at **22:30**).
* **⚠️ Warnings**: While **Bus M7111** (to Seoul Station; last bus at **23:50**) also runs from this depot, **it does not stop at Hapjeong or Hongik University Stations**, but goes straight to Seoul Station. Do not confuse your destination. Also, since Goyang (Ilsan) and Paju (Unjeong) are separate administrative districts, **shared e-bikes cannot be returned across city limits**. Returning an Ilsan bike in Unjeong will incur an out-of-boundary fee of about **20,000 KRW**. Avoid e-bikes for this route and take the bus instead.

### 3. Detour via Siksa-dong Wi City ➡ Bus M7119 (Gwanghwamun/Seoul Station Area)
* **How to get there**: From Daehwa Station or KINTEX, board local city **Bus 98** (formerly town bus 039; renamed and updated as of May 1, 2024) and ride about 30～35 minutes to the 'Wi City Blocks 3 & 4' (위시티3·4단지) stop.
* **The Route**: Board **Bus M7119** at its origin stop to sit comfortably all the way to Yonsei University, Gwanghwamun, and Sungnyemun (Seoul Station). (Last bus departs the Wi City depot at **23:30**.)

### 4. Local Bus Detour ➡ Digital Media City (DMC) Station (Airport Railroad Transfer)
* **How to get there**: From the Daehwa Station center lane bus stop, board local city **Bus 66** or **Bus 65** and ride about 45～55 minutes directly to Digital Media City (DMC) Station.
* **The Route**: Transfer to the Airport Railroad, Line 6, or Gyeongui-Jungang Line at DMC Station. This is an excellent alternative to bypass any Line 3 subway delays and scatter quickly toward Gangnam, the airport, or central Seoul.
* **⚠️ Warning**: Goyang city **Bus 89** travels from Daehwa/KINTEX to Haengsin Station and **does not run to Digital Media City Station**. Do not take Bus 89.

## Leave 30 to 60 Minutes Later

The cheapest fix is simply not going to the station the instant the show ends. The first 10 to 20 minutes after the encore bring the heaviest pedestrian wave toward Daehwa Station. If your situation lets you leave slowly with the exit guidance, spend that time on the edge of the stadium grounds before moving.

- **If you must use Daehwa:** Aim to enter the station about 40 minutes after the show ends.
- **If you are staying overnight in Ilsan:** Eat in the Juyeop or Jeongbalsan Station area rather than Daehwa, then move to your lodging.
- **If the last train worries you:** Skip the wait-it-out plan and head straight to the KINTEX Station shuttle or Daehwa.

Restrooms at Daehwa Station can also be very crowded after a show, so handle anything urgent at facilities around the stadium first.

## When You Should Just Use Daehwa Station

Daehwa Station is the closest at about 650m from Goyang Stadium, roughly a 10-minute walk on level ground. If you can ride Line 3 with no transfer and the last train leaves little margin, accepting the crowd and using Daehwa is the right call. In that case, move like this.

- Top up your transit card before the show; the queue at chargers grows afterward.
- Set your meeting point with the group at a specific spot on the platform past the gates, not in front of an exit.
- Do not linger in front of stairs or escalators; keep moving with the marshals' guidance.
- Because Daehwa is the Line 3 start-and-end terminus, once you are on the platform you can judge whether to let one or two trains pass and ride seated.
- With a suitcase, stroller, or mobility aid, prefer the shuttle or a delayed departure over exiting into the worst of the crush.

## Last Train and Late-Night Travel

Line 3 last-train times vary by season and day of the week, so confirm them on the day of the show. On nights when the show runs late, the last train can be a close call. If you miss it, use a taxi app or share a ride with others heading the same way. If the last train is tight from the start, skip the wait-it-out plan and move as soon as the show ends.

## What Not to Do

- Deciding "Daehwa is closest, so I'll just go there" no matter what
- Repeatedly re-requesting a taxi the instant the show ends
- Having your whole group take the same route, train, and departure time
- Trying to top up your card, use the restroom, and find your group all at once at Daehwa
- Assuming the shuttle will run based only on past concerts' information

## Related Guides

- Venue overview: [Visiting Goyang Stadium](/en/venues/goyang-stadium/)
- Getting there: [How to Get from Seoul Station to Goyang Stadium](/en/guides/seoul-station-to-goyang-stadium/)
- Before the show: [Where to Wait Before a Concert at Goyang Stadium](/en/places/goyang-stadium-cafes-before-show/)