What time does crowd control start at Daehwa Station?

The SPYAIR concert at KINTEX ends around 20:00, while the Lim Young-woong concert at Goyang Stadium ends around 21:30. Therefore, severe transit overcrowding is expected between 20:00 and 22:30. Safety staff and police will regulate flow at the station entrances to prevent platform overcrowding.

What is the fastest rail detour to Seoul if Daehwa Station is blocked?

The newly opened GTX-A KINTEX Station is your best option. Located about a 10-minute walk from KINTEX Exhibition Center 2, it connects to Seoul Station in just 16～17 minutes with no transfers, easily bypassing the 3-line subway queues at Daehwa.

Can I take a red express bus back to Seoul from Daehwa Station?

Boarding express buses like Bus 1000 (to Seoul Station) or M7731 (to Hongdae/Mapo) at Daehwa Station will be virtually impossible due to buses passing by fully loaded. Consider walking to the origin bus stop in Daehwadong or taking a subway instead.

How to Escape Congestion on September 5: Detours for Daehwa & KINTEX Stations

On the evening of Saturday, September 5, 2026, Goyang Stadium will host the 2026 Lim Young-woong Concert [IM HERO — THE STADIUM 2], while the nearby KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 Outdoor Plaza will hold the SPYAIR Concert (JUST LIKE THIS 2026 in KOREA). Additionally, the 39th Gungdi Pangpang Cat Festa (a major cat expo attracting tens of thousands of visitors) will be held concurrently at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2, Hall 10.

With these three major events taking place on the same weekend, over 70,000 visitors will overflow into the Daehwa and KINTEX neighborhoods from daytime through 22:30. Especially after 20:00, when both concerts end around the same time, Subway Line 3 at Daehwa Station will experience extreme overcrowding, and temporary entrance closures for safety control are highly anticipated.

Here is a practical guide to bypass the bottlenecks and return safely to Seoul using public transit detours.

Event Runtimes & Congestion Timeline (September 5)#

Gungdi Pangpang Cat Festa (KINTEX Exhibition Center 2, Hall 10): 10:00～18:00 (Attracting tens of thousands of visitors throughout the day)
SPYAIR Concert (KINTEX Outdoor Plaza): Starts at 18:00 ～ Ends around 20:00 (approx. 10,000 attendees)
Lim Young-woong Concert (Goyang Stadium): Starts at 18:30 ～ Ends around 21:30 (approx. 45,000 attendees)
Peak Congestion Window: 20:00～22:30. KINTEX crowds will reach Daehwa Station first, followed by the massive stadium crowd at 21:30, completely packing the regional transit corridors by 22:00. Note that parking lots around KINTEX will be heavily congested from the daytime due to the Cat Festa.

Rail Transit Detour Solutions#

To prevent platform overcrowding, transit staff will enforce gate entry restrictions at Daehwa Station. Instead of waiting in long queues outside the station, consider these alternative rail detours.

(1) Take GTX-A from KINTEX Station (Recommended)#

Route: Walk 10 minutes from KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 to KINTEX Station (킨텍스역).
Transit Info: The high-speed GTX-A line connects directly to Seoul Station in only 16～17 minutes with zero transfers. This is by far the fastest escape route to central Seoul, saving you from standing in long queues at Daehwa Station.

(2) Walk to Juyeop Station for Subway Line 3 (Bypass Daehwa Queue)#

Route: Walk about 20～25 minutes from KINTEX Exhibition Center 2, or walk about 15～20 minutes through Juyeop Park from Goyang Stadium.
Transit Info: Since Daehwa Station is the terminal stop on Subway Line 3, almost the entire concert crowd will rush there. Walking to Juyeop Station (주엽역) — the next stop down the line — allows you to enter a much less crowded station and board the same train safely.

Red Express Bus Boarding Detours (Seoul Direction)#

Attempting to board express buses like Bus 1000 (to Seoul Station/Myeongdong) or M7731 (to Hapjeong/Hongdae/Gongdeok) at the Daehwa Station bus stop will be nearly impossible as buses will pass by at full capacity.

Walk to the Origin Stop: If you plan on taking the bus, walk about 10～15 minutes to the origin stops in Daehwadong (대화동 종점) or near Seongjeo Village (성저마을) to secure a seat before the bus fills up.
Take Local Buses to Ilsandong-gu Office: Take local or town buses toward Juyeop Station or Ilsandong-gu Office (일산동구청). These local routes are less congested. Once you are 2km away from the Daehwa bottleneck, you can transfer easily to Seoul-bound express buses.

Taxis, Uber, and Driving Tips#

Roads around Goyang Stadium, Daehwa Station, and the Jayuro Highway exits will experience heavy gridlock.

Calling Taxis (Kakao T / Uber): Drivers will likely decline calls near the immediate venue gates due to gridlock. Walk at least 1km away from the venues — toward the residential streets behind Hyundai Department Store or near Juyeop Station — before calling a taxi.
Pre-pay Parking Fees: If you are driving and parked at KINTEX, expect up to an hour of gridlock just to exit the parking structures. Ensure you pre-pay your parking fees via mobile apps or payment kiosks inside the exhibition center before heading to your vehicle.

Useful Links for Your Visit#

Transport and venue information was last verified on July 19, 2026. Please check official notices and opening hours before your visit.