Namchuncheon station (, Abbr:Kangwondae station; ê°ÂìÂÂëÂÂìÂÂ) is a train station on the Gyeongchun Line in Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. This station is 78.6 kilometres from its final western destination, Sangbong station.
On July 20, 1939, this station had been operated under the name of Seongsan station (ì±ì°ìÂÂ), however, on April 1, 1940, the name of station was changed into Namchuncheon station (ë¨ì¶Âì²ÂìÂÂ) and this name has been kept since then. On October 27, 1971, the old station (closed since December 21, 2010) lasted almost 40 years. On September 30, 2005, with the kickoff of the construction of new twin-track electronic rapid-transit system, this station has been used as the eastern terminus of old Gyeongchun Line, due to the suspension of using Chuncheon station during that period, and it run successfully until December 20, 2010. A brand-new station has been built, and since December 21, 2010, this station operates as the gateway to Chuncheon city. This station is also called as 'Kangwon Nat'l Univ. station' (ê°ÂìÂÂëÂÂìÂÂ), because the Chuncheon (primary) campus of Kangwon National University nearly locates from this station.
With the nearby Chuncheon bus terminal, it also operates as a transport hub of Chuncheon city. Although, since December 21, 2010 when the electrification and double-tracking of Gyeongchun line to Chuncheon station was completed, this station is still busy due to the heavy-populated South Chuncheon (Toegye-dong and Seoksa-dong area; almost half of the city's population) residents, and also incorporates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system. From about 5am to 11pm, train service operates almost every 20 minutes toward Sangbong, Cheongnyangni, Kwangwoon Univ., and Pyeongnaehopyeong, and express service (ê¸ÂÃÂÂì´차) is being operated two times only in weekdays.
As mentioned, the KNU Chuncheon (main) campus is located, as well as a state-of-the-art digital regional broadcasting centre of Korean Broadcasting System (a.k.a. KBS Chuncheon Broadcasting Branch Office, KBSì¶Âì²Âë°©ì¡ì´ÂêµÂ), Chuncheon Police Station (ì¶Âì²Â경찰ìÂÂ), several shopping centre such as Chuncheon Pungmul Sijang (ì¶Âì²ÂÃÂÂ물ìÂÂìÂÂ¥, traditional conventional market, 5-minute-walk), megamall E-mart and Lotte Mart (both of them as 'Chuncheon branch'). Chuncheon Bus Terminal, both intercity and express, also located just about 10 minutes walk from this station.
This station also operates its service to Gyeongchun Line's eastern terminus Chuncheon station, which is located 2.7 km northwest of this station; however, most of local residents and college students seldom use it. Metropolitan bus service from this station toward central business district (Myeong-dong 몠ë or Jungang-ro ì¤ÂìÂÂë¡Â, famous for soap series Winter Sonata겨ì¸ì°ê°Â), North (Hupyeong-dong ÃÂÂÃÂÂëÂÂ), Central (Hyoja-dong èìÂÂëÂÂ), and Southend (Hakgok-ri ÃÂÂ곡리) connects frequently, however, most of South Chuncheon (Toegye and Seoksa) residential area where massively populated, still rarely.
On weekends and Fridays, especially during semesters, this train station is heavily used due to the many college students who live outside Chuncheon. Following a new double-track rapid transit system introduced to this (and Chuncheon) station, both numerous mountain-climbing favourites and gourmets from Seoul, typically both are the aged, came to Chuncheon to enjoy their designated trips through one or more days.