Near Seoul Forest stands a red-brick building with a stone arch. It was not originally a café or station: it was the pumping hall of a pioneering modern waterworks facility.
A 1907 building, water flowing in 1908
Seoul's Arisu Waterworks Office dates the hall's construction to 1907, a date still inscribed above its entrance. It began being used to produce tap water on September 1, 1908. The distinction between construction and service dates helps explain how modern Seoul's daily life changed.
Look down at historic equipment
The hall is now part of the Waterworks Museum. Exposed original roof structures and sections of glass flooring reveal historic equipment underneath. Looking closely at these features makes the infrastructure behind an ordinary glass of tap water visible.
Plan your visit
The museum is at 27 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, accessible from exit 3 of Seoul Forest Station on the Suin–Bundang Line. Official visiting hours are 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with closures on Mondays, January 1 and the days of Seollal and Chuseok. General admission is free and self-guided visits do not require booking; guided talks of about 40 minutes and learning programs do require advance reservations. Private vehicles cannot use ordinary on-site parking at the secured waterworks compound; consider public transport or Seoul Forest parking. Recheck temporary closures and exhibit changes on the official website before travel.