Songtan Scavenger Hunt: How Many Mario's Can You Find Around Town?
One of my favorite things to do in South Korea is simply walk. There’s something magical about wandering through its alleyways and uncovering little treasures tucked away around town. If you live near Osan Air Base, you’ve probably seen the colorful wall murals in the SED by the train tracks—they’re hard to miss. But did you know there are at least eight other themed murals scattered throughout Songtan? These playful pieces are hidden in plain sight across the neighborhood, just waiting to be discovered. It’s like a mini art adventure right in our own backyard. So lace up your comfiest shoes and join me on a fun, family-friendly walking tour of Songtan’s street art! I like to kick things off at Songtan Station and wind my way through town, ending up closer to the SED Gate of Osan Air Base.
1. WORLD TOUR MURAL (세계여행 벽화)
Just one street over from Songsin Elementary School (송신초등학교), you’ll find the vibrant World Tour mural. This colorful display showcases 14 countries from around the globe, with each one labeled in both English and Hangul. Alongside fun facts like population and size, each section highlights something iconic—like the Statue of Liberty for the United States or a moose for Canada. It’s a great way to spark curiosity and conversations with kids while exploring the neighborhood. How many of these countries have you visited—and which ones would you like to see in the future?
2. GAROSU-GIL MURAL (가로스길 벽화)
Continue walking past the Vietnam section of the World Tour mural, and you’ll notice a pink painted line winding its way along the houses. “Garosu-gil” means “tree-lined street” in Korean, and this mural lives up to the name with paintings of cherry blossoms, ginkgo trees, and dreamy, nature-filled scenes. Some parts are painted at kid-height, making it an interactive stop—perfect for a quick photo or a pretend swing on a painted tree.
8. THEME VILLAGE MURAL (테마마을 벽화)
Woven into the center of the Garosu-gil mural is a colorful surprise—mural #8, the newest addition to Songtan’s mural trail: the Theme Village Mural. And hidden within it? Mario! In fact, there are four Marios scattered throughout this section—can you find them all? Another fun photo opportunity for kids—several fold-down benches are built into the walls, allowing you to sit right in the middle of the artwork for a unique and interactive picture.
Follow the gray-painted brick path through the middle of the mural block to the main road, then cross the street to find even more painted walls, including bright pink backdrops and whimsical animals.
Though out of order, visiting mural #8 now makes logistical sense, as it sits conveniently between murals #1 and #2. From here, follow the road in the direction of 송탄제일교회 (Songtan First Church), easily spotted by its yellow cross on the hill.
3. FLOWER MURAL (꽃길 벽화)
Just before you reach the church, keep an eye out for a small pink floral sign marking the entrance to mural #3, tucked away in a narrow alleyway. It’s easy to miss—but absolutely worth the turn. The alley is filled with painted cherry blossoms and floral designs stretching along the walls, adding bursts of pink to the brick surroundings. Keep your eyes peeled for a fun hidden detail: a bouquet of balloons tucked into the mural.
7. SUNFLOWER MURAL (해바라기길 벽화)
Again, instead of continuing in numerical order, we’re jumping to mural #7, just up the street. The sunflower mural was actually the first one I discovered—completely by accident—a few years ago. My oldest sister passed away years ago and sunflowers were always her favorite flower. Seeing them felt like a sign from her, like she was reminding me that I can still find her, even when I’m far from home.
One long wall of sunflowers lines the left side of the road, each one in varying sizes. Depending on the time of year, real vines creep over parts of the mural and in spring, yellow wildflowers bloom on top of the wall, spilling petals over the painted sunflowers below. It’s a beautiful blending of real and imagined. At the top of the steep hill, you’ll reach an intersection of streets. Turn around and head back downhill—stay to the road on the right to reach your next stop.
6. ART MUSEUM MURAL (미술관거리 벽화)
This stretch of road feels like an open-air art gallery, with each piece framed and carefully labeled with the title, artist’s name, and the century it was created. Several of the artworks featured here come from the Pungsokdo album by Sin Yun-bok (혜원 신윤복), a renowned Korean painter from the Joseon period known for his vivid and detailed depictions of everyday life.
4. BOOK PLAYGROUND MURAL (책 눌이터 벽화)
At the bottom of the hill, turn left and walk uphill once again. On your left, you’ll find painted stacks of books along the wall, accompanied by inspiring Hangul quotes about the joy of reading. At the top of the hill, the Book Playground Mural awaits—a single wall painted to look like a giant bookshelf, with book titles displayed along the spines in both English and Hangul. It’s a charming tribute to literature and imagination.
5. FAMOUS PAINTING MURAL (명화거리 벽화)
Just past the book mural, you’ll reach the final stop on the mural walk: mural #5 – the Famous Painting Mural. This section features iconic works from renowned artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Alfred Sisley, and Vincent van Gogh. Each painting is labeled in both English and Hangul—except for one. Can you find Van Gogh? This vibrant, art-filled finale wraps up your art walk with a touch of classical beauty.
If you’re looking for a free, fun, and semi-educational way to spend a summer day with your kids, Songtan’s mural trail is the perfect adventure. Turn it into a creative scavenger hunt, practice reading signs in Hangul and English, or simply enjoy the colorful scenes together. With surprises tucked around every corner, it’s an easy way to keep kids engaged and learning while enjoying the sunshine.
As you explore Songtan’s mural trail, remember to be respectful of the local community. Keep loud noises to a minimum, as these are all residential areas, and always be considerate of the people who live nearby. Please be mindful not to litter or damage any of the beautiful artwork. Let’s all do our part to keep these murals vibrant and enjoyable for everyone! Happy exploring!
This Naver pin will bring you to the intersection of murals #1, 2, and 8.
Gyeonggi-do Pyeongtaek-si Sinjang-dong 269-271
https://naver.me/5EUj6qUJ
I wrote this blog as an article for United on the RoK’s July 2025 issue. If you’re in Korea you can grab a copy and inside you’ll find a scavenger hunt checklist! If you can’t grab an issue, you can also visit the article online at https://www.unitedontherokmag.com/post/songtan-mural-walk-a-colorful-scavenger-hunt-for-all-ages to download the scavenger hunt checklist - hope you have fun!
