2018. 7. 7. 01:07ㆍKorea for Foreigner/Korean Sightseeing
1. Introduction to Theme Walking Trail of Seoul
In 2016, the Seoul municipality announced <Themed Walking Trails> in Seoul, '서울 테마 산책길'.
That includes 40 walking courses along the mountain, forest, river, park, temple etc..
it has an object to propagate that there are many trails where people can feel the beauty of Seoul, but only locals know.
The 40 themed walking trails are divided into Walking Trails through Forests (28 trails), Walking Trails through Valleys (2 trails), and Walking Trails with Beautiful Views (5 trails). And they are located throughout Seoul.
Subsequently, <Theme Walking Trails Ⅱ> was published at the end of 2016, and <Theme Walking Trails Ⅲ> was January 2018.
- E-book Link -
Recommendation for a walking course with beautiful landscape of Seoul,
Eungbong neighborhood park and Maebongsan(Mt.) park
Especially among them, the trail of Eungbong neighborhood park and Maebongsan park(they are connected each other.) is convenient for transportation, but not hard to walk and have observation spot where we can see the beautiful landscape of the Han river(한강) and the city.
In addition, it is not far from major tourist site, e.g. myeongdong(명동), Jongno(종로), Insadong(인사동), Gwanghwamun(광화문), Namsan(남산), Itaewon(이태원), Gangnam(강남), therefore it is good to go on another tour.
It is located near Namsan(남산), so these lanscapes are somewhat similar but different in detail.
At first, Namsan(Mt.) is very famous tourist attraction of Seoul, therefore so many locals and tourists are in there. most of them are satisfied with it, but there are also person who don't like to be too crowded or prefer the place where others do not go well, or want to go less famous but sufficiently good place. At this point, this walking course has the advantage because of having calm and relaxed atmosphere like a neighborhood park despite being magnificent scenery.
Second, Namsan(Mt.), it is 262m high, so landscape at there is seen wide but small. But, Maebongsan, its height is 175m, lower and smaller than Namsan so that we can see more detailed landscape and look buildings and streets more nearby.
So, I recommend this walking course for foreign travelers as well as korean people, and wrote this post for give you an information about this.
<Maebongsan Trail / source : Seoul Theme Walking Trail, 2016>
<Maebongsan(Mt.) Trail Course Map of the book>
2. Overall Information of the walking course
The walking course I introduce this time includes both trail of Eungbong neighborhood park(응봉근린공원) and that of maebongsan park(매봉산 공원), otherwise the course in the book does not includes Eungbong neighborhood park(north course). So the former is longer than the latter. But I consider that north course is as good as south course(Maebongsan park), therefore I introduce one course joining these two course.
Total length is about 3,300m and it takes about 60 - 80 minutes.
This course starts at Singeumho(신금호) station, Line No. 5. This station is only 5 stations away from Gwanghwamun(광화문) station and it's not far from other stations where travelers get on much. It takes about 10 ~ 20 minutes at that subway stations.
The district at this station is relatively higher than others, so the station is located very deep. Therefore I recommend to you take an elevator than escalator to go outside of the station.
Elevators in subway station in Korea are originally for the elderly and the handicapped, but it's fine to use if the station is at very deep below.
In there, there are any vending machine or store except only one cafe near the trail so that you should prepare some drink. That's it! There are all free through walking. Many parks in Seoul are also free like this. You just enjoy it after reading this guide.
2. Course Guide 1 / 4 - Subway Station to Park Entrance
1) Singeumho Station (신금호역)
If you get off a subway at Singeumho Station, go outside through Exit 1.
And then turn around and go along the road.
2) A Milestone
If you find a milestone in the left direction, turn left and go uphill.
Walking along this road, you can see a huge apartment complex at left side. This have built just recently. Originally, the area was sloping and there were many old houses and the lower classes. But In the 21st century, the area has been rebuilt a lot into an apartment complex. Because Korean people prefer to live at an apartment, due to it is well equipped with facilities and is recognized as a symbol of wealth. So there are very very many apartments in Korea.
3) School
At the end of the uphill, a school is at right side. If there is no student at school at that time, you can enter to school and see the cityscape over the fence. But if you go a little further you do not have to go in because there is a better view.
4) Forked Road
At this point, you should go straight not enter to left.
5) Parking Lot and Park Entrance
After a while you can see the parking lot and find the entrance to the park on your right. For there is a stone that indicates here is an entrance, you can find it easily.
2. Course Guide 2 / 4 - Park Entrance to School Entrance
1) Park Entrance
From here, the trail is generally flat. The walkway is well maintained and there are fewer people, therefore it is a good environment for walking.
2) Observation Deck
There is an observation deck where Namsan(Mt.) can be seen. This landscape stretches from Namsan to the west, Shilla Hotel and Dongdaemun to the east.
3) Small Plaza
Then, there is a pavement. You walk along that. Being slightly downhill, it's easy to walk.
After a while, you can see a small plaza with a tree.
4) A Cafe
You can discover a building just off the road between the trees. A small cafe is at there and you can drink some coffee.
5) Forked Road
When you are at there, a sign is seen. Go to the straight direction that shows 'Seoul Forest, Nam san-gil', not downhill direction.
This trail had not been exist before, and there had been only the road below here where the car went. This walkway was built for linking two green axes, Eungbong(응봉) and Maebongsan(매봉산), and for give better environment to residents.
From here, there are some uphill.
6) School Entrance
When you leave the promenade, you will see the road and the school entrance on your left.
There is a small sign '서울숲, 남산길', so you should go along the road for a while.
3. Course Guide 3 / 4 - School Entrance to Pavilion(A Top of Maebongsan(Mt.))
1) School Entrance
2) Forked Road
After a while, a trail between trees is shown again. Go to that way.
On you right, there are some simple fitness equipments.
And after a while, there is a walkway with loess(yellow dirt). In Korea, a few park also have it like this. Korean people consider loess be good for health and skin, especially the middle and old aged women think that. Therefore Korean walk along barefoot such that road sometimes.
3) End of Uphill, Near the Top
After a while, a trail between trees is shown again. Go to that way. And at end of the uphill, turn left.
4) Pavilion, an Observation Point
Finally, You will see an octagonal pavilion, called Palgakjeong(팔각정) by Korean.
You can go up the stairs.
At there, There is a picture of a night view of Seoul which was taken at that place.
This point is good for look at not only a daytime but also a nighttime. Thus, you will see a beautiful scenery of Seoul at there.
This view is eastern Seoul. A green on the left side of Hangang(Han river) is Seoul Forest(park). And Very high skyscraper behind the river in front of you is Lotte World Tower. It is the tallest building building in Korea at 555m and it is in Songpa(송파)(and Jamsil(잠실)) district. And the right side of the river where there are many apartments is Apjujeong(압구정). A value of this neighborhood is also very expensive in Korea because Hangang is seen well from there.
4. Course Guide 4 / 4 - Pavilion to Park Exit
The last part of this course is a way from the top of the Maebongsan(Mt.) to downhill. From here, there are some forked way to each other exit. So, you have to go down the right path as looking through the milestones.
There are 3 ways to go down. First, the southern direction, exit to Hannam-dong, for the walking course I introduce. This way is longer a little bit than others, but you can walk through well-organized pavement at the end of the course and the transportation is convenient there. Second, the northwestern direction, exit to Namsan(Mt.). If you continue to go to Namsan, this way is faster than others and you can directly go to Namsan(Mt.). It is about 1 kilometer long.
Last, the western direction, it is not easy to find and I do not recommend it because it escapes to the residential area instead of the avenue.
This reference map shows the route from here to Namsan directly. It can helps you when you have a plan continuing to go to Namsan.
Before arriving the top, there is a map like above. This can give you an information when you go down.
I marked yellow arrows, the direction I guide this time.
1) Pavilion, an Observation Point
When you come back to the place like above you came from, go down the road to the left.
2) Downhill, Forked Road
After you get to the downhill like above, you will see first milestone. At this point go right, 'Geukdong Green Apts.'(극동그린아파트).
Just a while, at this point go to the 'Oksu-dong'(옥수동) direction.
After go down the stairway, the thrid milestone will be seen. At this point, go to also 'Geukdong Green Apts.'(극동그린아파트)
There is the fourth milestone. At this point, turn right, the direction where the milestone points to 한남동(Hannam-dong).
After through downhill, final milestone will be seen. You should go to the right, 한남더힐 APT(Hannam The Hill APT).
3) Walkway by a fence
Congraturation! The path of confusion is all over. From here to exit, it's simple to follow.
At this point, you will see a fence with thick barbed wire and sometimes a couple of soldiers patrol around there.
Furthemore, A warning broadcast is sent out occasionally. So You may get nervous. But it's okay.
This route was ordinary used for walking to locals. Some soldiers and broadcast are simply existed since there is an official residence of a prime diplomatic minister inside there. They will not control you not to pass through the ordinary road.
Anyway, go through a stairway just besides the fence.
This road may be felt not so good than the previous course. However don't worry. Better environ will appear soon.
4) Small Observation Deck and pavement (Last course)
A wooded place will be seen again. And when you go straight, another small observation deck will be seen.
Passing through that point, a well-organized walkway, it is the last part of the course, appears.
Left side of you, another apartment complex will be seen. its name is 한남 더 힐 아파트(Hannam The Hill Apartment Complex). Its architectural style, it has not high height but very wide and the garden of this is well maintained, is extraordinary in Korea. So many famous person live there, Psy(싸이), BTS(방탄소년단) etc.
After passing this apartments, there are last downhill.
5. How to Continue to Travel, Bus route information by Destinations
Soon after you exit the walking course, a broad avenue will be seen in front of you. There is a metro station, Hannam(한남), 10 minutes on foot from here. However it is hard to find and that metro line doesn't pass many tourist attractions.
So, I strongly recommend taking buses. Bus stops is just around and you can move tourist spots directly by bus. In here, it is very convenient than Metro.
Note that, if you want to have some drink or to eat lunch(or dinner), there are some cafe and restaurants walking for 3 minutes to the left from the picture above.
This avenue links two central districts of Seoul. In the north, it leads to main districts of tourist attractions in Seoul, for example, Myeongdong(명동), Gwanghwamun(광화문), Insadong(인사동), Dongdaemun(동대문). If you go west a little, Itaewon(이태원) comes too. Otherwise, In the south, it leads to Gangnam(강남).
To get to the north, take the bus stop on your side. but to get to the south, cross the overpass and use the bus stop opposite you.
There are many bus lines, and you may be confused which bus to take.
So, I made a map which shows you an information about bus lines passing there.
Each destination is numbered, and you can see and figure out where each bus goes through.
If there is few traffic jam, it takes about 10-20 minutes mostly. But If it is a commute time, it may take more.
If you want to go Namsan Tower, take a bus 420, and take off at the stop, 'National Theater, Banyan Tree Hotel'. Next across the road, and then take the bus 02,03 (not 05).
So, I hope you have a nice trip!
