Montmartre Park (몽마르뜨공원) – Tel +82-2-2155-6860 Montmartre Park, situated above Seorae Village, earns its name due to the significant number of French residents in the vicinity. This small park exudes an atmosphere of art and romance, fitting its namesake. Adorned with poems and sculptures contributed by French poets and artists, the park also features busts…

Samgaksan Mountain (삼각산) Samgaksan Mountain is a mountain situated on the northern outskirts of Seoul, resembling a folding screen. Its name, meaning triangular mountain, is derived from the presence of three high peaks: Baegundae Peak, Insubong Peak, and Mangyeongdae Overlook. The highest peak, Baegundae Peak, offers a panoramic view of Seoul from its summit, featuring…

Yeouido Park (여의도공원) – Homepage parks.seoul.go.kr Yeouido Park is a large recreational area located on Yeouido Island in the central part of Seoul. It was once originally covered with black asphalt, and people frequented the place for bicycling and roller-skating. The construction began in 1997 and opened officially in February 1999. It is now the…

Seoul Plaza (서울광장) – Homepage plaza.seoul.go.kr – Tel +82-2-2133-5640 Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans gathered together to…

Seoul Eungbongsan Mountain (응봉산(서울)) – Tel +82-2-2286-6061 From Eungbongsan Mountain, one can easily see the Hangang River, Seoul Forest, Jamsil Sports Complex and more in the eastern part of Seoul. With such a great view of the Hangang River, the mountain is often packed with visitors including many photographers. The mountain serves as a venue…

Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs [UNESCO World Heritage] (서울 선릉과정릉) [유네스코 세계유산] – Homepage royaltombs.cha.go.kr – Tel +82-2-568-1291 Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs are located near COEX in Gangnam. It comprises two tombs: Seolleung Royal Tomb, which houses the remains of King Seongjong (1457-1495, r. 1470-1495) and his wife Queen Jeonghyeon (1462-1530) of the Joseon…

Jongmyo Shrine [UNESCO World Heritage] (종묘 [유네스코 세계유산]) – Homepage tour.jongno.go.kr – Tel +82-2-765-0195 Jongmyo Shrine was the primary place of worship for kings and their queens throughout the Joseon dynasty. The shrine was built at the same time as Gyeongbokgung Palace, under the orders of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty….

Seoul Hyochang Park (서울 효창공원) – Homepage parks.seoul.go.kr – Tel +82-2-2199-7608 Hyochang Park covers 122,245 square meters spanning across Hyochang-dong and Cheongpa 2-dong. It is a historic landmark that once contained several royal tombs, and was known at that time as Hyochangwon. The cemeteries that were originally located in Hyochangwon belonged to Crown Prince Munhyo,…

Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁) – Homepage www.heritage.go.kr – Tel +82-2-724-0274 Gyeonghuigung Palace, a designated Historic Site, was originally called the large palace by Saemun Gate, or the Western Palace, for its location within the city. It was not until the eighth year of Gwanghaegun (1616) that the palace was used as a royal residence for the…

Ttukseom Hangang Park (뚝섬한강공원) – Homepage hangang.seoul.go.kr – Tel +82-2-3780-0521 Ttukseom Hangang Park was a famous resort site even before its rebirth as part of the greater Hangang Park. The park consists of various amenities: music fountains, a riverside square, a rose garden, playground, and a nature learning center. The park boasts an exquisite cultural…