Naksan Park
낙산공원
A park on the lowest of the four hills that ringed the old walled city. A stretch of the city wall runs along its ridge, and the centre of Seoul lies below it on the far side.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 낙산공원
- Address
- 41 Naksan-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03085
- Nearest station
- Hyehwa Station (혜화역, Line 4) (Exit 2) · 10-min walk
- Opening hours
- open at all hours
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Admission
- Free
- Operated by
- Seoul Central Parks and Leisure Office
History
Naksan is one of the four inner hills of the old capital and corresponds to the "Azure Dragon" hill on the left in feng shui. It was also called Nakta-san ("camel hill") because its terrain resembled a camel's back, and Tarak-san because a royal pasture in the area supplied milk to the court. After apartment blocks and dense housing from the 1960s erased the mountain's original appearance, Seoul City drew up a restoration plan and turned the area into a park.
July 2002
Opening of Naksan Park
What to see
Naksan exhibition hall
At the park entrance, the hall displays photographs and models covering Naksan's origins, historical figures and the Seoul City Wall. Free park programmes about Naksan and the Seoul City Wall run at weekends.
Biudang
This was the site of the home of Yu Gwan, an early Joseon minister who is said to have lived so modestly that he held up an umbrella indoors when it rained. The scholar Yi Su-gwang (pen name Jibong) later inherited the house and named it Biudang, meaning "a house that shelters from rain".
Jajudong spring
This spring lies behind Biudang. According to the park authority, Queen Jeongsun dyed silk purple here to support herself while King Danjong was in exile in Yeongwol.
Hongdeok's field
Hongdeok, a palace maid, is said to have made kimchi each day for King Hyojong while he was held in Qing China as Grand Prince Bongnim. After his return, he is said to have given her a vegetable field halfway up Naksan and asked her to continue making it for him because he remembered its taste.
Naksanjeong pavilion
Built during the restoration of Naksan, this pavilion overlooks central Seoul.
Naksan exhibition hall selected
Nearby
Stories about this place
- Eleven Seoul Parks, Compared: Seoul Forest, Namsan, the River Parks and Olympic Park
Eleven parks in Seoul compared on what each one is, how much walking it takes and how crowded it gets. Nine of the eleven keep no opening hours and charge nothing, so the choice comes down to what you want from the day.
- Nine Seoul Night Views Compared: Eungbongsan, Namsan, Seoul Sky and Naksan Park
Nine night views in Seoul compared on what you see, how you get up there and how crowded each one gets. Five are free and three charge; the two free viewpoints that face the city head-on, Eungbongsan and Naksan Park, are the ones you walk up to. Hours for the three paid sights and the DDP are included.
