Milmaru Observatory

In the middle of Sejong, on a hill 98 m above sea level, stands this 42 m observation tower. From its glass-walled viewing level you can take in the Government Complex Sejong, Sejong City Hall and the new city spreading out around them. It is the easiest place to understand how Sejong, planned from scratch as Korea's administrative city, has grown.

Named after an old village

"Milmaru" means a low ridge, and it was the old name of the area around Jongchon-ri in Nam-myeon, part of the former Yeongi County, where the tower now stands. Construction began in 2007, while the new administrative city was being built, and the observatory opened on 27 March 2009. It started out as a showcase for the city under construction, and after Sejong Special Self-Governing City was launched in 2012 it kept doing the same job, almost like a record of the city's growth. In the years since, the empty land around it has filled up with apartment blocks, green space and government buildings.

What to see

• Glass lift: a lift with views to the outside takes you from the ground floor to the viewing level on the 9th floor, and you watch the forest and the city drop away as you rise.
• 360-degree view: the Government Complex, City Hall, the apartment districts and parks of the new city stretch out in every direction. Direction markers help you work out what is where.
• City models and telescopes: there is a model of the whole administrative city and one of the Government Complex, plus telescopes and screens comparing past and present views in the same direction.
• Ground-floor exhibition: a promotional hall, a video room and a lounge explain the city plan and its scale in films and figures.

Good to know

The tower itself is only 42 m tall, but because it stands on a hill the view is much wider than the number suggests. On very windy days the structure moves slightly: in a gale of 30 m per second the viewing level sways by about 8.5 cm. The hill around it is a wooded neighbourhood park, so from above it looks like a green island in the middle of the city. Put the opening-era views on the deck's screens next to what you see through the windows today and you realise how quickly empty land has turned into a city in little more than 15 years. If it is your first time in Sejong, coming here before exploring the streets is a good way to get the big picture.

Tripto tips

• Hours: 09:00–18:00, open all year. Hours can change over public holidays, so call ahead (+82-44-862-8845).
• Tickets: free. Visitor numbers are limited, so groups need to book in advance.
• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour is enough for the viewing level and the ground-floor exhibition.
• When to go: clear days are best. On days with heavy fine dust the distant views turn hazy, so check the forecast.
• Getting there: the address is 58 Doum 3-ro (Eojin-dong). There is a car park, so driving is easiest. From Osong KTX Station, take a BRT bus to the Government Complex area and check the last stretch on a map app.
• Combine it with: walk around the Government Complex or add the Presidential Archives for a half-day in Sejong.