Naksan Park

Behind Daehangno, a low hill follows the Seoul City Wall up to its crest: this is Naksan (about 125 m), laid out as Naksan Park. From the wall you look across downtown Seoul to Namsan, and the hill is best known for its night view, when the floodlit fortress and the city lights come on together.

History: the camel-back hill

The hill's humped outline earned it the name Naktasan, "camel mountain", shortened to Naksan. In Joseon times a royal dairy farm here supplied milk to the palace, so it was also called Taraksan. Naksan is one of the four inner mountains around old Hanyang, together with Bugaksan, Inwangsan and Namsan, guarding the capital's east side in feng shui terms. The city wall runs along its ridge.

From the 1960s apartment blocks and dense housing covered the slopes. Seoul drew up a restoration plan, and the hill reopened as Naksan Park in 2002.

What to see

• City Wall trail: the Naksan section runs from Hyehwamun to Heunginjimun, letting you walk inside and outside the wall. The outer path shows the full height of the masonry.
• Naksanjeong Pavilion: built during the restoration as a lookout over the city.
• Naksan Exhibition Hall: at the park entrance, with free displays on the hill's history and photos and models of the city wall.
• Hongdeok's Field: recalls the court lady Hongdeok, who made kimchi for Prince Bongnim during his captivity in Shenyang and was later rewarded with land here by the prince, by then King Hyojong.
• Biudang and Jajudong Spring: the thatched house of the upright minister Yu Gwan, later home to scholar Yi Su-gwang, who wrote the encyclopaedia Jibong yuseol there, and the spring where Queen Jeongsun, widow of King Danjong, is said to have dyed cloth.

Good to know

• Ssanggyedong, ranked among the five most scenic spots inside Joseon-era Seoul, lay where Ihwa-dong is today.
• The wall path appears in the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters", which has brought a new wave of visitors.
• The park covers about 150,000 m². A 1.5 km wall walk runs from the hilltop square to Hyehwamun, with three viewing plazas along the way for a rest.

Nearby

• Daehangno: directly below the park to the west, ideal before or after a show.
• Heunginjimun Gate: at the southern end of the wall trail, reached by walking down the Naksan section.
• Ihwa Mural Village: alleys lead down from the top of the park. People live here, so keep your voice down.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: walk up from Hyehwa or Hansung University stations (Line 4), Dongdaemun (Lines 1 and 4) or Changsin (Line 6). The paths are steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Visiting: the park is always open and free. The exhibition hall opens 09:00–17:00. The car park has 29 spaces at KRW 300 per 10 minutes.
• Best time: go up around sunset and stay until the wall lights come on to see the view by day and by night. Allow 1–2 hours with a walk along the wall.