Namsan Seoul Tower (N Seoul Tower)

Namsan Seoul Tower (officially YTN Seoul Tower, widely known as N Seoul Tower or Namsan Tower) is a broadcasting and observation tower near the summit of Namsan in the middle of Seoul. The structure is 236.7 m tall and reaches about 480 m above sea level, so on a clear day the observation deck shows the Han River and the ring of mountains around the city. Getting up by cable car, circular bus or on foot through Namsan Park is part of the outing.

History: from transmitter to city lookout

The tower was built to send out the signals of several broadcasters from a single site. Work began in December 1969, the structure was completed in 1971 and the observation levels and other interior facilities were finished in 1975. It was designed by architect Jang Jong-ryul. Because of security concerns the deck stayed closed to the public for years and only opened on 15 October 1980. Broadcaster YTN bought the tower in 1999, and after a renovation it reopened in 2005 under the name N Seoul Tower. Terrestrial broadcasters in the capital region still transmit from it.

What to see

• Observation deck: at a height of about 212 m, a 360-degree view over Seoul, from the downtown towers to the mountains and the Han River.
• Love locks: the railings on the terrace below the tower are covered with padlocks left by couples and families, one of Namsan's best-known sights.
• Palgakjeong Square: stairs lead up from the cable car station to the square in front of the tower entrance. In the Joseon period a beacon-fire station stood in this area.
• Namsan Park trails: the southern and northern circular roads and forest paths to the tower are pleasant walks in every season.
• Seoul Tower Plaza: the former main building at the foot of the tower, reopened in 2015 as a complex with restaurants and cafés.

Good to know

The tower stands on the site of the Chōsen Shrine built during the Japanese colonial period. It also has several names: "Seoul Tower" in the building register, "YTN Seoul Tower" for its owner, "Namsan Seoul Tower" when it was listed as a Seoul Future Heritage in 2018, and "N Seoul Tower" for the observation deck and shops. Since 2005 private cars can no longer drive up to the tower, so you choose between bus, cable car and walking.

Tripto tips

• Observation deck: open every day of the year, weekdays 10:00–22:30, weekends and public holidays 10:00–23:00; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Admission is charged; check current prices on the official website.
• Bus: the green circular buses 01A and 01B stop near Chungmuro Station exit 2 and Dongguk University Station exit 6 and run to the tower between 06:30 and 23:00.
• Cable car: from Myeong-dong Station exit 5 walk towards Hoehyeon intersection and take the Namsan Oreumi inclined lift up to the cable car station. On Monday mornings service is suspended for maintenance for part of the day, so check before you go.
• On foot: about 30 minutes from the southern circular road at Namsan Library, about 30–40 minutes from the National Theater side.
• Best time: go up around sunset to see the evening light and the city at night. On days with heavy fine dust the view is much shorter, so check the forecast first.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for the deck and a walk around the summit.