Seoul Children's Grand Park

Seoul Children's Grand Park in Neung-dong, Gwangjin District, opened on Children's Day in 1973. About 530,000 m² of woods and lawns hold a zoo, a botanical garden, an amusement park and an open-air stage, and because entry to the park is free, it suits families with children as much as anyone looking for an easy walk in green surroundings.

From an empress's tomb to a park

The park stands on the site of Yugangwon, the tomb of Empress Sunmyeonghyo, first wife of Emperor Sunjong. She died in 1904 and was buried here, but at Sunjong's funeral in 1926 she was moved to Yureung in Namyangju. The land then became a golf course (Seoul Country Club). The club donated the site to the city, construction began in November 1972, and on Children's Day, 5 May 1973, the park opened as the largest combined children's leisure complex in Asia at the time. Some 300,000 people came in the first six days, and on Children's Day 1977 a record 735,000 visitors arrived in a single day. Admission fees were abolished in 2006, and the park was thoroughly renovated for Children's Day 2009.

What to see

• Zoo: themed areas such as the Marine Animal House and Small Animal Village, with seals, otters, zebras, pelicans and more.
• Botanical garden: greenhouses full of tropical plants.
• Amusement park: rides including a roller coaster, a Viking ship, a merry-go-round and bumper cars.
• Musical fountain and Forest Stage: the musical fountain added in the 2009 renovation and the 8,000-seat open-air Neungdong Forest Stage are at the centre of the park.
• Stone figures of Yugangwon (Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage): around twenty stone sculptures from the empress's old tomb, including civil officials, horses, sheep and tigers, remain on the site. They show the fine stone carving of the late Joseon court right beside the park paths.
• Spring cherry blossoms: in spring, the walking paths are lined with blossom.

Good to know

• In April 2005, six elephants got out of the park and wandered through the car park, shops and nearby houses.
• In March 2023, a zebra named Sero escaped and trotted through residential streets and city roads, becoming a national talking point.
• In 1975 the Children's Hall was built on land beside the park, and from 1980, when subway Line 2 opened, the park became easy to reach by metro. Even after big theme parks arrived, free entry and good transport links have kept it a favourite for school outings and family days.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: park 05:00–22:00, zoo 10:00–17:00, amusement park 10:00–18:30 on weekdays and 10:00–19:30 at weekends. Open all year.
• Admission: entry to the park is free; some facilities such as the amusement park charge separately.
• Getting there: the main gate is right by Children's Grand Park Station on Line 7. It is also walkable from Achasan Station on Line 5.
• Parking: KRW 150 per 5 minutes for cars. Public transport is easier at weekends.
• Time needed: 2 to 4 hours for the zoo, botanical garden and a walk.
• Combine with: visit Hongneung and Yureung in Namyangju, where the empress was reburied, to complete the story of the park's site.