[One Day Walk] From Garbage Island to Ecological Park... Mapo Haneul Noeul-gil

Editor's NoteAsia Economy provides walking-friendly courses for subscribers of the ‘One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters’ newsletter. The content is organized daily and monthly around themes, featuring courses recommended by Asia Economy, the government, local authorities, experts, and subscribers.

Citizens visiting Haneul Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are enjoying the autumn atmosphere while walking along the silver grass path. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] Today’s ten-thousand-step walk heads to Haneul Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Haneul Park was built on Nanjido, an island in the middle of the Han River, to commemorate the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

The parks around Nanjido, including Haneul Park, are collectively called World Cup Park, which is the result of ecological restoration and environmental regeneration. This place was none other than a 'landfill site.' In fact, in the early 1900s, Nanjido was a treasure trove of ecology, with various flowers blooming and migratory birds resting there. However, as South Korea underwent rapid industrialization, the amount of waste produced increased uncontrollably, and in 1978, Seoul City designated this area as a landfill. Since then, Nanjido became a barren land filled with waste produced by Seoul citizens. The amount of household and industrial waste accumulated over the 15 years that Nanjido served as a landfill reached 92 million tons. The piled-up waste formed a mountain with a height of up to 98 meters, one of the highest in the world. During this time, Nanjido became a barren land filled only with flies, dust, and foul odors. Methane gas and leachate, major causes of environmental pollution, continuously leaked out.

Nanjido regained vitality when, to commemorate the new millennium and the World Cup, a park was built on this site. The ecological stabilization of the island, once filled with waste, progressed, and it was transformed into four parks including Haneul Park and recreational facilities for citizens.

The course starts at Exit 2 of World Cup Stadium Station. As soon as you exit, head toward the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market across from Sangam World Cup Stadium, where the park’s parking lot is located. Passing the parking lot, you will reach Peace Park. Centered around Nanjipond in the middle of the park, UNICEF Plaza and Peace Garden have been created. Various walking paths are also available inside the park, making it a pleasant place to enjoy the scenery while walking.

Next is the turn to head to Haneul Park. Meaning ‘the park where the sky and grassland meet,’ Haneul Park is aptly named as it is the closest to the sky among the World Cup Parks. Located on high ground, it is a great spot to enjoy the sunset and views of the Han River. Haneul Park is home to silver grass and sunflowers, and in autumn, the silver grass creates a spectacular scene attracting many visitors. There are photo zones throughout the park, perfect for capturing ‘life shots’ among the silver grass forest.

After passing Haneul Park, you will come across the Metasequoia Road. The approximately 900-meter-long metasequoia forest path is a walking course where you can feel nature within the city and is also famous as a great spot for photography. Following the forest path, Sunset Park and Nanjicheon Park come in sequence. Between Sunset Park and Nanjicheon Park is the Firefly Ecology Center. It features an artificial breeding ground for fireflies, which are now rare to see in Seoul, along with various experiential programs. After passing Nanjicheon Park, you will reach the park entrance parking lot, pass the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market again, and head to Mapo-gu Office Station, concluding today’s ten-thousand-step course.