Walking Tour of Yeongdeungpo-gu with a Guide

Walking tours exploring various spots in Yeongdeungpo-gu downtown with a tour guide

Operating five themed courses including history, industry, the Han River, and ecology; new waterfront course under development

Every weekend at 10 a.m., free participation available to anyone through the Yeongdeungpo-gu website

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will operate a walking tour program where participants can stroll through various parts of the city with a tour guide and enjoy Yeongdeungpo’s history, culture, and scenery.

The walking tour program involves walking through major attractions with a tour guide while listening to stories related to the history and culture of the sites.

Since 2020, the district has been operating five walking tour programs themed around history, industry, the Han River, and ecology: ▲Yeongdeungpo Modern Culture ▲Mullae Creative Village ▲Yeouido Architecture ▲Han River Waterways ▲Seonyudo Park.

Each course is approximately 2 km on foot and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes on average. Participants can experience the charm of Yeongdeungpo while walking through modern and contemporary historical sites, Mullae-dong art village, architectural landmarks, and waterfront parks.

The walking tour program is free and open to everyone, starting at 10 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Participation can be applied for through the district office website (Integrated Reservation - Venue Rental? Experience - Again Here Yeongdeungpo).

The district is currently developing a new waterfront course centered around Anyangcheon and Dorimcheon this year. It also plans to expand the training of the 18 currently active tour guides.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “I hope you can heal from your tired daily life and spend meaningful time through this walking tour program that you can enjoy lightly with family and friends,” adding, “Please experience the charm of Yeongdeungpo by listening to the stories hidden in every corner of the attractions with a tour guide.”

Jung-gu, Seoul, publishes new Seoul Hanyangdoseong Stamp Tour map

Complete all four main gates’ stamps to receive a completion badge

Walking tours with guides resume from March

Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) has newly produced and will distribute from March a tourist guide map for the Seoul Hanyangdoseong Stamp Tour.

Hanyangdoseong refers to the fortress walls and gates surrounding Hansung, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Built to mark the capital’s boundaries, assert its authority, and defend against external invasions, the entire wall stretches approximately 18.6 km.

The fortress trail is divided into four courses. Among them, Course 3, the Namsan section, is located in Jung-gu, while Courses 1 (Baegak section), 2 (Naksan section), and 4 (Inwang section) are in Jongno.

Walking along the fortress allows visitors to experience seasonal changes along the mountain ridges and enjoy city views, making it a popular walking spot in Seoul. The number of visitors to Course 3, the Namsan section, surged from 87 in 2021 to 422 in 2022, showing renewed interest after COVID-19 restrictions.

Jung-gu expects a significant increase in tourists visiting Hanyangdoseong this year and has newly produced 27,000 Korean-language and 500 English-language tourist maps. To enhance visitor convenience, the maps include information on major attractions and improved readability. They are available at tourist information centers across Seoul, Sungnyemun management office, Hanyangdoseong Museum, and more.

Hanyangdoseong has eight gates in total, including the four main gates and four smaller gates. The names of the four main gates reflect Confucian virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. The stamp tour map includes blank spaces at Heunginjimun, Donuimun, Sungnyemun, and Sukjeongmun for visitors to collect stamps as they pass each gate.

Visitors who collect all four main gate stamps can earn a completion badge. After stamping all and taking certification photos at four designated locations, they can also apply for a Hanyangdoseong completion certificate through ‘Seoul Public Reservation.’

From March, the walking tour program with guides along Hanyangdoseong will reopen. The stories behind the fortress walls add to the enjoyment of the walk. Reservations can be made on the Jung-gu office website under ‘Walking Tours with Guides’ and the Seoul Public Service Reservation website.

Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, “I hope you enjoy the blooming flowers and take care of your health while walking along the Hanyang fortress trail this spring,” adding, “If the whole family takes the map and challenges the stamp tour, you will gain memories as a bonus, so please give it a try.”

“What was life like for Joseon court ladies?”... Eunpyeong-gu operates Imalsan themed trail exploration program

24 sessions from March to November... free participation, first-come-first-served registration

Trekking with explanations about Joseon-era professionals such as court ladies, interpreters, and eunuchs on Imalsan

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will operate the ‘Imalsan Themed Trail Exploration Program,’ which covers stories of Joseon-era professionals such as court ladies, interpreters, and eunuchs, starting March 18.

Imalsan in Eunpyeong-gu stands 133 meters tall and is entirely developed as Jingwan Neighborhood Park, widely used by residents. It is known as a forest museum rich in historical value and stories, with over 1,700 tombs of various social classes from the Joseon era, including aristocrats, middle-class officials, eunuchs, and court ladies.

The ‘Imalsan Themed Trail’ was created in 2019 following residents’ suggestions to reinterpret Imalsan as a women-themed trail focusing on court ladies. After establishing the trail, the district prepared the exploration program to activate Imalsan as a historical and cultural resource. Following a pilot operation last year with high user satisfaction, the program will be expanded this year.

The exploration program will run 24 times from March to November. Participation is free and accepted on a first-come-first-served basis through the Seoul Public Service Reservation system.

Participants can walk the ‘Imalsan Themed Trail’ and listen to stories about various people, including professional women like court ladies responsible for the royal family’s daily needs, through a themed trail guide. Rich explanations are also provided via a KakaoTalk chatbot.

There are five courses starting from Exit 2 of Gupabal Station. Major themes include ▲Kim Deuk-ryeon (1852?1930), the first interpreter who traveled around the world ▲Choi Hyo-won (1638?1672), King Yeongjo’s maternal grandfather ▲Noh Yoon-cheon, a eunuch who delivered royal orders ▲Lady Im (1635?1709), a senior court lady who raised royal children, among other stories.

The course ends at Eunpyeong Hanok Village, recently gaining attention as a unique travel destination in Seoul. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Bukhansan Mountain and traditional hanok houses, as well as Eunpyeong History Hanok Museum, Samgaksan Geumam Art Museum, and the thousand-year-old temple Jingwansa, experiencing the charm of traditional Korean culture.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “I hope you have an enjoyable and meaningful time traveling through time while walking the Imalsan Themed Trail.”

Yongsan-gu to create Sowol-ro pedestrian-specialized street

1,269m section connecting Yongsan 2-ga Community Center to Seoul Grand Hyatt Hotel

10 billion KRW invested... replacing 33 rainwater inlets, permeable block paving, installing curb stones between sidewalks and roads, and other repairs to create a pleasant walking environment

Sowol-ro in Yongsan-gu is a popular spot not only for residents but also tourists. It is a trail along the mid-slope of Namsan Mountain, adjacent to Seoul Station, Huam-dong, Haebangchon, Gyeongridan-gil, and Hannam-dong.

Yongsan-gu is renovating Sowol-ro into a pedestrian-specialized street by April to provide a pleasant walking environment for residents and visitors.

The location is a total length of 1,269 meters connecting Yongsan 2-ga Community Center (90 Sinheung-ro) to Seoul Grand Hyatt Hotel (322 Sowol-ro). The district is investing a total of 1 billion KRW in civil engineering, drainage, and paving works.

In 2021, the district completed the detailed design for the Sowol-ro pedestrian-specialized street and began removing gutter curb stones in November 2022. In January this year, L-shaped gutters were reinstalled and 33 rainwater inlets replaced to ensure smooth drainage.

When the minimum temperature stays above freezing in February, the replacement of sidewalk blocks will begin. Old impermeable (small high-pressure) blocks will be removed and replaced with permeable (processed concrete) blocks.

A district official said, “The blocks installed on Sowol-ro have aged over a decade and urgently needed replacement,” adding, “We plan to secure additional funds this year to renovate the opposite side of the street (length 3,450m) as well.”

Last year, 92 old street lamps and 92 pedestrian lamps in the Sowol-ro area were replaced with LEDs to ensure nighttime safety. To minimize pedestrian obstacles, street lamps, traffic lights, and traffic signal devices were integrated at the Namsan Mansion and Namsan Park intersections.

Kim Seon-su, Acting Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Sowol-ro is loved by residents and tourists visiting Namsan alike,” adding, “We will complete the construction without delay to ensure a safe and well-maintained walking path for everyone.”