[One Day Walk] ‘Mapo Village Tour’ Embracing Taste, Style, and Instagram Vibes

How about taking a walk together at some lesser-known walking spots in Mapo-gu that almost went unnoticed, unlike the widely known Gyeongui Line Forest Park, World Cup Park, Sky Park, and the Han River?

If you want delicious restaurants, hot places, healing, and Instagram-worthy vibes, you can join the ‘Mapo Village Tour,’ a walking trip filled with memories and stories of Mapo residents that you won't hear anywhere else. The ‘Mapo Village Tour,’ which connects hidden local tourist resources and lets you explore every corner of the area while listening to explanations from tour guides, consists of a total of 24 courses, each taking 2 hours, and is free of charge.

A quiet and charming residential area in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu

The most popular course in the Mapo Village Tour, ‘Yeonnam, a Windy Good Day,’ offers a small urban retreat starting from ‘Yeontral Park’ and takes you through the alleys of Yeonnam-dong, exploring unique neighborhood cafes and bookstores, providing the joy of discovering culture and art.

If you need a break like a comma in a sentence amid your hectic daily life, pay attention to the ‘Mapo Village Tour,’ full of the joy of walking, starting this March.

Colorful Mapo-gu Yeonnam-dong Workshop Alley

If you want to escape the stuffy city and fully experience nature, how about climbing Seongsan (Seongmisan), a low mountain located in Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, and walking along the breeze? The small neighborhood mountain ‘Seongsan,’ which had been a source of sharp conflict between the district office and residents for over two years over development and preservation, has been reborn as a ‘real mountain’ through the ‘Mapo-gu Win-Win Committee,’ which decided on a preservation policy direction. Starting your hike by climbing the stairs from the Seongmi Spring bus stop, you will be embraced by the softness of the dirt path instead of the familiar paved roads in the city. Walking quietly along the dirt path toward the summit, you will feel a refreshing sensation from the beads of sweat forming on your forehead and the sunlight pouring through the trees.

Listening to birdsong and smelling the scent of flowers as you quicken your pace, you will pass Seongmi Spring and soon reach the Seongsan Observatory, which boasts an excellent view. Standing at the Seongsan Observatory, you can see Bukhansan and Ansan mountains blending with the city apartments, creating a picturesque landscape.

Full of the scent of grass, Seongmisan

Walking for more than 30 minutes a day improves blood circulation, prevents cardiovascular diseases, enhances respiratory function, relieves stress, boosts immune function, increases strength in the waist and legs, and promotes visceral movement to help expel waste from the body, thus keeping the body healthy. Just as love begins with a confession, for the health of your body and mind, start walking?the simplest and easiest exercise you can do daily?at the walking spots introduced by Mapo-gu. You can apply for the Mapo Village Tour courses on the Mapo-gu website under Culture & Tourism -> Mapo Tourism.