[One Day Walk] Accessible and Seasonal New Views on Inwangsan Forest Trail

The Inwangsan Forest Trail is a walking course that follows the foothills of Inwangsan Mountain, passing through the Taekkyeon training ground, Suseongdong Valley, and Choso Bookstore, ending at the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum. The Inwangsan Forest Trail is a representative attraction visited not only by local residents but also by many Seoul citizens. It is easily accessible and offers new scenery with the changing seasons, making it a signature walking course in Jongno.

Jongno Hwanghakjeong

First, exit from Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 through Exit 1 and walk about 5 minutes past Sajik-dong Community Center to find a more than 200-year-old juniper tree at Sajikdan, marking the start of the course. Sajikdan is a place where rituals were held to pray for a bountiful harvest each year. If you have time, it is worth taking a stroll around the well-maintained altar and the surrounding park.

Walking with the Sajikdan wall on your right, after passing the corner, you will come to a sloped side road. From here, you enter the Inwangsan Forest Trail. After a short uphill walk, you will find the Dangun Shrine dedicated to Dangun Wanggeom, and right next to it is Hwanghakjeong, where archery was practiced during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghakjeong was built in 1899 by order of King Gojong at Gyeonghuigung Palace to promote physical and mental training and the tradition of archery among the people. When the Japanese demolished Gyeonghuigung, it was relocated to Sajik-dong. It is now designated as Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 25, and next to it is the Gugung Exhibition Hall, which displays traditional bows and welcomes tourists visiting Inwangsan.

Jongno Choso Bookstore

Walking along the Inwangsan trail from Hwanghakjeong, you will come across the Taekkyeon training ground. This is the last Taekkyeon training site from the Joseon period, where people practiced and competed in Taekkyeon during the Korean Empire era. Even today, Taekkyeon enthusiasts use this place for training, and it serves as a resting spot for visitors to Inwangsan and nearby residents.

About a 10-minute walk past the Taekkyeon training ground leads you to Suseongdong Valley below the foothills. Suseongdong Valley is named for the famous sound of water during summer rains. It has been known as a beautiful valley since the Joseon Dynasty, appearing in the ‘Jangdong Palgyeong’ album by the renowned painter Jeong Seon, who, along with Prince Anpyeong, often visited to enjoy art. Especially, Suseongdong Valley is a rare place that gives the illusion of being deep in the mountains despite being in the city, where you can dip your feet in the valley water and spend a leisurely time.

After enjoying a luxurious time at Suseongdong Valley and continuing the walk, you will be greeted by Choso Bookstore. Although a bookstore in the mountains of Inwangsan may seem unusual, Choso Bookstore is a remodeled building originally constructed as a police post for Blue House security. When Inwangsan was fully opened in 2018, Jongno-gu and Seoul City renovated it. The bookstore preserves the original concrete frame, opens up the interior space, and restores the damaged nature, transforming it into a complex cultural space with a bookstore and caf?. The bookstore is designed so that visitors can see the surroundings of Inwangsan from anywhere inside, providing a treasured space for rest and comfort to those visiting Inwangsan.

Yoon Dong-ju Literature Department Exterior

After having a cup of tea at Choso Bookstore and walking while overlooking downtown Seoul, you will reach the final spot of this course: the hill of poet Yun Dong-ju and the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum. The hill is named after Yun Dong-ju, who, during his time at Yeonhui Professional School, walked this area to compose poetry, including his famous work “Night of Counting Stars.” In autumn, poetry readings and concerts are held here. The Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum, located just below the hill, was created by renovating an old water pumping station in Jongno-gu and houses materials and videos related to the poet.

The Inwangsan Forest Trail course starts at Sajikdan and continues to the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum. It is easily accessible even from the city center and is a gentle, easy course with well-maintained walking paths, making it safe for everyone from young children to the elderly. As an old city, it offers many sights and activities to enjoy while walking, making it a perfect way to spend a weekend day and feel refreshed in both body and mind.