[One Day Walk] Enjoying Lamb Skewers and Cherry Blossoms While Strolling Along Dorimcheon and Boramae Park

Today's course is a route that allows you to experience China in Korea, starting from Daerim Jungang Market and passing through Dorimcheon Stream and Boramae Park. Daerim Jungang Market can be found immediately upon exiting Daerim Station Exit 12. Although there are many Chinatowns nationwide, Daerim Jungang Market is the only Chinese street where you can experience authentic Chinese cuisine and purchase genuine Chinese ingredients, rather than just jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk. The Chinatown street offers authentic Chinese food, using various spices and Chinese ingredients, and features over 2,000 Chinese stores, including hot pot, mala soup, xiaolongbao, and lamb skewer streets. In Daerim 2-dong, 40% of the residents, about 10,000 people, are Chinese. Among them, 88%, or 8,800 people, are ethnic Koreans residing in China.

Daerim Central Market [Asia Economy DB]

After enjoying Daerim Jungang Market, head to the walking paths along Dorimcheon Stream or the embankment trail. Passing Guro Digital Complex Station and Sindebang Station, you will find the entrance to the south gate of Boramae Park. You can take a large loop around Boramae Park and return. As the name suggests, Boramae Park was established on the site of the Air Force Academy, which moved away. Renovations began on December 20, 1985, and the park opened on May 5, 1986. The park’s name comes from the Air Force Academy’s symbol, the ‘Boramae’ (young hawk). It borders Dongjak-gu as well as Gwanak-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu. The park features a lawn plaza, water features (ponds, waterfalls, etc.), azalea hills, hibiscus gardens, and all kinds of exercise facilities for walking, running, and jogging. Major attractions include the Air Park displaying eight aircraft (1 transport plane, 2 trainers, 1 helicopter, 1 control plane, and 3 fighters), the central lawn plaza, a musical fountain, and a dog playground. In Boramae Park, you can enjoy not only cherry blossoms but also azaleas, forsythias, and various other types of trees.

Citizens walking in Boramae Park [Asia Economy DB]

The lake in Boramae Park is spectacular with willows and water lilies, and heading west you will find a pavilion surrounded by large willows. The western lake, Okman Lake, features a musical fountain. The character for ‘ho’ in Okman Lake is not the ‘lake’ (湖) but the ‘bright’ (鎬) character. This is because the lake was created in 1970 and named after General Ok Man-ho, who was the principal of the Air Force Academy at that time. The Boramae Safety Experience Center is operated by the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters and displays fire helicopters and fire trucks. Passing the lawn plaza, you will also find the hibiscus garden and a rock climbing experience area.

Inside Boramae Park, next to the Dongjak-gu Facilities Management Corporation, is the Dongjak Art Gallery. Originally a church building, it was remodeled in 2013 and reborn as Dongjak-gu’s first cultural and artistic exhibition space.