[One Day Walk] History of Hanseong Baekje and Olympic Park... Mongchon Toseong Station

Editor's NoteThe subway is not only a transportation method that anyone can easily access and travel safely with, but also an important point for achieving 10,000 steps a day. We introduce pleasant walking spots around subway stations.

Olympic Park Peace Gate Plaza.

Today's course to introduce is Mongchontoseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 8. The station name is derived from Mongchontoseong, which holds the spirit of Hanseong Baekje. Since ancient Samhan times, this place was called 'Gommal,' meaning a large village. It was changed to 'Mongchon' using Chinese characters. Mongchontoseong is an earthen fortress built on natural hills to defend against enemy invasions during the 3rd to 5th centuries, and it has been preserved to this day.

The secondary station name is Pyeonghwa Gate. It is the 'signboard' of Olympic Park, Seoul's representative urban park. It is also the first structure that welcomes visitors when exiting Mongchontoseong Station. Pyeonghwa Gate is the posthumous work of Kim Joong-up, Korea's first-generation architect. Passing through Pyeonghwa Gate, the vast stage of Olympic Park unfolds in earnest. Completed in 1986, Olympic Park covers an area of about 1.44 million square meters. With various attractions and activities, it continues to be a beloved resting place for citizens.

Olympic Park dyed in autumn foliage. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Just leisurely walking around Olympic Park is more than enough to achieve 10,000 steps a day. If you walk to the right from Pyeonghwa Gate, you will see the SOMA Museum of Art, a public art museum opened in 2004. It has indoor exhibition facilities as well as an outdoor sculpture park, making it worth a visit. Continuing straight ahead, you will find the Hanseong Baekje Museum, where you can enjoy permanent and special exhibitions about the Baekje era history for free.

Passing through the spacious 88 Madang and the lawn yard, you will reach the Mongchon History Hall. It is an educational facility where you can learn about Baekje relics and history through experiences and viewing. Walking along Mongchontoseong-gil, you can see the famous 'Lonely Tree' of Olympic Park. Following the path, Mongchon Lake welcomes you. Mongchon Lake is a moat created when building Mongchontoseong, and it is an artificial lake boasting 2,000 years of history. How about finishing your walk while enjoying the cool breeze along with the musical fountain?