[One Day Walk] Living with Nature at Hwagok Station... A Walk Around Bongjesan Dullegil Trail

Editor's NoteThe subway is a transportation method that anyone can easily access and travel safely, and it is also an important point for daily walking. We introduce walkable places around subway stations.

The course introduced this time is the trail around Bongje Mountain near Hwagok Station on Line 5. The name Hwagok-dong, where Hwagok Station is located, originated from the meaning of a village with fertile land where rice grows well. With rapid population growth starting from development in 1967, it became the first area in Gangseo-gu to have apartments built, beginning its prosperity. The nearby Ggachisan's name is also related to the development process of Hwagok-dong. As housing was built up to the mid-slope of Bongje Mountain due to Hwagok-dong's development, magpies lost their habitat and gathered on a relatively late-developed mountain. This mountain was named Ggachisan.

The walking course starts from Exit 5 of Hwagok Station and passes by the nearby Chungwoo Insect Museum. Chungwoo Insect Museum is the only insect museum in the metropolitan area, exhibiting over 1,500 species of rare insects from Korea and around the world. The three-story museum consists of a specialty store selling pet insects and breeding supplies, a world beetle exhibition hall, a world rare insect hall, and an ecological experience center.

Next, the route goes past Hwagokbon-dong Catholic Church and heads to Ggachisan Neighborhood Park. Ggachisan Neighborhood Park, located on Ggachisan, one of the ridges of Bongje Mountain, is a small park where local residents can enjoy rest and light exercise. It features a restored urban ecological forest walking trail and sports facilities such as badminton courts, jokgu courts, and gateball courts.

Now it is time to head to the Bongje Mountain trail. Bongje Mountain, located between Hwagok-dong and Deungchon-dong, covers an area of 910,000㎡, making it the largest park in Gangseo-gu. Originally called Baekseok (White Stone) Park due to the abundance of white stones in the area, its name was changed to the current one in 2004. The Bongje Mountain trail is connected to showcase various attractions such as the mountain's ecology, historical culture, and scenic resources. After walking the Bongje Mountain trail and descending, Bongje Mountain Neighborhood Park is located at the entrance of the hiking trail toward Hwagokbon-dong. Also known as the Nature Experience Learning Center, this park includes a children's playground, wetland ecological garden, silver grass field, and community vegetable gardens.

Main Stops: Hwagok Station Exit 5 - Chungwoo Insect Museum - Hwagokbon-dong Catholic Church - Ggachisan Neighborhood Park - Bongje Mountain Trail - Bongje Mountain Neighborhood Park - Hwagokbon-dong Market - Hwagok Station Exit 3

Course Distance: 4.6 km, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes