[Harumanbo] Namsan Jarak-gil, Making the Heart of Seoul a Place 'Anyone Can Walk'

Namsan Jarak Forest Trail is a 5.52 km path that connects the areas surrounding Namsan, including Muhakbong, Daehyeonsan, Geumhosan, and Maebongsan. It is a "freshly opened" trail that was inaugurated last April.

Unlike typical mountain or forest trails that are difficult for people with mobility challenges such as wheelchair users due to steep slopes, stairs, or rocks, Namsan Jarak Forest Trail is designed as a "barrier-free forest trail" with no stairs or curbs. This allows people of all ages and abilities, including both disabled and non-disabled individuals, to walk together. Thanks to this, it has been recognized as the most popular policy among the residents of Jung-gu, Seoul.

Starting from Muhakbong in Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu, the entire course leading to Namsan is currently open except for the last section of Namsan (1.11 km). The final section is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

The starting point, Muhakbong, has two origin stories for its name. One is a legend that a crane flew to the mountain peak and danced, and the other is that Muhak Daesa, a Buddhist monk who helped designate Hanyang as the capital of Joseon, climbed here to survey the terrain. From there, walking to Daehyeonsan Reservoir Park marks the beginning of the main forest trail.

The next destination, Geumhosan, is a modest mountain with an elevation of 140 meters, but it offers a panoramic view of the Seoul area. Near Geumhosan, the Barefoot Park and Barefoot Loess Trail have been created, allowing visitors to experience the recently popular barefoot walking.

The next area is Maebongsan. This section is themed as a "healing forest trail," featuring a beautiful shaded path under trees with resting spots along the way, enabling visitors to enjoy a cool walk even during the late summer heat. Finally, after passing the Banyan Tree Hotel and reaching the area around the National Theater, the trail ends at Namsan Park.