Namsan: an oasis in the heart of the city

THE ORIGINAL ESSAY

Namsan, literary ‘South Mountain’, is the central landmark of Seoul. Standing at 262-meters, it ascends further into the sky with Seoul Tower at its apex, a symbolic structure that can be seen anywhere in Seoul. A tourist spot travelers to Seoul seldom miss, Namsan presents those who ascend one of its many paths (or who opt for the cable car) with a bird’s eye view of Seoul. It also provides a perfect point of reference for anyone trying to find their way in the city.

One of the charms of the mountain is that it is easily accessible from anywhere in downtown Seoul and always in view. There are several ways to ascend the mountain: on foot, by bus, and by cable car. The yellow buses that service the route connecting Chungmuro, Itaewon, and Namdaemun are the cheapest way to reach the mountain (second only to walking). A five-minute ride in the cable car takes you near the bottom of the North Seoul Tower and affords beautiful views of Namsan forest and a panorama of Seoul’s skyline below.

The public park surrounding the mountain is inhabited by sparrows, nightingales and other many other animals amid dense pine and Mongolian oak. It has asphalt-paved roads and staircase paths. The view of Namsan, which changes its color by season, is also captivating: covered with flowers in spring, mantled in fresh verdure in summer, ablaze with autumnal tints in autumn, and finally snow covered in winter.

Namsan has more than nature to offer. The mountain area includes the recently renovated N. Seoul Tower, housing a deluxe restaurant and a state-of-the-art observatory; a smoke signal beacon tower called Mongmyeoksan Bongsudae', which was part of an emergency communication system during the Joseon Dynasty; the National Theater of Korea; and the Seoul Youth Hostel to present an affordable option. Moreover, work to install more citizen friendly facilities is currently underway such as laying an elastic paving on the existing asphalt so that it is easier to walk on the roads around the mountain.

No matter how you climb the mountain, you should try to get to the top where the enchanting landscape of Seoul will spread out below you.

From Peter’s supplied Seoul guidebook introduction, chapter 22. Original observations and historical framing are retained. PDF line-break and spacing repairs are recorded separately from factual updates. Guidebook photography and venue directories are not republished.