Final Section of Baegaksan to Open

Southwestern Foothill Section, Off-Limits Since the January 21 Incident, Opens
1.32-Kilometer Trail Offers Views of Inwangsan, Namsan, Cheong Wa Dae and Gyeongbokgung Palace
From Dolphin Rest Stop to Manse Dongbang Spring and the Pine Tree Associate

The phased opening of Seoul Baegaksan (Bugaksan), a Scenic Site whose access had been restricted since the January 21 Incident in 1968, will be completed with the final section on its southwestern slope. The Korea Heritage Service will hold a commemorative event at Changuimun Gate on the Seoul City Wall on October 16, and open a 1.32-kilometer section to the public at 9 a.m. on October 17.

The 1.32-kilometer stretch along the southwestern slope of Baegaksan, opening at 9 a.m. on the 17th, runs from Dolgorae Shelter to Manse Dongbang Mineral Spring and the Pine Tree of the Jan. 21 Incident. / Photo by Kim Hyunmin, kimhyun81@

From Dolphin Shelter to the January 21 Incident Pine Tree

The newly opened section starts at Dolphin Shelter, the first point along the route from Changuimun Gate to the summit. It continues along a trail overlooking Inwangsan, Namsan, Cheong Wa Dae and Gyeongbokgung Palace, then passes Manse Dongbang Mineral Spring and reaches the January 21 Incident Pine Tree. Along the trail, where pine forest meets rocky outcrops, visitors can see the mountain landscape facing Inwangsan. Four new viewing shelters have also been added.

Five institutions shared responsibilities for the Phase 3 project. The Korea Heritage Service was responsible for preserving the scenic site's value and creating an environment for historical and cultural exploration. The Presidential Security Service helped coordinate the opening and safety management so that security and visitor safety could be maintained together. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno-gu supported trail improvements, on-site management and cooperation with the local community, while the Korea Heritage Agency supported on-site operations and visitor programs.

Key viewpoints along the third-phase opening section of Baegaksan, Korea Heritage Service.

Hanyang's Northern Main Mountain

At 342 meters, Baegaksan is the highest of the four inner mountains surrounding Hanyang. On December 9, 2009, it was designated Scenic Site No. 67 under the name "Seoul Baegaksan Area." It covers approximately 3.6 million square meters. The Korea Forest Service is among its owners, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government is responsible for its management.

The Korea Heritage Service regards Baegaksan as the main mountain protecting the northern side of the capital according to the principles of feng shui. The mountain is considered to demonstrate the ideas and topographical principles behind the Joseon Dynasty's selection of its capital and construction of its walled city. Its value also lies in preserving the Joseon-era principles of landscape design, with pine trees as a central feature, as part of Gyeongbokgung Palace's rear garden. The official designation uses Baegaksan, the name most commonly used during the Joseon Dynasty, rather than Bugaksan, which became widely used after the Japanese colonial period.

Construction of the Seoul City Wall began at this mountain during the reign of King Taejo of Joseon. The wall's circumference, measured by Jeong Do-jeon at 59,500 ja, was divided into 97 sections, each marked with a character from the Thousand Character Classic. The sequence begins with "Cheon" (天) at the summit, proceeds eastward around the mountain and returns to it. The wall was designated a Historic Site in 1963.

On Baegaksan's western slope stands Changuimun Gate, the northern small gate of the city wall, also known as Jahamun Gate. It is the only one of the four small gates to retain its Joseon-era appearance. Its gate pavilion was rebuilt during the reign of King Yeongjo and was designated Treasure No. 1881 in 2015.

Hanyangdoseong was built starting from Baegaksan Mountain. Access to the mountain has been restricted since the January 21 Incident in 1968. Following the opening of the first phase in 2020 and the second phase in 2022, the third-phase opening will connect the main hiking trails into a single route. Photo by Kim Hyunmin, kimhyun81@

A Trail Closed in 1968, Reopened in Stages

On January 21, 1968, 31 North Korean armed infiltrators crossed as far as Segeomjeong Pass in Seoul, aiming to raid Cheong Wa Dae. After clashing with South Korean military and police forces, they fled toward the Baegaksan and Inwangsan areas. Bullet marks from the incident remain on the January 21 Incident Pine Tree, which the newly opened Phase 3 section reaches. After the incident, the area was designated a military protection zone, and public access was restricted.

The restrictions continued for nearly 40 years. The opening proceeded in stages under a plan to fully open the area around the Seoul City Wall. The then Cultural Heritage Administration, now the Korea Heritage Service, said the opening was prompted by President Roh Moo-hyun's commitment and determination. In April 2006, the 1.1-kilometer section from Hongryeonsa Temple to Sukjeongmun Gate and Chotdaebawi Rock was opened first. The following April, the 4.3-kilometer section of the wall trail from Waryong Park through Sukjeongmun Gate, Cheongundae, Baegakmaru and Changuimun Gate was opened.

The route includes Gokjang, Cheongundae and Baegakmaru. Gokjang is a section where the wall was built to project outward to strengthen its defenses. Cheongundae is considered to offer the best views of the entire Seoul City Wall. Baegakmaru is the wall's highest point.

In 2020, the 2.2-kilometer northern Seoul City Wall trail opened as Phase 1, followed in 2022 by the 3.0-kilometer forest area on the southeastern slope as Phase 2. The northern trail includes a 300-meter section outside the wall between Cheongundae and Gokjang, where visitors can see at a glance how the walls differ according to when they were built. Some military facilities from the period of restricted access have been preserved as a "Space of Memory." With the addition of the 1.32-kilometer section on the southwestern slope, Baegaksan's main trails are now connected into a single route.

Hanyangdoseong was built starting at Baegaksan. Access to the mountain was restricted after the Jan. 21 Incident in 1968. With the opening of the third phase, following the first phase in 2020 and the second in 2022, the main hiking trails will be connected into a single route. /Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Heritage Remaining on Baegaksan

Baegaksan preserves the history and culture associated with the Seoul City Wall, Buaam Rock, Samtaeseong Rock, Manse Dongbang Mineral Spring, Chotdaebawi Rock, Malbawi Rock, Baegaksinsa Shrine, the source of Cheonggyecheon Stream and the site of Beopheungsa Temple.

The words "Manse Dongbang Seongsu Namgeuk" (萬世東方 聖壽南極) are engraved on a rock above Manse Dongbang Mineral Spring. They express a wish for the king's long life. The identity of the person who left the inscription and when it was made are unknown. The spring area was renovated in 2022 using natural stones from the surroundings.

Chotdaebawi Rock is about 400 meters northwest of Sukjeongmun Gate. An iron stake was driven into its upper part during the Japanese colonial period. It was removed after Korea's liberation, and the rock got its present name after a candleholder was erected there.

A shrine called Baegaksinsa, dedicated to a goddess named Jingukbaek (鎭國伯), once stood near the summit. After Sukjeongmun Gate opened, the Cultural Heritage Administration installed a marker reading "Baegaksan 342m" on the ridge where the shrine had stood.

At Jahamun Pass on the western side of the mountain is a mineral spring known as the source of Cheonggyecheon Stream. It is about 150 meters from the statue of Senior Superintendent Choi Gyu-sik, who died in the line of duty during the January 21 Incident, toward the summit. The site of Beopheungsa Temple, said to have been founded during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla, remains along the southern trail.

The Seoul City Wall was built starting from Baegaksan Mountain. Access to the mountain was restricted after the January 21 Incident in 1968. Following the openings of Phase 1 in 2020 and Phase 2 in 2022, the Phase 3 opening will connect the main hiking trails into a single route. /Photo by Kim Hyunmin, kimhyun81@

The Opening Continues Even After the Return to Cheong Wa Dae

The Presidential Security Service said in March, after the president returned to Cheong Wa Dae, that it would not restrict visiting hours. Its plan was to maintain the security system in cooperation with the Capital Defense Command while ensuring that the public could visit without inconvenience. At the time, the Korea Heritage Service reopened six information centers at Changuimun, Cheongundae, Gokjang, Sukjeongmun, Malbawi and Samcheong.

On October 13, Hwang In-kwon, chief of the Presidential Security Service, announced the opening plan and said, "We can now return Baegaksan to the people in its entirety." In line with the opening, the Korea Heritage Service plans to expand guided tours, interpretation and other programs connected with the Seoul City Wall, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.