[K-TRAVEL⑧] At Naksan Hanyang Seonggyeong, forget the summer heat while enjoying Seoul's night view

*This content was translated by AI.

As the flow of KHallyu continues, the number of travelers from around the world visiting various parts of Korea has increased significantly, and K-travel is also establishing itself as a new trend. StarNews introduces travel destinations where one can fully experience Korea’s unique charm and appeal without being overly crowded. You can gain your own Korean charm and memories.

[K-TRAVEL⑧] Naksan Hanyang Seonggyeong

The extreme heatwave warning has passed, but temperatures slightly above 30 degrees Celsius continue. As of August 7, Seoul's official highest temperature was 38 degrees Celsius, marking the seventh hottest summer since meteorological observations began in 1907. For reference, Seoul's record high temperature was 39.6 degrees Celsius on August 1, 2018.

Although the extreme heatwave has passed, it is still too strenuous to walk under the midday sun. In such cases, how about taking a nighttime stroll while enjoying Seoul’s beautiful and romantic night scenery?

Naksan, which surrounds the eastern part of central Seoul, offers a wonderful view of Seoul's night skyline. The fortress walls extending to the summit are illuminated, creating a romantic atmosphere. Naksan stands at an elevation of 124 meters, and a walking path leads to the summit, making it easy to climb. Walking along the 2.3-kilometer-long fortress wall from Hwehwamun (Dongsomun) to Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun), visitors can enjoy night views from various angles. Walking along the path at the summit, the evening breeze blowing from all directions is quite refreshing. It typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes at a normal adult pace, during which one can fully savor the romance and charm that Seoul's night offers.

Naksan Park, located near the summit, is about 630 meters from Hwehwa Station on the subway. Visitors can walk up a somewhat uphill path or, if tired, take a village bus from Changsin Station, passing by the back entrance of Hansung University, and arrive in about 15 minutes.

While Seoul's night view can be enjoyed from anywhere along the Naksan fortress wall, the scenery viewed from the amusement park area near the summit is particularly outstanding. On one side, visitors can look down at tall buildings in the city center such as distant Namsan and Namsan Tower, and Jongno-gu. On the opposite side, high-rise buildings including Lotte Tower in Jamsil stretch out like a panorama. Seoul's night view, illuminated by various lights creating a sea of lights, is considered one of the world's best night views.

If walking up, it is recommended to start from Heunginjimun. Walking paths are available on both the inner and outer sides of the fortress wall. If starting from Hwehwamun, one must climb along only the outer wall for a while.

Naksan Fortress is part of the Hanyang Seonggyeong. The Hanyang Seonggyeong was built to defend Hanyang, now central Seoul, during the Joseon Dynasty. Construction began in 1395 under King Taejo Lee Seong-gye and followed the Baekak, Naksan, Namsan, and Inwang mountain ridges. It is a representative fortress heritage site of Seoul designated as a historic site in 1963. Due to long years and wars, parts were damaged, but restoration work began in 1974 during Park Jeong-hui (President) and was completed by 2013, restoring about 70% (12,771 meters) of the total length of 18,627 meters. Since then, partial restorations and walking paths around the fortress have been created, leading to its current state.

Walking along the Hanyang Seonggyeong while enjoying the surrounding scenery is called "Sunsung" (), which was a representative leisure activity for people during the Joseon Dynasty. Now, not only Seoul citizens but also foreign visitors are increasing. The fortress originally built for defense has now become an outstanding Seoul tourist spot that combines walking and sightseeing, meeting modern people.

When starting from Heunginjimun, it is recommended to first visit the Hanyang Seonggyeong Museum located in Heunginjimun Park to deepen understanding of the fortress. This would make the Sunsung journey even more meaningful. Heunginjimun Park is on a sloping hill where various grasses and trees such as dogtooth violet and peacock maple sway in the wind, helping to cool down sweat.

Starting from the inner side of Naksan Fortress (the Naksan section of Hanyang Seonggyeong) and climbing along the fortress wall, visitors can look down at Seoul's forest of buildings. In Ewha Village next to the inner path, rather than large, modern buildings, there are old, affectionate houses and unique cafes that welcome travelers. Visitors can also take a beautiful photo with a pretty cafe as the background.

After walking about 30 minutes to reach the fortress summit, the view opens up in all directions. Visitors can see not only Seoul's high-rise buildings but also distant Bukhansan and Dobongsan ridges, Namsan's NSeoul Tower, and Lotte World Tower. The reward for climbing to escape the heat is even greater at night. Around sunset, the evening glow colors the tops of buildings, creating a fantastical world. If walking along the outer wall path, one can feel the grandeur of the steeply rising fortress walls. Since the fortress was built for defense, the outer side has a somewhat steep slope. There are two hidden gates connecting the inner and outer sides, allowing access between them.

Near the summit, there is an amusement park and Naksan Park where visitors can sit on benches to catch their breath. Descending toward Hwehwamun, observation decks 1 through 3 are available, offering views of the mountain ridges of Bukhansan and Dobongsan, as well as apartments and buildings in Seongbuk-gu below. Along the fortress path, lights are installed at regular intervals, illuminating the fortress walls with soft, romantic lighting. Watching this together with Seoul's night view helps calm the excited mind caused by daytime heat.

If heading from the observation deck toward Hwehwamun, one must choose the path along the outer wall through a hidden gate near the summit. As it is an outer wall, it stands over 10 meters high, often showing a grand curved shape. The tightly stacked stones of the fortress walls reveal the excellent construction techniques of that era. On the outer wall side, there are steep slopes where affectionate houses in Jangsu Village are densely packed, and narrow, maze-like alleyways wind through. Such village scenes may even evoke old memories unique to Koreans.

Walking from Naksan Park toward Hwehwa Station, one can reach Daehak-ro Street, where they can see the lively scenes of young people. Daehak-ro is a cultural and arts street where theater, musicals, music performances, restaurants, and cafes gather. It offers a more cultural and artistic atmosphere compared to popular tourist spots like Myeong-dong or Hongdae entrance and Seongsu-dong cafe streets frequently visited by foreign tourists.

If asked Seoul citizens, most would recommend NSeoul Tower located on Namsan as a top spot for viewing Seoul's night view. Although slightly lower than the Lotte World Tower observation deck (500 meters high), it is located at 400 meters in the heart of central Seoul, allowing an unobstructed panoramic view of Seoul's night skyline in all directions. It is the number one day-and-night viewing spot most frequently visited by foreign tourists. From here, visitors can see not only Seoul but also surrounding cities such as Bucheon and Guri. However, unlike Naksan Park, there is an entrance fee for the observation deck (29,000 won for adults).

Lotte World Tower Observation Deck features full glass walls offering a panoramic view of the scenery. It also has a sky deck with a glass floor, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of walking with Seoul's night view beneath their feet. The observation deck and exhibition space '63 Art' located on the 60th floor of 63 Square (249m) in Yeouido offers a clear view of the night scenery around Yeouido, including the Han River. Even the lights of cars crossing the bridges over the Han River are beautiful.

At Sky Park in Sangam-dong, the sunset glow on the other side of the Han River is beautiful, and visitors can enjoy the night view from Banghwa Bridge to Yeouido at a glance. At Eungbongsan, an 81-meter-high rocky mountain located in Eungbong-dong, Seongdong-gu, the night view featuring Dongho Bridge, Seongsu Bridge, and Olympic-daero over the Han River is charming. Bukak Pagoda, located at the summit of Bukak Skyway in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a Hanok-style pavilion at an elevation of 342 meters, offering views of Namsan, Namsan Seoul Tower, Gwanghwamun Intersection, and the illuminated Hanyang Seonggyeong fortress walls.

Recently, a 224-meter-long deck path (skywalk) has been constructed near the summit of Yongwangsan (78m) in Mokdong. Foreign tourists are often seen visiting after hearing about it through word of mouth. The area is transforming from a local walking spot into a destination also frequented by foreigners. Visitors can see the Han River and city night views with World Cup Bridge and Seongsan Bridge, and in August, they can also enjoy fireworks cruises on the Han River.

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*This content was translated by AI.