[K-TRAVEL 11]Sky Park… A park offering the best views, including Seoul’s World Fireworks Show

*This content was translated by AI.

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[K-TRAVEL 11]Sky Park in World Cup Park

This weekend, the 2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival will be held at Yeouido Han River Park in Seoul, which is rising as a world-class festival. The event will take place on September 4 with a pre-party and on September 5 for the main program. On the 5th, the fireworks show will begin at 8 p.m. at Yeouido Han River Park, featuring participation from Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom to present a magnificent and grand fireworks display.

While anticipating the popular fireworks festival among foreign tourists, another point of interest is the best viewing location for the fireworks show. Of course, Yeouido Han River Park itself, nearby Noryangjin Island, and Ichon Han River Park are often recommended first, but these areas are expected to be crowded with huge numbers of people on the day of the event. In contrast, if recommending a place with ample space and excellent views, it is Sky Park in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, located within World Cup Park.

Although word-of-mouth and social media have gradually raised its recognition, this location allows visitors to enjoy a world-class fireworks show at a glance without any admission fee. Thus, one can freely enjoy the beautiful late summer and early autumn festival with the eyes. In particular, there is a unique charm here: the fireworks show can be viewed from a broad perspective with the Han River and Seoul’s high-rise buildings as the backdrop.

The summit of Sky Park reaches an elevation of 98 meters above sea level and forms a flat, rectangular area. Most parks in Seoul are built on ground level, making Sky Park the highest park in Seoul. Consequently, there are multiple observation decks at the summit. The walking path circling the summit is approximately 1.5 kilometers long, and 15 rest areas that also serve as observation decks have been installed, allowing visitors to view Seoul from various angles in all directions.

Among these, the observation decks that offer excellent views of the fireworks show held at Yeouido Han River Park are Sky Park’s “East Side-3” and “East Side-2.” Both feature wooden deck spaces facing the Yeouido direction. Among them, “East Side-2” is a three-story deck with relatively spacious area, while “East Side-3” offers a wider view of the gently flowing Han River.

The view from the stairs leading up to Sky Park is also quite good. The section connecting to Peace Park, that is, the western stairs of Sky Park, consists of 425 steps arranged in a zigzag pattern with benches placed at various points. As you climb higher than the midway point of the stairs, the field of view gradually widens, and from here, one can look down toward Yeouido.

As such, Sky Park is a park with strong charm because its viewing points are located throughout, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views of Seoul from various angles even without large-scale events like fireworks festivals. From the western side of the summit, one can view Yeouido, the Han River, Yongsan, Gangnam, and Namsan; from the southern and western sides, the Han River, Mokdong, Bucheon, and Incheon; and from the northern side, Sangam-dong and Bukhansan.

To reach the summit of Sky Park, visitors can climb using the stairs or walk along the detour road that also serves as a walking path. Alternatively, taking the “Mangkkongi Electric Car” operated by the park management (2,000 won one-way, 3,000 won round-trip) allows comfortable arrival at the summit in about 10 minutes. There are three routes for the stairs: western, southern, and toward the neighboring Naeul Park.

Sky Park is also renowned as a famous spot for reed fields. A large-scale reed cluster covering 78,000 pyeong has formed at the summit, where reed plants as tall as an adult’s height sway in the wind, creating a green sea that ripples today. Walking among the swaying reeds leads to the “Hope Observation Deck,” named “The Sky is a Vessel,” offering views of the vast reed cluster. Every October, when silver reed flowers bloom in full force, a Reed Flower Festival is held, making it a popular date spot for couples embracing Seoul’s emotional autumn.

Sky Park is divided into various themed zones, including reed planting areas, pure grass fields, rock gardens, mixed-grass fields, sunflower planting areas, and the “Forest Path of Hope.” The Metasequoia forest path within the “Forest Path of Hope” theme is nationally famous. This Metasequoia forest path stretches 450 meters along the eastern walking route and 900 meters along the southern route, offering a refreshing walkway and towering Metasequoia trees reaching toward the sky. The southern walking path also includes sections such as “Poet’s Street,” where Masato barefoot paths blend with art installations, and “Sokgeun Sokgeun Path and Flower Fields,” adding fun and emotion to walks. Recently, the Metasequoia forest path in Sky Park has been connected to the neighboring Naeul Park’s Metasequoia forest path, extending its total length to 2.3 kilometers and providing an excellent walking route. The impulse to take commemorative photos against the backdrop of the long, sky-reaching Metasequoia forest path arises naturally.

Sky Park is part of the large-scale World Cup Park spanning 2.7 million square meters. World Cup Park was developed into five themed parks: Peace Park, Sky Park, Naeul Park, Nanecheon Park, and Nane Han River Park. Among these, Sky Park and Naeul Park are built on mountainous terrain, while Peace Park, Nanecheon Park, and Nane Han River Park are constructed on flat ground.

Naeul Park, which can be considered Sky Park’s twin, is similar in size but has some differences. The course encircling the lower parts of these two twin parks spans 5.8 kilometers around, making it quite long and popular among running enthusiasts.

Naeul Park also has several observation decks where visitors can enjoy views combining the Han River around Gayang Bridge and Yanghwa Bridge, Olympic-daero, and campsites in Nane Han River Park. However, at the summit of Naeul Park, camping sites and park golf courses have been installed, allowing glimpses into citizens’ daily leisure activities. On the other side lies a sculpture park with wide lawns, which is so popular as a wedding photo location for engaged couples that its scenery is both beautiful and lyrical.

Naeul Park lives up to its name as a park where the sunset glow is beautiful. Located west of Sky Park, it has a superior location for viewing sunsets compared to Sky Park. From the western observation deck of Naeul Park, the evening glow falling over the Han River toward Gimpo and Incheon directions is breathtaking. Additionally, the western walking path of Naeul Park stretches 500–600 meters through dense forests that cover the sky, offering cozy and refreshing walks or jogs.

Although Sky Park and Naeul Park are now representative Seoul parks boasting various themes, foreigners might find it somewhat surprising to hear that these places were once garbage landfills. The transformation of a garbage landfill into such an excellent themed park may seem ordinary to Koreans who know this fact to some extent, but foreigners will likely express astonishment at this metamorphosis.

From 1978 to 1993, over 15 years, Seoul City created two massive mountains and a wide flat landfill area using garbage. In 2002, to commemorate the World Cup hosting and the new millennium, the Nandi Landfill was stabilized and converted into a park. It has now risen as an environmental and ecological energy-themed park sought after by people worldwide.

Peace Park, developed on 135,000 pyeong in front of the World Cup Stadium, can be described as a modern, high-class open square that commemorates the 2002 FIFA World Cup matches held in Korea and enhances the image of Korea and Seoul. While the park’s establishment holds deep significance, citizens are simply satisfied with visiting it frequently for walking and resting, surrounded by diverse tree species filling the park. Nane Pond and Nanecheon add to create a beautiful natural landscape.

World Cup Park is a 10–15-minute walk from World Cup Stadium Station on Subway Line 6 and less than 30 minutes away from Hongdae Entrance Station via public transportation. Walking under the lush green shade of World Cup Park or sitting on a bench while listening to natural sounds like cicada chirps after leaving the lively streets of Hongdae can bring a sense of calm.

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*This content was translated by AI.