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Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alfonso Delgado (center) climbs up Inwangsan mountain.
By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alfonso Delgado from the Philippines
Photos = Alfonso Delgado
Inwangsan is a mountain in the Seodaemun-gu District of Seoul that I always saw when I stood at the edge of Gwanghwamun Square. All these years, I had always been interested in going up there since it’s close by, just sitting on the northwest side of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Inwangsan means ‘mountain of a generous king’ and at 340 meters tall, it affords any climber a different view of the city landscape. And on one cool, autumn morning, I gathered my friends Wendy, Abigail, and Ingrid at Exit 1 of Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Orange Line 3). We then walked west and entered the Hongjae-2-dong neighborhood, meandering through its alleys until we reached the clearing and found Inwangsan’s slopes.
After an hour of walking through the forest, we somehow got lost but, luckily, an ajeossi came out from nowhere and directed us to the right path, including one that required us to climb up the mountain side on a rope!
Along the way, we stopped for photos and for breathers to literally smell the forest and its cool autumn breezes. If you live in Seoul, you’d know that this is part of enjoying life in the city: mountain and nature are just a subway or bus ride away!
Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alfonso Delgado and his friends pose for a photo while enjoying nature on their hike up Inwangsan Mountain.
At 340 meters, Inwangsan Mountain is taller than Namsan Mountain that’s just 243 meters tall without Seoul Tower. But unlike the familiar view at Namsan Mountain, the view of Seoul from Inwangsan Mountain gave us a different look of the city from afar: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheong Wa Dae, Bukhansan Mountain, and the neighborhood of Hongjae-dong on the mountain’s northern side.
Aside from its view, ecology and flora, the other interesting character of Inwangsan Mountain is the Seoul Fortress Walls, the reconstructed old walls that snake around Hanyang, the old city of Seoul.
Over the years, the Seoul Fortress Walls were gradually reconstructed and parts of it you can see around Namsan Mountain, and in the neighborhood of Jung-gu District, Dongdaemun, and the Ihwa Village that’s visible from the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
When we finally reached the top of Inwangsan Mountain, we joined other Korean hikers as they posed at the peak. There, we felt underdressed compared to them as they all looked like they were geared up to climb Everest while we were dressed to spend a day at Tongin Market.
After posing on the huge rock at the peak, it was time to descend. Walking down the eastern trail, we met more hikers going up. We didn’t really keep track of time; we only kept track of enjoyment and fun.
When we finally found the main road, we headed to the nearest bus stop to wait for the Green Bus 7212 that would bring our starving selves to the Tongin Market for lunch.
If you’re into hiking, discovering Inwangsan Mountain is a must-hike. While Namsan is very touristy, complete with a cable car, electric buses, and a thousand other noisy tourists, Inwangsan Mountain is about nature in the city, quiet and cool, and offers a different view of Seoul.
Make sure you wear proper hiking shoes, though. And do have fun!
wisdom117@korea.kr
* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.
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