Public Parks: Family Getaways in the Heart of Seoul

No matter how enjoyable city life can be, the hustle and bustle can get tiring sometimes. Luckily, you don’t have to leave the city to have a memorable trip with your family. There are hundreds of city parks all over Seoul that offer a great sanctuary with easy accessibility and convenient facilities like swimming pools, bike paths, and even campgrounds. Read on to learn about five major parks to choose from in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

A first time visitor to the World Cup Park, built in commemoration of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the new millennium, would never guess that it was built on the site of a former landfill. It is divided into five different smaller parks, each offering a distinct atmosphere. The largest of the five parks is Pyeonghwa Park, located near the south gate of the World Cup Stadium and home to the UNICEF Plaza, Nanji pond, Garden of Peace, Forest of Hope, and a gallery. Park Features Pyeonghwa Park (평화공원) The main section of the World Cup Park, Pyeonghwa features UNICEF Plaza, Nanji Pond, Garden of Peace, and a picnic area. It offers convenient facilities like a nursing room and a restroom for children. Nanjicheon Park (난지천공원) A quiet park located along a restored stream with a children playground and a multipurpose sports stadium. There are stands of Dawn Redwood and pine trees nearby. Haneul Park (하늘공원) Given that the Haneul Park sits at the highest altitude of all five sections, it’s easy to understand how this grassland park got its name, which means sky. Once the second site of the Nanji Landfill, there is now an annual reed festival is held here in autumn. Noeul Park (노을공원) The park is dedicated to arts and culture. Visitors can spend a leisurely time at the expansive garden or viewing sculptures, or watching the setting sun from the observatory deck. Nanji Hangang Park (난지한강공원) Located where Nanjido bounds the Hangang river, the Nanji Hangang Park has a camping site, archery range, and soccer, perfect for outdoor activities. ☞ Getting there: Subway line 6, World Cup Stadium, exit 1; walk 220 meters to the south ☞ Admission: Free admission ☞ Tel: 02) 300-5500~2 (Korean) ☞ World Cup Park ☞ Official site of World Cup Park (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese) ☞ Official site of Nanji Camp (Korean)   Camping : Nanji Camp (Open year-round) Nanji Campground is located inside Nanji Hangang Park near the World Cup Stadium and is connected to Noeul Park and Haneul Park by a bridge over Jayu-ro Road. Divided into picnic and camping areas, Nanji is a great place to spend the day or spend a night. The picnic area can be used for barbequing, and costs 3,750 won per person, no reservation required. Campers can bring their own tents or use the ones provided there, however reservations must be made at least one month in advance, especially during high season weekends from May to October. There is a natural lawn baseball field and a wading pool   ☞ World Cup Stadium  Nanji camp: about 2 kilometers (shuttle bus available) ☞ Reservation and information: 02-304-0061~3 (Hours: 10:00-19:00, lunch time: 13:00-13:30 / (Korean)) ☞ Hours: From 11am to 10am the next day (* visitors are required to wear a wristband (bracelet) until leaving the camp.) ※ Free rental of tables on a first-come, first-served basis (tables available in limited numbers) ☞ Admission / Tent rental Picnic area - 3,750 won per person (2,000 won for ages 5-7, free for infants 4 or less) Overnight camping – Self-tent area 15,000 won for up to four persons - Family tent area 28,000-112,500 won (depending on number of persons) ☞ Rental fees: grill 6,000 - 25,000 won, other items 1,000 - 20,000 won ※ Charcoal, gridiron, scissors, tongs available for purchase at the store ☞ Family facilities and services: 1) Stroller rental (free): Nanji Information Center in Hangang Park (09:00-18:00) 2) Women-only rest area: Nursing and make-up room (next to camp site) ☞ Nanji Hangang Ecological Park 02) 306-0276 (Korean)

Long, long ago, Seonyudo Island (선유도) was a favorite place for scholars to paint or write poetry. In more recent times, it was a water purification plant, however it was transformed into Seonyudo Park (선유도공원) in 2002. Park designers wisely recycled existing purification facilities to create an environment-friendly park. For example, the clean water reservoir was turned into a habitat for water plants, lotus, and salmon. With a water plant garden and forest children playground, Seonyudo Park is the most unique park in the city. It also offers a great view of the Hangang River and its surrounding landscape. Don’t miss the arched Seonyugyo Bridge (선유교) for a beautiful view of the World Cup Fountain and World Cup Stadium. The night view is particularly striking with its spectacular lighting. ☞ Getting there: Subway Line 9, Seonyudo Station, exit 2; walk 800 meters to the park ☞ Admission: Free admission ☞ Family facilities and services: 1) Free rental of strollers and wheelchairs (Visitor Information Center (09:00-18:00)) 2) Outdoor restroom for women only (with nursing room) ☞ Tel: 02) 3780-0590~2 (Korean) ☞ Seonyudo Park ☞ Official site of Seonyudo Park (Korean, English)

With expansive lawn and various sports facilities, the Olympic Park (올림픽공원) has long been a major venue for concerts, shows, and sporting events and a favorite rest area for the general public. The park, which is adorned with artwork and sculptures, is home to the Olympic Gymnasium, the Olympic Hall, the 88 Garden, Waterside Stage, and the SOMA Museum of Art where performances and exhibits are organized. For this reason, the park is frequented not only for relaxation but also for exhibitions and events. It is also a great destination for family outings as it offers children playgrounds, a music fountain, plant observation area, and nice walking paths. There are many convenience facilities including coffee shops, bakeries, sportswear stores, fast food restaurants, and convenience stores. ☞ Getting there: Subway Line 8, Mongchontoseong Station, exit 1, or subway Line 5, Olympic Park Station, exit 3 ☞ Admission: Free admission ☞ Family facilities and services: 1) Visitor Information Center (09:00~18:00): free rental of baby strollers and wheelchairs, nursing room and diaper changing room, lost children center ☎ 02)410-1600 (Korean) ☞ Tel: 02) 410-1600, 1111 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese) ☞ Olympic Park ☞ Official site of Olympic Park (Korean, English)   Kid’s café Kid’s café is a multi-cultural space with animation characters designed for play, hands-on experiences, and education for children. It has entertainment equipment, a birthday party room, nursing room, and restaurant. ☞ Location: Subway Line 8, Mongchontoseong Station, Exit 1, in the direction of South Gate 4 ☞ Hours: 10:00-21:00 ☞ Admission: 5,000 won for ages 13-64 / 10,000 won for ages 1-12 (free admission for infants less than a year old and seniors 65 years or older; documentation is required) (fee applicable for up to 2 hours; additional fee every 30 minutes onwards) ☞ Tel: 02) 2203-2761 (Korean) ☞ Official site (Korean)   SOMA Museum of Art SOMA is a sculpture park with 204 sculptures and 8 formative artworks. Along with the sculpture park that was reorganized by theme, it has various types of galleries and a studio for art education.   ☞ Location: Subway Line 8, Mongchontoseong Station, Exit 1, walk 200 meters inside the Peace Gate ☞ Hours: 10:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays) ☞ Admission: 3,000 won for adults (ages 19-64) 1,000 won for children (ages 4-12) ☞ Family facilities and services: 1) Nursing room 2) diaper changing stand (Second floor of the museum) ☞ Tel: 02) 425-1077 (Korean) ☞ SOMA Museum of Art ☞ Official site of SOMA Museum of Art (Korean)

The Seoul Forest (서울숲) is an ambitious project of the City of Seoul to create a park that is equivalent to Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York. Opened in 2005, the park has five theme parks, namely Cultural Art Park, Ecological Forest, Nature Experience Field, Wetlands Ecological Field, and Han River Waterside Park. Major facilities include an outdoor stage, Seoul Forest Square, ecological playground, bicycle roads and walking paths, event venues and insect arboretum. Various ecological experience programs are organized regularly, while sports facilities for badminton, basketball, and skating are open for free for families to enjoy. Moose, deer, and other wild animals can be observed up close. ☞ Getting there: Subway line 2, Ttukseom station, exit 8; walk 150 meters in the direction of Ttukseom intersection; at the intersection, turn left and walk 500 meters. ☞ Admission: Free admission ☞ Family facilities and services: * Visitor Center (10:00~18:00) 1) Lost children and first aid center 2) Free rental of baby strollers and wheelchairs 3) Nursing room * Bicycle rental: 24 hours a day (rental fee charged) ☞ Tel: 02) 460-2905 (Korean) ☞ Seoul Forest ☞ Official site of Seoul Forest (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)

Home to the Seoul Zoo, which has almost 3000 animals, the Seoul Grand Park (서울대공원) is a great destination for families. The park boasts a botanical garden, natural campground with a marathon and hiking trail in a nearby forest. Next to the park are the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon National Science Museum, and the Gwacheon Horse Racetrack. Inside the zoo, there is a separate childrens zoo where children learn to take care of animals and nature. Here, they can feed monkeys, rabbis, sheep, Guinea pigs, and black goats. From Seoul Grand Park Station, walk to the Visitor Information Center to catch a lift or elephant train for a ride to the zoo. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You can also take a lift from the gate to the top of the zoo; the ride is 10 minutes. The roads inside the park are well paved, but note that the forest paths can be bumpy for strollers. Visitors can find a number of rest areas with convenience stores and restrooms. Take a rest at a wooden bench or platform and enjoy a packed lunch! ☞ Getting there: Subway Line 4, Seoul Grand Park Station, exit 3; walk 500 meters to the Visitor Information Center ☞ Hours of Seoul Zoo: 09:00~19:00 (March-October) and 09:00~18:00 (November-February) / Open year-round (*Hours of Children Zoo: 09:00~18:00) ☞ Admission to the zoo: 3,000 won for adults (ages 18-64), 1,000 won for youths (ages 13-18) and children (ages 6-12), free admission for infants (less than 6) and seniors ☞ Family facilities and services: 1) Nursing room (near the front gate of the zoo and near the dolphin show) 2) Women-only parking 3) Rental of strollers and wheelchairs (next to the pharmacy 50 meters from the front gate) 4) Wooden platforms and benches ☞ Tel: 02) 500-7335 (Korean) ☞ Seoul Grand Park ☞ Official site of Seoul Grand Park