Wheelchair and Stroller Accessible to the Summit... Nowon-gu Yeongchuksan Circular Trail Opens

Total Project Cost of 9.4 Billion KRW Invested, 3.39km Yeongchuksan Circular Trail Completed... Military Facilities at Mountain Summit Closed for 70 Years Opened as a Rest Area for Residents... Following Last Year's Phase 1 Opening (SK View Apartments~Summit~Gwangmyeong Church 1.85km), Phase 2 (Gwangwoon University Station Jeil Villa~Summit~Wolgye Culture & Sports Center 1.54km) Completed This Year

Yeongchuksan Observatory

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has completed the creation of a barrier-free circular walking trail that reaches the summit of Yeongchuksan.

Since 2018, with a total project cost of 9.4 billion KRW, the circular walking trail spanning a total of 3.39 km, including the summit point, was developed in two phases. This barrier-free forest path is designed so that walking-vulnerable groups such as the elderly, wheelchair users, and pregnant women can use it comfortably without inconvenience.

The first phase section opened in February last year. It connects the area from SK View Apartments beside Uicheon Stream to the summit and then to Gwangmyeong Church, with a length of 1.85 km. The second phase section, which is opening now, connects Jeil Villa near Gwangwoon University Station to the summit and then to Wolgye Culture and Sports Center, spanning 1.54 km.

The entire circular walking trail consists of gentle wooden deck paths at least 1.8 meters wide with slopes no steeper than 8%. Safety railings have been installed so that children, pregnant women, and residents using electric scooters or wheelchairs can use the trail without difficulty.

In particular, walking lights have been installed along the entire route to ensure safe use of the circular walking trail even at night.

The summit observatory is a famous spot where one can see Seoul’s renowned mountains such as Suraksan, Bukhansan, and Gwanaksan all at a glance. Yeongchuksan is the first mountain in Seoul to have a circular walking trail passing through its summit.

Despite Yeongchuksan’s excellent geographical location at the gateway to Nowon, it had been just a local hill that received little attention before the opening of the circular walking trail.

Because hiking trails were not properly established, few residents visited the mountain.

The process of returning Yeongchuksan’s scenery to residents, including the creation of the walking trail, was not smooth. The biggest obstacle was the military facility at the summit, which prevented facility opening and resident access.

However, the district office reached an agreement to open the summit after 13 months of active consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and the Capital Defense Command. This marks the first time in 70 years that Yeongchuksan, previously blocked by military fences, has been accessible.

The circular walking trail was constructed using ecologically healthy and nature-coexisting methods. Trees were preserved as much as possible by detouring around them or by making holes in the deck floor to allow trees to pass through, employing environmentally friendly construction techniques.

Additionally, existing unofficial trails that damaged the forest were closed, and a healthy forest environment was created through forest cultivation.

Convenience facilities for residents and environmental improvement work were also carried out simultaneously. Instead of traditional toilets and old playgrounds, two flush toilets, one healing rest area, and one ecological playground for children were newly installed.

Furthermore, old sports facilities at the summit were refurbished to create a more pleasant resting space.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Currently, about 20% of the 80,000 residents in Wolgye-dong are walking-vulnerable groups such as the elderly,” adding, “I hope this circular walking trail will become a healing space that all local residents can enjoy together.”

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