"Long Lunar New Year Holiday... What to Do?" See, Eat, and Enjoy in Songpa

Lunar New Year Holiday Extended to Up to Six Days... Songpa-gu Introduces Urban Outing Spots
Popular Sunrise Spots for the New Year: Mongchon Toseong and Ogeum Oreum Park
Enjoy Wise Cultural Activities... Songpa Book Museum, Smart Libraries, Pungnap Toseong Exploration Trail
Local Foodie Tour... Garak Market, Macheon Central Market, and Other Traditional Markets

The Lunar New Year holiday has been extended to a maximum of six days with the designation of the 27th of this month as a temporary holiday.

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) introduced hidden local attractions and facilities by theme so that residents and visitors can enjoy the long holiday happily in the city.

Mongchontoseong Sunrise

■ Welcome the New Year Sunrise at Popular Local Spots... ‘Mongchon Toseong’, ‘Ogeum Oreum Park’

If you are preparing to watch the sunrise during the Lunar New Year holiday, we recommend ‘Mongchon Toseong’ and ‘Ogeum Oreum Park’.

At Olympic Park’s ‘Mongchon Toseong’, there is a hill that bulges in the middle of the walking trail. It is a sunrise viewing spot visited by about 10,000 people every year. It is easily accessible as it is close to Mongchon Toseong Station on Subway Line 8, and anyone, young or old, can easily climb the gentle ridge. You can enjoy a magnificent sunrise along with beautiful natural scenery.

‘Ogeum Oreum Park’ is a space created by turning the upper part of the Ogeum Park reservoir into a park. It is the highest point in the park and reminiscent of the oreums (volcanic cones) of Jeju Island. In an area where commercial facilities and houses are mixed, it is like a hidden gem for residents to experience healthy nature. Following the barrier-free deck path to the summit offers a wide-open view with Lotte World Tower in the distance as a backdrop.

Pungnap Toseong Trail

Enjoy Wise Cultural Activities During the Holiday... Songpa Book Museum, Smart Libraries, Pungnap Toseong Exploration Trail

Using various public facilities in the area allows you to enjoy cultural activities wisely without spending money.

‘Songpa Book Museum’, Korea’s first public book museum, is perfect for family visitors. You can see permanent exhibitions spanning from the Japanese colonial period to modern times that three generations of a family can enjoy together, as well as new special exhibitions featuring timeless love stories in books. Hands-on experiences such as ‘Make Your Own Notebook’ are also offered. It operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Mondays and Lunar New Year’s Day. Admission is free.

If you plan to read books during the holiday, you can use the smart libraries. Although the libraries themselves are not open, you can borrow books at nine smart libraries located at Jamsilnaru Station, Macheon Station, Geoyeo Station, and others. Each facility stocks about 500 books. Anyone who is a member of the Songpa-gu Integrated Library can borrow up to three books per person for 14 days free of charge. However, during this holiday, only borrowing is allowed; returns are not accepted.

In the evening when the whole family gathers, you can take a night stroll to Pungnap Toseong. Last year, the district installed LED floodlights every 6 meters along the fortress wall. When the sun sets and the lights come on one by one, you can see the dignity of the fortress along with unique Baekje patterns. The lights are on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. from November to February.

Ogumeoreum Park Summit

Local Foodie Tour... Garak Market, Six Traditional Markets in the Area

Using local markets, you can also enjoy a foodie tour during the holiday.

‘Garak-dong Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market’, where agricultural and marine products from all over the country gather, is a tourist attraction full of sights and tastes in Seoul. You can purchase agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and dried seafood, as well as see various marine products usually found only at ports, and enjoy fresh seafood at the sashimi center right after purchase. It is the perfect place to experience the charm of a short trip.

In addition, each of the six traditional markets boasts its own unique character, such as Macheon Central Market with its nostalgic old-style eateries, Saemaeul Traditional Market famous for light street food, and Pungnap Traditional Market, which is evolving while embracing the traditional culture of Hanseong Baekje.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “During this Lunar New Year holiday, I hope families reunited after a long time share affection in Songpa and create unforgettable memories with various food, sights, and activities.”

Songpa Book Museum

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