Secret Forest's 'Bugaksan Hiking Trail' Fully Opens This September

Jongno-gu Secures 3.7 Billion KRW Budget
Phase 3 Project Begins

Starting from September this year, the ‘Bukaksan’ mountain, which has been off-limits to the public for decades, will be accessible without interruption. Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) announced on the 18th that it will begin the final phase 3 project to create the Bukaksan Cultural Tourism Trail, aiming for completion in September.

Cheongundae Observatory at Stage 2 Project Site. Provided by Jongno-gu.

The ‘Bukaksan Cultural Tourism Trail Creation’ project offers citizens the opportunity to fully experience the beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage of Bukaksan, designated as Scenic Site No. 67, without interruption. The phase 3 project area covers the southwestern part of Bukaksan, the last unopened region. On the massive rocks here, inscriptions such as Mureungpok (武陵瀑) and Dohwadongcheon (挑花洞天), which signify the exquisite views left by ancestors, are engraved.

Jongno-gu plans to establish two new routes totaling 0.92 km through this project. The first route is a 0.68 km section from Dolgorae Shelter to the Blue House Observatory. The second route is a 0.24 km section starting from 1.21 Pine Tree and extending to Manse East.

By maximizing the use of existing military reconnaissance paths, the project aims to preserve Bukaksan’s natural environment and build resting spots throughout the trail where visitors can enjoy beautiful views of Seoul. Old and worn stone stairs will be refurbished into durable hardwood wooden stairs. Railings will also be replaced with designs that consider safety standards and incorporate aesthetic elements to create a pleasant walking environment.

Meanwhile, Jongno-gu carried out phase 1 of the project outside the Hanyang Fortress (north slope) in 2020, and phase 2 inside the fortress (south slope) and around Baegakjeong from 2021 to 2022, establishing new trails.

To ensure smooth progress of phase 3, consultations with the Presidential Security Service, Capital Defense Command, and the Cultural Heritage Administration were completed in 2024. Last month, a total project budget of 3.7 billion KRW, including national and city funds, was secured. Upon completion of phase 3, the entire Bukaksan trail will be connected, enriching Jongno-gu’s tourism resources significantly.

District Mayor Jeong Munheon stated, “To meet the expectations and curiosity of citizens about Bukaksan, the secret forest that has been off-limits for decades, we will accelerate the project aiming for public opening in September this year.”

Status of Bukaksan Mountain Trail Development (Planned). Provided by Jongno-gu.

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