Namsan is now more accessible. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has created a barrier-free forest trail to allow people with mobility challenges, such as individuals with disabilities and the elderly, to climb Namsan. The 1.45-kilometer section connects the Huam-dong Namsan Fitness Center to the Namsan Library, offering views of the cityscape, the Han River, and even Gwanaksan Mountain. As part of Mayor Oh Se-hoon's "Walking with the Vulnerable" initiative, the city has decided to focus on expanding infrastructure so that a diverse range of citizens can visit Namsan.

The newly opened "Namsan Sky Forest Trail," which will open on October 25 after improvements to steep slopes and narrow walkways, is a barrier-free path with a stable height and gentle incline.

This project was promoted after the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Forest Service signed a "Joint Forest Project Agreement." Under this arrangement, the Korea Forest Service provided national forest land free of charge, while the Seoul Metropolitan Government covered the project costs. The goal is to create a sustainable forest policy model that integrates forest management and utilization, maximizes forest conservation, and enhances the public functions of national forests.

In line with this, the city has installed eight viewpoints and eight attraction points throughout the trail, allowing visitors to walk, observe, rest, and experience everything at once. The representative viewpoint, the "Sunset Observatory," is a sky-view photo zone that offers a floating, open feeling using glass fencing. The "Wind View Bridge" also provides a unique perspective of the city against the backdrop of a metasequoia forest.

The entrances and exits have also been improved. At the Namsan Fitness Center, which is frequently used by many citizens, a "pergola-type multi-purpose outdoor fitness facility" has been installed to provide shelter from rain and wind, enhancing convenience for visitors. At the "Pine Rest Area," visitors can enjoy forest bathing, while the "Health Garden" features a Starlight Marronnier Forest and meditation and healing gardens to provide a sense of comfort. The area around the Kim Sowol poetry monument (Sanyuhwa) at the entrance to the Namsan Library has been transformed into "Sowol Garden," capturing the nature, sentiment, and literature of Namsan.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to make Namsan a world-renowned attraction based on the creation of the Namsan Forest Trail. The 0.5-kilometer southern circular road connecting safety deck between the Octagonal Information Center and the Fitness Center, as well as the 0.5-kilometer northern forest trail from N Seoul Tower to the northern circular road, have already been completed.

Mayor Oh also visited the site in person to explore ways to improve accessibility. During his visit in August, he stated, "Namsan is one of Seoul's representative tourist attractions, visited by 11 million citizens and tourists annually. With its recent appearance in K-Pop Demon Hunters, even more domestic and international tourists are expected to visit," adding, "We will continue to seek ways to improve accessibility."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has developed the 'Namsan Sky Forest Trail' as a barrier-free path for pedestrians with mobility challenges. Seoul Metropolitan Government

원본보기 아이콘

Mayor Oh also emphasized the need to "minimize ecological and landscape impact on Namsan" during the renovation process. In line with this, eco-friendly construction methods were applied to the "Sky Forest Trail" to reduce forest damage. The deck path was selected to preserve the terrain as much as possible, focusing on open areas without trees, while areas with trees were either protected with structures or the path was rerouted. Manual labor was used during construction to minimize environmental impact and waste generation.

Under the trail, wildlife corridors were secured to protect the existing ecological environment, and unofficial side paths that had formed indiscriminately were closed. Unused forest paths were closed and ecologically restored to protect the forest ecosystem and guide visitors to use only official trails.

In areas around the "Sky Forest Trail" that had been damaged by invasive vines and other hazards, native trees and ground cover plants from Namsan were planted. In existing pine forests, young pine trees grown from seeds collected in Namsan were additionally planted to restore the local vegetation. As part of the "365 Days of Tree Planting and Care" initiative to create "Seoul, the Garden City of Companionship and Attraction," 400 pine trees were planted in cooperation with Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, and Yongsan-gu. Additionally, trees in Namsan damaged by heavy snow last winter were not discarded but safely stacked to create microhabitats and insect hotels. This area will be transformed into a representative eco-friendly healing space that contributes to resource circulation, carbon neutrality, and forest ecosystem protection.

Lee Suyeon, Director of the Garden City Bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "With the completion of the southern circular road safety deck and northern forest trail in the first half of this year, and now the Namsan Sky Forest Trail in the second half, citizens and tourists can now access Namsan more comfortably and safely. We will continue to expand various infrastructure so that Namsan, a symbol of Seoul, can be fully returned to its citizens."