Seoul’s night view become more spectacular by the lights on the walls of old Seoul are lit. Recently, Seoul has installed lighting systems along the 1,051-meter walkway from Naksan Park to Heunginjimun.



By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter

Seoul in the past was a huge walled city. In the 5th year (1936) of King Taejo of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), the kingdom moved the capital to Seoul. To prepare for war, control the in inflow of people and to prevent theft, a wall with Mt. Bukak as its main anchor was built along the lines of Mt. Nak, Mt. Nam and Mt. Inwang to surround the Gyeongbok Palace. The wall ran for 18.127 kilometers. To the south of the wall was the Sungnyemun, to the east, Heunginjimun, to the west, Doneuimun and to the North, Sukjeongmun.

The years under Japanese colonialism and the Korean War devastated much of the wall, leaving about 10 kilometers of it remaining today.



The remainders of the wall can be found throughout Seoul. There is the so-called Namsan Course where the wall trails from Dongguk Station on subway line No.3 to Jangchung Stadium to Namsan. The Naksan Course shows the wall standing from Marronier Park near Hyehwa Station on Subway line No.4 to Naksan Park; the Inwangsan Course shows the wall from near Gyeongbokgung Station toward Sajin Park; and another wall remnant can be found going toward Mt. Bukak.



Recently, Seoul installed lighting systems along the wall. Enjoy the lit walls of old Seoul from National Theater of Korea along Mt. Namsan walkway toward Namsan Library and also the Dongsung-dong area, beginning from Heunginjimun to Naksan Park.

For more information on the walls of old Seoul, visit visit seoul 2008.

shim@koreatimes.co.kr