Welcome to Dobong-gu, a district located in Seoul with a rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Dobong-gu is known for its picturesque mountains, historic temples, and traditional markets. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails in Bukhansan National Park, explore the ancient Buddhist temple of Cheonchuksa, and experience the vibrant local atmosphere at Dobong Market. Immerse yourself in the charm and history of Dobong-gu during your visit to Seoul.
Seoul Dobong-gu ‘Choansan’
“Chohansan is located in the neighborhoods of Wolgye-dong in Nowon-gu and Chang-dong in Dobong-gu, Seoul. At first glance, it may look like a typical neighborhood park, but once you step inside, you’ll find lush greenery with winding paths. It’s a popular spot for local residents to go hiking, and there are various activities to enjoy such as pottery workshops and camping grounds. You can also learn about the tombs of Joseon Dynasty aristocrats and officials scattered throughout Chohansan, adding a touch of ‘history lesson’ to your visit.”
• Address (location): Wolgye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul Special City, Chang-dong, Dobong-gu
Bukhansan Baekundae (Uido), Dobong-gu, Seoul
“Known as the ‘Jisan of Seoul,’ Bukhansan Mountain offers a breathtaking view from the 836m high Baegundae Peak. There are various ways to ascend Baegundae, but the course starting from Bukhansan Uijeongbu Station is recommended for beginners or those not familiar with hiking. This route, starting from Doseonsa Temple entrance and passing by Harujae, Insu Peak, and Bukhansanseong Baegundae Ammun Gate, is the shortest and easiest in terms of distance and difficulty. It takes about 2-3 hours in total. As you leisurely walk towards Baegundae, you’ll come across Insu Peak, where it is said that King Onjo of Baekje decided on the capital city with his sister, Queen Heo. From here, a steep incline and rocky terrain that require rope assistance begin. Once you reach the Baegundae Ammun Gate, the highest point of Bukhansanseong, you’re just 300m away from the summit. At the peak of Baegundae, you’ll find spacious rocks to cool off and enjoy the panoramic views. It’s highly recommended to wear hiking shoes as there are many rocky sections along the trail.”
• Address (location): 88-94 Dobong-ro 191-gil, Dobong-gu, Seoul Special City
• Hours of use: Summer Season: 04:00 AM to 05:00 PM – Winter Season: 04:00 AM to 04:00 PM
Bukhansan Ecological Exploration Park
“The Bukhansan Ecological Center, located in the heart of the city, is the first ecological exploration center in Bukhansan National Park, showcasing outstanding natural ecosystems and cultural resources. Visitors can enjoy various nature eco-tourism and healing programs based on the rich natural environment. The center operates year-round and offers facility rentals for various educational and events. Come explore and experience the beauty of Bukhansan Ecological Center! (Source: Bukhansan Ecological Center)”
• Address (location): “86 Dobongsan-gil, Dobong-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul Special City”
• Hours of use: “09:00~18:00.”
Seoul Dobong-gu ‘Seoul Changpowon’
“Seoul Changpowon is an ecological park themed on the iris, one of the world’s four major flowers. It is divided into 12 themes including the iris garden, wetland garden, wildflower garden, and medicinal plant garden. In the iris garden, you can enjoy around 130 different iris species with a total of 300,000 plants spread over an area of about 15,000㎡. The irises bloom from May to June, and even when not in bloom, their leaf shapes resemble swords, making them a great sight to behold. The wetland garden features observation decks for viewing various aquatic plants and wetland creatures. The wildflower garden showcases vibrant flowers like lilies and tulips blooming seasonally. The medicinal plant garden boasts 70 species with 130,000 plants where you can observe locally grown medicinal plants. Additionally, there are facilities such as the succession observation center where you can observe the ecological changes in plant communities, as well as forest shelters provided for residents for ecological education and leisure activities. Located between Dobongsan and Suraksan, Seoul Changpowon is just 125m from Exit 2 of Dobongsan Station on Line 1 and Line 7 of the Seoul metropolitan subway system. Visitors can enjoy nature, take a walk along the Dobongsan Trail, and even collect stamps along the way.”
• Address (location): “916 Madul-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul Special City”
• Hours of use: “07:00~22:00”
‘Dobong Seowon’ – A Cultural Gem in Seoul Dobong District
“Dobongsowon is the most representative Confucian academy in Korea, where the prominent scholars Jo Gwangjo and Song Siyeol are enshrined. Despite being mostly destroyed by the closure order in 1871, Dobongsowon stands out as the leading Confucian academy in Seoul, with renowned poets and scholars such as Yi Hangbok leaving behind their literary works. Unlike other academies in Seoul, the remnants of the academy’s altar and old lecture hall can still be found in the Dobongsowon site, making the boundary of the ruins relatively clear. Even though these remnants are considered valuable for their historical significance, the surrounding picturesque landscapes have also been cherished in various literary works for their beauty, adding to the site’s preservation value. (Source: Cultural Heritage Administration)”
• Address (location): 90 Dobongsan-gil, Dobong-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul
• Hours of use: “Open all year round”
Yeon-san Royal Tomb in Dobong-gu, Seoul
“Yeon-san Prince Mausoleum is the resting place of Yeonsan-gun, the 10th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, and Lady Shin, the wife of Geochang-gun. It was first opened to the public in 2006 near Won-dang-saem Park in Dobong, Seoul. Designed in a paired form, it features memorial stones, a stele, a lantern stand, an incense burner, and a hearth stone without screen stones or railings. A marker stone is placed in front of each tomb, with Yeonsan-gun’s mausoleum on the left and Geochang-gun’s on the right. Within the same compound, there are also the tombs of Queen Jwawoo of King Taejong, Princess Huishun, and her husband Goomoon-kyung. Yeon-san-gun, the son of King Seongjong and Queen Yun, ascended the throne in 1494 but was demoted to Yeonsan-gun due to political difficulties and exiled to Ganghwado, where he passed away at the young age of 31. In 1512, Lady Shin requested to move his tomb from Ganghwado to its current location, which was granted in 1513 during the reign of King Jungjong. The Seoul Metropolitan Government designated the nearby ginkgo tree in Banghak-dong as a protected tree and a cultural monument. Located just 5 minutes by car from Bugaksan Wui Station on the Ui LRT Line, the mausoleum is included in the Seoul Dulle-gil Trail Course 8-5.”
• Address (location): 46 Banghak-ro 17-gil, Dobong-gu, Seoul
• Hours of use: Travel hours: – [November to January] 09:00 AM – 5:30 PM – [February to May / September to October] 09:00 AM – 6:00 PM – [June to August] 09:00 AM – 6:30 PM