Gangbuk-gu, which embraces Bukhansan Mountain, a relic of modern and contemporary history in Seoul
You and Narang Woorirang Health Condolence Center Bonghwanggak_outside Bonghwanggak_outside Bonghwanggak_inside Sohn Byeong-hee’s grave station Son Byeong-hee’s grave station_ Lee Eun-sang’s fertilized pine shelter Pinebat Neighborhood Park National 4.19 Cemetery Observatory Modern and Contemporary History Memorial_Outside Modern and Contemporary History Memorial Outdoor Sculpture – Provided by Seoul Tourism Organization Spring Although March is full of energy, it is a time to be careful about overseas trips and tourist spots that are crowded with people. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization (CEO Jae-seong Lee) introduced a meaningful area where you can feel the comfort and rest along with nature in the nearby downtown of Seoul, and at the same time, be filled with shouts for independence. This is Gangbuk-gu, where relics related to modern and contemporary history such as Bonghwanggak, the birthplace of the March 1st Independence Movement, the cemetery for independence activists, and the National 4.19 Democracy Cemetery are gathered. In Gangbuk-gu, these attractions were weaved into a trekking course to create a historical trail called ‘You and Me and My Family’. As you walk down this path, you may discover the preciousness of everyday life that you take for granted by reflecting on the history of the anti-Japanese struggle of the patriots and the spirit of democracy. After a light walk, you can visit Suyu Market and fill your body and mind with a restaurant that has been around for 30 years. □ You and Naranguri Stamp Healing Tour ○ The trekking course with you and me starts from the meeting place in Ui-dong. After passing through Bonghwanggak, walk to the Modern History Museum, passing the pine shelter and pine forest park on the 1st section of Bukhansan Dulle-gil ‘Pine Forest Road’, and the 4/19 National Cemetery Observatory on the ‘Pilgrimage-gil’ on the 2nd section of Bukhansan Dulle-gil. The total distance is about 4 km and it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. ○ Standing at the Bukhansan observatory photo zone at the entrance to the meeting place, the starting point, you can clearly see the three peaks of Bukhansan. Mangyongdae and Insubong seem to escort Baekundae, the summit of Bukhansan, from the left and right. Before walking in earnest, let’s stop by the ‘You and Me and My Health Zone’ under the clock tower in the square. Cultural tourism commentators and counselors from Gangbuk-gu public health centers located here provide course information, blood pressure, body composition, blood sugar measurement, and health counseling services. Don’t forget to get a stamp paper with you and me and seal it. 10% discount at restaurants near the course when you receive stamps at Ui-dong Meeting Square, Pine Tree Shelter, 4.19 Observatory, and Modern and Contemporary History Museum. □ You and me and us stamp healing tour: Gangbuk-gu’s one-pick! ‘Phoenix Pavilion’ ○ If you walk up about 3 minutes from the Center for Health Care for You and Nara, you will find the Phoenix Pavilion. Bonghwanggak (Seoul Tangible Cultural Property No. 2) is an educational facility built in 1912 by Uiam Son Byung-hee (1861-1922), the representative of 33 national representatives of the March 1st Independence Movement, to train Chondogyo leaders who will lead the anti-Japanese independence movement. It means ‘the house where the phoenix lives’, and it contains the will of Mr. Son Byung-hee to nurture great figures like the phoenix. ○ From 1912 to 1914, Son Byeong-hee educated 483 Chondogyo trainees across the country with the belief that the lost country would be restored within 10 years. They later grew up to be leaders in each region and led the March 1st Independence Movement. Also, 15 of the 33 national representatives were phoenix-gak practitioners. This is the reason why Phoenix Pavilion is called ‘the birthplace of the 3.1 spirit’ and ‘the birthplace of the March 1st Independence Movement’. To commemorate Son Byung-hee’s spirit of independence, an annual event to commemorate the March 1st Independence Movement is held in front of Bonghwanggak. It is a large event attended by about 2,000 people, including volunteer groups, civic groups, students, and representatives of 13 districts in Gangbuk-gu. ○ The scenery of Phoenix Pavilion is as beautiful as its historical value. Behind Phoenix Pavilion, Baekunbong, Insubong, Mangyeongbong, Nojeokbong, and Yeongbong were lined up like a folding screen. The scenery is so beautiful that foreign visitors shout ‘wonderful’ over and over again. If you visit between 10 am and 11 am, you can see the best of Bukhansan ridge. ○ On the left side of Bonghwanggak is the house where Son Byung-hee lived for 7 years. This building was built at the same time as the Phoenix Pavilion, and there are relics of the time and a photograph of Mrs. Joo Ok-gyeong, the wife of Sohn Byeong-hee. When Ms. Joo Ok-kyung was imprisoned in Seodaemun Prison, a teacher by Sohn Byeong-hee, she was famous for living in a thatched house next to the prison and practicing okbaraji. ○ If you go up the hill opposite Bonghwanggak, you will find the graveyard of Sohn Byeong-hee. It is a famous place where you can see Bukhansan Mountain in the back and Obong Dobongsan Mountain in front. Pine trees line the cemetery like a left blue dragon and a right white tiger, and on the left and right are a monument to the March 1st Declaration of Independence and a poem written by Noh Sang Eun-sang Lee Eun-sang in memory of Sohn Byeong-hee. It is said that Baekbeom Kim Gu was the first to visit the graveyard of Sohn Byung-hee after returning from Shanghai. The red brick building in front of the Phoenix Pavilion is the Phoenix Pavilion Annex. Originally, it was the Chondogyo Central Headquarters building built in Gyeongun-dong, Jongno-gu in 1921, but it was moved to its present location in 1969 and rebuilt as it was. □ You and Narang Uri Together Stamp Healing Tour: Pine Shelter & Pine Tree Neighborhood Park (Bukhansan Dulle-gil Section 1) ○ Go down a little from Bonghwanggak and enter the Bukhansan Dulle-gil Section 1 ‘Pine Forest Road’. Most of the course with you and me overlaps with sections 1 and 2 of Bukhansan Dulle-gil. It is a forest path that can be walked like a walk, so it is good for walking with children. When you arrive at the pine tree shelter at the midpoint of Section 1, you can learn CPR and first aid. Since it is outdoors, it is operated by the Modern and Contemporary History Museum in winter and in rainy weather. However, there is no problem with the stamp tour as it is available for stamping even in winter. ○ The section of the pine forest path where you can see the most pine trees in Bukhansan peaks at Ui-dong Solbat Neighborhood Park. It is surprising that 971 pine trees live in a community in the city park. Relaxing is felt in the sight of those taking a walk on the dirt road or sitting on a bench while drinking the refreshing scent of pine trees. □ You and Narangurirang Stamp Healing Tour: 4.19 Observatory (Section 2 of Bukhansan Dulle-gil) ○ After passing the Solbat Neighborhood Park, it leads to the ‘Pilgrimage Path’ in section 2 of Bukhansan Dulle-gil. This section passes through the cemetery of the independence fighters, the joint cemetery of the Liberation Army, and the National April 19th Democracy Cemetery. Listen to the history of the April 19 Revolution from a cultural tourism commentator at the observatory where you can see the National April 19 Democracy Cemetery, and have time to give thanks for the martyrs. The National 4.19 Democracy Cemetery is a place where the 290 spirits who sacrificed their lives for the democratization of the country during the April 19 Revolution in 1960 are enshrined. Inside the cemetery, there is a monument to them and the 4/19 Revolution Memorial Hall, an exhibition space. ○ After the observatory, you will see the tomb of the independence activist Kang Jae Shin-suk (1885-1967) and a signboard introducing various independence activists. After passing the deck promenade facing the valley, you can see the entrance to the back of the Modern and Contemporary History Museum. □ You and Narang Urirang Stamp Healing Tour: Modern and Contemporary History Museum ○ The Modern and Contemporary History Museum is a place for education on modern and contemporary history in Korea, and a space to commemorate the anti-Japanese struggles and the spirit of democracy of the martyrs. It is said that many people from the 3rd grade of elementary school to middle school students who start learning history visit this place. The permanent exhibition hall on the first floor displays relics, relics, and materials of modern and contemporary history from the Donghak Peasant Movement to the March 1st Independence Movement and the April 19 Revolution. You can see the March 1st Declaration of Independence (1919), the Taegeukgi (1946), the signature of the Korean Liberation Army, and various books published after liberation. In the planning room on the second floor, various historically significant planned and special exhibitions are held 2-3 times a year. ○ On the right side of the Modern and Contemporary History Museum building, there is also a health center. Here, culture and tourism commentators and consultants introduce nearby attractions and provide health advice. In March, how about walking along ‘You and Me and My Family’, where you can experience the modern history of Korea and the ecology of Bukhansan, and take care of your health.
– Ui-dong Meeting Plaza Location: 186-5, Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu – Transportation: 7 minutes on foot toward Doseonsa from Exit 2 of Bukhansan-Ui Station on the Ui Shinseol Light Railroad – Inquiries 02-900-1887 (Ui-dong Meeting Square), 1889 (Modern and Contemporary History Museum) – You and Narang Woorirang Stamp Booth Hours of Operation: Every day at 10:00-17:00 at Ui-dong Meeting Plaza, Pine Tree Shelter, April 19 Observatory, and Modern and Contemporary History Museum – Nearby Attractions: Seonungak, Park Eulbok Embroidery Museum, Bukhansan, Choso-gil Seonungak, located at the entrance of the hiking trail, is a traditional hanok building built by the Central Intelligence Agency. It became a popular spot for filming dramas and weddings. It is not possible to see inside. On the course with you and me, after passing the pine tree shelter, you will find the ‘Park Eulbok Embroidery Museum’. This is a place where you can appreciate about 40 modern and contemporary embroidery works by embroidery artist Park Eul-bok (1915~2015). In the forest behind the Museum of Modern and Contemporary History, there is an ‘Invitation Road’ that tours the graveyards of those who served in the first posts of modern and contemporary history of Korea, such as the first prosecutor Lee Jun, the first vice-chairman of the National Assembly Shin Ik-hee, the first Supreme Court Chief Kim Byung-ro, and the first vice president Lee Si-young. □ Suyu Market that provides customized services to customers ○ Founded in 1966, Suyu Market is the representative market of Gangbuk-gu, combining Suyu Traditional Market, Suyu Traditional Market, and Shopping Mall-type Suyu Market into one. In 2008, it was selected as the ‘Hi Seoul Market’, one of the top 5 mayors of Seoul, and in 2016, it was honored to be selected as the ‘Leading Regional Market’. About 300 stores, such as agricultural products, livestock products, aquatic products, processed foods, household goods, clothes, and restaurants, are flourishing in the alleyway tangled like a spider’s web. One-stop shopping is possible because the alley-type market and the building-type market are connected. Even if various items are mixed in the alley, Sundae Gukbap Alley, Jeonjip Alley, and Pub & Clothing Alley are formed. The fun of visiting the market is, of course, exploring the food alleys. As the market has a long history, there are many restaurants with excellent taste. ‘Sooki’, a restaurant specializing in naengmyeon with 30 years of tradition, ‘Agurangbokeorang’, a restaurant where you can taste chewy agu and crispy bean sprouts, ‘Danyangjip’, a restaurant with many regulars with delicious side dishes for 30 years, as well as group-jeon and skate sashimi ‘Jangtejijim’, which you can taste, is famous as a gourmet restaurant. ○ The reason why the Suyu market is expected in the future is that it is paying attention to customer tastes and consumption trends to overcome the limitations of traditional markets. In line with the growing popularity of processed foods such as various dishes, rice cakes, side dishes, and pancakes, the company is developing small packaging products and building an online market. As a result of that practice, from March, we will start a grocery delivery service through the ‘Noljang (Let’s Play Market)’ app. It will be sold at the same market price, and free shipping will be provided for only 5,000 customers. We are looking forward to the Noljang online market, where you can conveniently receive cheap and good goods and help local businesses.
– Location: 18, Dobong-ro 67-gil, Gangbuk-gu – Transportation: 9-minute walk from Exit 8 of Mia Station on Subway Line 4 or Exit 1 of Hwagye Station on the Ui-Sinseol Light Railway. – Inquiries: 02-945-6380 – Nearby Attractions: Hwagyesa Temple, Natural History/Garden Park Gwang-Hoon Costume Museum Hwagyesa Temple is located at the eastern foot of Bukhansan Mountain. It was designated as Tangible Cultural Property No. 65 by Seoul City as a cultural property that shows the wooden architectural style of the late Joseon Dynasty. In addition, you can also see a bronze bell that shows the excellent craftsmanship of monk craftsmen in the late Joseon Dynasty. In Mia-dong, Sungshin Women’s University Unjeong Green Campus, there is a costume museum where you can see about 600 costumes donated by Chimseonjang Garden Park Gwang-hoon (Seoul City Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 11). In the underground natural history museum, specimens of rocks, plants, and insects are on display.
