Located in the center of Seoul, Mt. Namsan is considered as the symbol of Seoul with the height of 256 m above the sea level. It is lower than Mt. Inwangsan (338m) and Mt. Bukaksan (342m) but higher than Mt. Naksan (125m). Seoul tower (236.7m) is located in Mt. Namsan to see downtown Seoul and as the mean of communication during Yi dynasty, one beacon lighthouse is restored.
The original name of Mt. Namsan was Mt. Ingyeong but after the first king of Yi dynasty, Taejo moved the capital city from Gaeseong to Seoul by the theory of configuration of the ground in 1394, it was called as Mt. Namsan because it was located in the south.
In terms of topography, it was important because it was located across from the palace.
Afterward, the shrines for the guardian spirit of a mountain and ritual ceremonies wishing national peace were built in Mt. Bukak and Mt. Namsan and the god of mountain called Mokmyeok the Great was enshrined in Mt. Namsan. Therefore, this was called as Mokmyeoksinsa and Guksadang since it was built by the state. From that time, Mt. Ingyeongsan is called as Mt. Mokmyeoksan.
During the period of Japanese Imperialism, 105,000 pyeong of Mt. Namsan area was designated as Namsan Road Park by the announcement of Japanese colonial government No. 118 in March 12, 1940 and since then it has been called as Namsan Park.
From liberation of the country to Korean Civil War, people moved down south and resided around Mt. Namsan and the neighborhood of this area was called Haebangchon meaning the village of liberation.
To transfer 89 encroached facilities, restore natural environment, maintain the facilities in the park and increase the function as the park for the citizen, Seoul city launched the project to restore Mt. Namsan for 8 years from 1991 to 1998.
As for the project to restore Mt. Namsan, 89 encroached buildings and facilities were demolished or moved including 21 government institutions, 52 foreign residences, and 16 private housings.
As the project to restore Mt. Namsan, outdoor botanical garden was established in the district of foreign residence and Namsan Park in the area of Yeajang-dong, Jung-gu, Hoehyeon-dong, and Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu was restored to the former state and improved as the park of the citizen.
Superintendent’s office of Namsan Park
TEL : 02-753-5576, 2563, 2651 / FAX
: 02-778-0189
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Copyright 2003 Jung-gu, Seoul,
Korea All Rights Reserved.
120-1,Yeakwan-dong,Jung-gu,Seoul,Korea
Tel:82-02-2260-1114 Fax:82-02-2260-1121~28
Classification : City park
