Attractions in Gwangjin-gu (Seoul)

Mount Ahcha

Legend has it that long ago, on Mt. Ahcha, there once lived a dumb beggar and a princess. The princess used to cry frequently. In order to stop her from crying, the king would say to her, If you continue to cry, I will marry you off to the dumb beggar. Years passed and the king offered the princess's hand in marriage to a nobleman. The princess declined and demanded that she be allowed to marry the beggar. The dumb beggar later became a great general who saved Korea. Although this mountain stands only 300 meters tall, it plays an important role in Korea's history. It is home to an ancient cave, a cremation site, and a spiritual fountain. Admission is free.

Children's Grand Park

This is one of the largest children's parks in Asia. It includes a zoo, a botanical garden, an amusement park, outdoor concert stages and physical training facilities. In spring and fall, many young children and their teachers can be seen here on school picnics. As an educational venue, it is not only fun, it also provides interesting information about plant and animal life. Budget a full day for your visit. Prices are very reasonable compared to those of other amusement parks.

Seoul Grand Park

As the largest zoo in Korea, this animal park boasts 400 kinds of exotic species, and 12,000 kinds of plants in the nearby botanical garden. It is located in a 668,000-square-meter area that also includes Seoul Land Theme Park and the National Museum of Contemporary Art. The animals mainly from Africa, South America, and Australia are divided by species, ecology, and habitat. There is a wide viewing tunnel in the Africa Hall, allowing a close view of the animals. Highlights include the white tiger or regular dolphin shows (three per day). Admission: Adults KRW1,500; youth (aged 14-19) KRW1,200; children KRW700.

Achasanseong Fortress

Designated an historic site in 1973, this fortress spans about one kilometer and has an area of 133,700 square meters. The wall is 10 meters high on an average. Parts of the grounds have been made into a park area with sports facilities including badminton courts, 'Ssirum' (Korean style wrestling), and an archery range. There is a small amusement park equipped with rides for children. A hiking trail, benches and an octagonal pavilion are also provided.