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Mountain Therapy for Healing Mind and Body, Bugaksan Mountain A journey to Bugaksan Mountain in any season results in peace of mind and body.

Viewing Bugaksan Mountain via Feng Shui Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty who was later crowned its first monarch, King Taejo, aimed to use the energy of the great mountain ranges of Baekdudaegan from Baekdusan Mountain and all the way down to Jirisan Mountain to connect it to Gyeongbokgung Palace through Bugaksan Mountain. The layout of the palace, which was geared to set Bugaksan in the background, symbolized the royal authority granted by heaven, an official philosophy that was used to justify the 600-year rule of the dynasty.

EDITOR’S PICK, Mental Healing and Nourishment Descending toward the Seoul neighborhood of Buam-dong and spending the evening in Seongbuk-dong is a great way to end a day of hiking on Bugaksan Mountain.

Prayers for national prosperity, Manse Dongbang Trail The inscription “Manse Dongbang ( 萬世東方 )“ is engraved on a rock hanging over a mountain spring, wishing for the prosperity of the nation and longevity of the king. Found on the trail are the ruins of the Buddhist temple of Beopheungsa, a structure built during the reign of King Jinpyeong of the Silla Kingdom.

Secret urban garden, Baeksasil Valley–Seonggyungwan Trail The crystal-clear waters of Baeksasil Valley are a prime habitat for salamanders, Chinese minnows, and crayfish.

Hidden forest eco-paths, Bugak Haneul-gil Trails These trails link the foothills of Bugaksan Mountain with the ridges surrounding the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae, and connect to the hiking trails in the depths of the mountain along the popular Bugak Skyway and trail. Decades of no human contact have left the pristine natural ecosystems flawlessly preserved. A tranquil and relaxed journey awaits with the magical energy of the deep forest.

Witness to history, Yeoraesa Temple–Hogyeongam Rock Trail Popularly known as the Kim Shin-jo Route, named after one of two North Korean commandos who survived the 1968 raid on the presidential office in Seoul, this is the second of the Bugak Haneul-gil Trails. It’s at Haneulgyo Bridge and passes Hogyeongam Rock and Nammaru Observatory on the way to the source of Seongbukcheon Stream. On January 21, 1968, 31 North Korean commandos took this route to infiltrate Cheong Wa Dae in an attempted assassination of then President Park Chung-hee. Hogyeongam Rock is covered with dozens of bullet marks from the firefight in that incident.

Downtown view and forest walks, Samcheong-dong–Chilgung Shrine Trail This trail is at Geonchunmun Gate, the east gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace built in the mid-Joseon era that was reserved for civil officials. The trail covers both the bustling downtown area and secluded forest walks, taking travelers from the Bugaksan foothills in the heart of the city and past its hidden valleys and streams. The one- way trip through the past and present of Samcheong-dong takes around one hour.