Classic Bugaksan hiking course, Changuimun Gate–Malbawi Rock

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Bugaksan Mountain

Classic Bugaksan hiking course, Changuimun Gate–Malbawi Rock Trail

Published Date : Dec 22, 2022 / Edited Date : Oct 12, 2023

Walk down from Baegakmaru Peak along the ridge line to Malbawi Rock past Gokjang to
see the Samcheong-dong neighborhood, which was considered the most beautiful
neighborhood in Seoul by the Joseon nobility. This section is one of the oldest hiking trails
on Bugaksan Mountain. Before the backroads of Chilgung Shrine and Chunchugwan were
opened to the public, many hikers took the Malbawi detour along the ridge line.

Hiking route

Changuimun Gate Dolgorae Shelter Baegak Shelter Baegakmaru Peak 1.21 Incident Pine Tree Cheongundae Peak Cheongundae Shelter Gokjang Chotdaebawi Rock Sukjeongmun Gate Malbawi Information Center Malbawi Observatory Samcheong Park

Total travel distance 4km

Average travel time 1 hour 50 minutes

Difficulty average

COURSE MAP

A diagram showing the course of the 5th course of Bukaksan, Changuimun-Malbawi. The section from Changuimun, the starting point, to Dolphin Rest Area is difficult, the section from Dolphin Rest Area to Baegak Rest Area is difficult, the section from Baegak Rest Area to Baegak Maru is difficult, the section from Baegak Maru to the 1.21 Incident Pine Tree is easy, and from the 1.21 Incident Pine Tree The section from Cheongundae to Cheongundae is easy, the section from Cheongunda to Cheongundae Shelter is easy, the section from Cheongundae Shelter to Gokjang is easy, the section from Gokjang to Chotdaebawi is normal, the section from Chotdaebawi to Sukjeongmun is easy, and the section from Sukjeongmun to Malbawi is difficult The difficulty of the section to the information center is easy, the section from the Malbawi Information Center to the Malbawi Observatory is easy, and the section from the Malbawi Observatory to the entrance to Samcheong Park is easy.

A graph showing the change in altitude between the 5 courses of Mt. Bukak, the Changuimun-Malbawi course. Total length 4 km. The starting point, Changuimun, is about 0 km away and the altitude is about 110 m. The distance to the Dolphin Shelter is about 0.4 km, and the altitude is about 192 m. The Baegak Shelter is about 0.7 km long and the altitude is about 310 m. The chalk floor distance is about 0.75 km, and the altitude is about 340 m. The 1.21 avalanche pine tree distance is about 0.87 kilometers, and the altitude is about 300 meters. The distance to Cheongundae is about 1 kilometer, and the altitude is about 290 meters. Cheongwoondae Shelter is about 1.1 kilometers long and about 260 meters high. The distance of the track is about 1.5 km, and the altitude is about 300 m. Chotdaebawi Rock Street is about 1.8 kilometers long, at an altitude of about 260 meters, and Sukjeongmun Gate Street is about 2.3 kilometers long, at an altitude of about 210 meters. The distance to Malbawi Information Center is about 2 kilometers, and the altitude is about 210 meters. The distance to the Malbawi Observatory is about 2.9 kilometers, and the altitude is about 190 meters. The entrance to Samcheong Park, the destination, is about 4 kilometers long and about 60 meters high.

INFORMATION

About the trail

The section from Changuimun Gate to Baegakmaru Peak is a long series of steep hills. Firmly grab the handrails while climbing the stairs or use a pair of hiking sticks.

Shelter and hiking tips

The path from Malbawi Observatory to Samcheong Park is fraught with steps. Hikers are advised to take a break at the Malbawi Information Center or Malbawi Observatory.

Transportation

Take bus No. 1711 or 7212 outside Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station, Seoul Metro Line 3. Get off at the stop Jahamun Pass and Yoon Dong-ju Literature Museum and climb the stairs to reach Changuimun Gate Information Center.

SPOTS

1.21 Incident Pine Tree

On January 21, 1968, 31 armed North Korean commandos sought to infiltrate Cheong Wa Dae and assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee. The attempt failed as South Korean police and armed forces engaged them in a shootout. Taking 15 shots during the gunfight, the pine tree still clearly bears the battle wounds as a witness to the so-called 1.21 Incident.

Gokjang

A gokjang is an outward-projecting tower strategically located to observe and repel enemy forces. Unobstructed views in all directions make this a great observation spot. Visible from here are Gyeongbokgung Palace to the south, Baegakmaru Peak and Inwangsan Mountain to the east, and the mountains of Bukhansan and Dobongsan to the north.

Malbawi Observatory

Dignitaries and high-ranking officials during the Joseon era are said to have ridden their horses up to this rock to rest in nature and recite poetry. Malbawi Rock is known for its views of the city’s Jongno-gu District. On clear days, Namsan Mountain can be seen far in the distance.

MORE INFO

The Samcheong-dong neighborhood is located at the eastern foothills of Bugaksan Mountain, noted for its lush forest and clean water. The word samcheong means “three times clean” and refers to the mountain, water, and people. In a ritual to “cleanse” themselves of evil spirits and bad energy, women in the past ascended to Sukjeongmun Gate through the valleys of Samcheong-dong and went down again three times before the first full moon of the lunar year.

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