Seoul | Enjoy the bustling city life outside your door at Tapgol Park and see the ten-story pagoda of Wongaksa Temple.

Inside the gate lies the former site of Wongaksa Temple, the birthplace of the March 1st Movement; outside lies the bustling food market of Jongno. This place, nestled in Seoul's bustling Jongno District, feels like a journey back in time.
It's called Tapgol Park, also known as Tapdong Park in Korean, and covers nearly 20,000 square meters. It's where Gong Yoo plays games in the game "Squid." It's located in front of the Octagonal Pavilion, and the pavilion offers stunning views after a heavy winter snowfall.
Historically, this was the site of the Heungguksa Temple. During the reign of King Sejo of Joseon, it was expanded and renamed Wongaksa Temple. Legend has it that King Yeonsangun once converted the site into Jangakwon, but it later fell into disrepair. The remaining ten-story Wongaksa Pagoda, built in 1467, is South Korea's second national treasure. The top three floors were originally damaged and have since been restored.
Although it's protected by a glass curtain, one can still experience history through the intricate stone carvings of dragons, phoenixes, lions, and bodhisattvas.

Tapgol Park, Seoul's first city park, carries a weight of history. During the March 1st Movement, 33 independence activists and 4,000 to 5,000 students gathered here to read the Declaration of Independence, marking the beginning of the anti-Japanese movement. The March 1st Movement Memorial Wall and the bronze statue of Son Byung-hee in the park commemorate this period of modern history.

📍Address: 99 Jong-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
🚗Jongno 3-ga Station, a three-minute walk away.

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Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Sep 29, 2025