Things to do in Gangseo & Magok

5 places in Gangseo & Magok — mainly culture and outdoors.

Culture2

  1. Heojun Museum

    A museum on Heo Jun, the Joseon court doctor behind Donguibogam.

    • When: Closed Mon
    • Best time and how long: Morning, afternoon · 1 h
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    A museum in Gayang-dong, Gangseo-gu, about Heo Jun, the Joseon court physician who compiled Donguibogam, the medical classic inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2009. It has rooms on medicinal herbs and old medical tools, a recreated royal clinic and a herb garden.

    Why go

    It gives the background to the Korean medicine clinics and herbal care many visitors try in Seoul. Gangseo-gu's old name, Yangcheon, was also Heo Jun's hometown.

    Good to know

    From Gayang Station (Line 9) exit 1, the Heojun Theme Street leads about 300 m to the museum. It closes on Mondays, January 1, Seollal and Chuseok.

    Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr · en.wikipedia.org

  2. Yangcheon Hyanggyo

    Seoul's only remaining hyanggyo, a Joseon-era Confucian school.

    • When: Closed Mon
    • Best time and how long: Morning, afternoon · 40 min
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    A hyanggyo, a local Confucian school and shrine of the Joseon era, founded in the reign of King Taejong and now the only one left in Seoul. Restored in the 1980s and designated a Seoul monument in 1990, it has a lecture hall, two dormitories and a shrine hall where rites are still held.

    Why go

    Hyanggyo usually stand in provincial towns, so this is a rare chance to see one inside Seoul. It is also where the Gyeomjae Jeongseon Trail, a Han River history walk over Gungsan Hill, begins.

    Good to know

    It is about an 8-minute walk from Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station (Line 9) exit 2. Closed on Mondays.

    Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr

Outdoors3

  1. Gaehwasan

    A forest loop on Seoul's west edge with views of Gimpo Airport.

    • Best time and how long: Morning, afternoon · 2 h
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    A low wooded mountain on the western edge of Seoul, next to Gimpo Airport. A trail of about 3.35 km circles its slopes, with a wooden deck section, an observatory over the bending Han River and Haengju Fortress across it, and old temples such as Yaksasa and Mitasa.

    Why go

    Locals walk it for the forest and for the view of Gimpo Airport, whose runway looks close enough to touch, with planes taking off and landing one after another.

    Good to know

    Start from Gaehwasan Station (Line 5) exit 2 or Gaehwa Station (Line 9) exit 1. The loop comes back to where it starts, about 5 km in all with the walk from the station.

    Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr

  2. Gungsan Hill & Soakru Pavilion

    A low hill with the pavilion where Jeong Seon painted the Han River.

    • Best time and how long: Morning, afternoon · 1 h
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    Gungsan is a low hill, about 74 m high, behind Yangcheon Hyanggyo, named for the Confucian shrine at its foot. On top stands Soakru, a pavilion first built in 1737, looking down on the Han River and Haneul Park across the water, with Namsan and Bukhansan in the distance.

    Why go

    Jeong Seon, the master of true-view landscape painting, served as magistrate of Yangcheon from 1740 to 1745 and painted the Han River from here. The Gyeomjae Jeongseon Trail links the hyanggyo, the hill, the pavilion and the Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum.

    Good to know

    Start from Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station (Line 9) exit 2 and climb up behind the hyanggyo. The Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum at the end of the trail closes on Mondays, Seollal and Chuseok.

    Sources: mediahub.seoul.go.kr

  3. Seoul Botanic Park

    A botanic garden and park in Magok with a big glass greenhouse.

    • Best time and how long: Morning, afternoon · 2.5 h
    Show details

    A botanic garden that the Seoul city government built and runs in Magok, joined to a park. The Themed Garden and its greenhouse show the plants and plant cultures of 12 cities in tropical and Mediterranean regions, and the forest, lake and wetland areas around them are free to walk.

    Why go

    Locals walk the lake and wetland paths and come for the greenhouse even in winter. The park connects straight to Magongnaru Station, so it fits easily before or after a beauty booking in Magok.

    Good to know

    Magongnaru Station (Line 9 and Airport Railroad) exits 3 and 4 lead into the park, and the Themed Garden is about a 10-minute walk from Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station (Line 9) exit 8. The greenhouse and Themed Garden need a ticket and close on Mondays, January 1, Seollal and Chuseok; the outdoor park stays open.

    Sources: botanicpark.seoul.go.kr

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Questions

What is there to do in Gangseo & Magok?

5 places.

Culture
Heojun Museum · Yangcheon Hyanggyo
Outdoors
Gaehwasan · Gungsan Hill & Soakru Pavilion +1

Can I book a salon near Gangseo & Magok in English?

Yes. 5 places near Gangseo & Magok take bookings on millio in English, Japanese or Chinese.

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