Free in Seocho-gu 44

Library · Express Bus Terminal Stn. (Lines 3, 7, 9), Banpo Stn. (Line 7)

The national library with Korea's largest collection. With just an ID you get a day of free access to vast materials and comfortable reading rooms.

Park · Yangjae Citizen's Forest Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Dense woodland rarely found in the city centre. The autumn tunnels of ginkgo and maple are a well-known free photo spot.

Plaza · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

A free music fountain on the plaza of the Seoul Arts Center. Evening shows against Umyeonsan, with an open-air cafe mood.

Park · Express Bus Terminal Stn. (Lines 3, 7, 9) + walk

Three artificial islands floating on the Han River. A night-view favourite, with island lighting set off by the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain.

Historic site · Cheonggyesan Ipgu Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

The tombs of King Taejong and King Sunjo. An ecological forest trail away from the city centre, lovely for walking to birdsong.

Museum · Cheonggyesan Ipgu Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

The world's first audio museum, from Edison's phonograph to 20th-century vintage audio, seen on a 90-minute docent tour that includes actual listening sessions. The building was designed by Kengo Kuma. Free, but all seats must be booked in advance and competition is fierce.

Museum

Art gallery · Seonbawi Stn. (Line 4)

A non-profit museum devoted to metal craft, aiming to be a hub of Korea's contemporary craft movement.

Art gallery · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

Seoripul Youth Art Gallery.

Museum · Yangjae Stn. (Line 3, Sinbundang Line)

A systematic record of more than 100 years of Korean electricity history, preserving it and conveying the value of electric power.

Museum · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

Museum · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

A specialist institution for collecting, preserving and providing access to arts records, the ARKO Arts Archive gathers, conserves and makes available key documents tracing the course of modern and contemporary Korean art history.

Museum · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

Opened in 1995, this is Korea's only museum devoted to traditional Korean music, displaying a wide range of gugak artifacts and instruments.

Museum · Yangjae Citizen's Forest Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Notice of closure for exhibition hall renovation work.

Art gallery · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

Opened in 1993 as a Class 1 specialised art museum, Hanwon was founded with the personal funds of the late Ha Dong-hwan, honorary chairman of the Hanwon Group and founder of Dong-A Motor.

Park · Yangjae Citizen's Forest Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Laid out in Zone 3 of Maeheon Citizens' Forest, the Culture and Arts Park broke ground in March 1993 and was completed in October 1994. Used by some 140,000 people a year, it is a valued patch of green in the city. The lawn plaza at its center (35

Mountain & trail

No records of Cheonggyesan survive; the name is simply assumed to come from the clear water running off the mountain. The Gwacheon-eupji gazetteer of 1899 calls it Cheongnyongsan, Blue Dragon Mountain, paired with Gwanaksan being called White Tiger Mountain

Mountain & trail · Cheonggyesan Ipgu Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

The mountain is named for Inreung, the tomb of King Sunjo lying to the north, of which it is recorded as the ancestral mountain. Stretching east to west across Seocho-gu in Seoul and Seongnam in Gyeonggi-do, it rises 327 m and remains much as nature made it

Mountain & trail

Guryongsan shares a single ridge with Daemosan and straddles the boundary of Seocho-gu and Gangnam-gu; since 1971 the two have been designated and managed as Daemosan Urban Nature Park. At 306 m, it is neither high nor rugged, so

Mountain & trail

The mountain forms the boundary of Seocho-dong, Bangbae-dong, Umyeon-dong and Yangjae-dong in Seocho-gu, and is named for its shape, said to resemble a dozing cow. Part of it is also called Gwanamsan after the Gatbawi rock found there

Library · Sapyeong Stn. (Line 9)

A quiet district library near Banpo and the Express Bus Terminal. The spacious reading room is a good refuge from heat and cold.

Park · Seocho Stn. (Line 2)

A thickly wooded free trail in the heart of Seocho. Cross Nuedari Bridge for a 3km walk through to Montmartre Park.

Park · Express Bus Terminal Stn. (Lines 3, 7, 9)

The world's longest bridge fountain, listed in Guinness. Free summer-night fountain shows and breezy riverside picnics are the big draw.

Historic site · Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (Line 3)

A 1,600-year-old temple said to date from the reign of King Chimnyu of Baekje. A quiet, free retreat on the slopes of Umyeonsan.

Library · Bangbae Stn. (Line 2)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Gangnam Stn. (Line 2, Sinbundang Line)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Cheonggyesan Ipgu Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Naebang Stn. (Line 7)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Yangjae Citizen's Forest Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Gangnam Stn. (Line 2, Sinbundang Line)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Library · Jamwon Stn. (Line 3)

Public library in Seocho-gu. Free entry and reading, fully heated and air-conditioned.

Sports facility · Gubanpo Stn. (Line 9)

Public indoor pool in Seocho-gu. Six-lane 25m adult pool and a three-lane toddler pool. Open swim is 3,300 won per session. Open swim time slots change monthly, so check before you go.

Sports facility · Jamwon Stn. (Line 3)

Free outdoor basketball court inside Banpo Hangang Park. There are two courts, No. 1 and No. 2, open 06:00–20:00. Best to avoid slots booked by teams.

Sports facility · Naebang Stn. (Line 7)

Public indoor pool in Seocho-gu with a five-lane 25m adult pool. Open swim costs 3,300 won per session. Open-swim time slots change monthly, so check before you go.

Sports facility · Yangjae Citizen's Forest Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Public indoor pool in Seocho-gu with a six-lane adult pool and a children's pool. Open swim costs 6,000 won per session. Open-swim time slots change monthly, so check before you go.

Sports facility

Public indoor pool in Seocho-gu with a six-lane 25m adult pool and a toddler pool. Open swim costs 5,500 won per session, and there is a gym on site. Open-swim time slots change monthly, so check before you go.

Sports facility · Bangbae Stn. (Line 2)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu.

Sports facility · Jamwon Stn. (Line 3)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu. Badminton court. Open 24 hours.

Sports facility · Sinbanpo Stn. (Line 9)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu. 5 courts.

Sports facility · Sinbanpo Stn. (Line 9)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu. 8 courts.

Sports facility · Bangbae Stn. (Line 2)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu, with 3 courts.

Sports facility · Bangbae Stn. (Line 2)

Outdoor badminton courts in Seocho-gu, with 2 courts.

Sports facility · Jamwon Stn. (Line 3)

Outdoor basketball court in Seocho-gu. 1 court. Open 24 hours.

Sports facility · Gangnam Stn. (Sinbundang Line)

Outdoor basketball court in Seocho-gu. 1 court. Open 24 hours.