Tapgol park is located on the former site of Wongak Temple. The Temple was destroyed during the reign of Yeonsangun and Jungjong due to the repression policy of Buddhism. In the late 19th Century John McLeavy Brown, an Irishman and financial advisor/Chief Commissioner of Customs in Korea suggested that a western park be built. Tapgol [...]]]>

Tapgol Park Entrance

Tapgol park is located on the former site of Wongak Temple. The Temple was destroyed during the reign of Yeonsangun and Jungjong due to the repression policy of Buddhism. In the late 19th Century John McLeavy Brown, an Irishman and financial advisor/Chief Commissioner of Customs in Korea suggested that a western park be built. Tapgol Park was built sometime in the 1890′s and became the first modern park of Korea. The park was open to the public from 1913.

Tapgol park played a very important role in modern Korea. It was here that on March 1st, 1919 that the Declaration of Independence was recited and began the start of the independence movement against Japanese Rule. From here the movement spread across Korea. In the park there is a tower with the 1,762 word declaration of independence inscribed on it in English and Korean alongside statues of the independence leaders such as Byung Hee Son.

The park is a somewhat open museum honouring the independence movement and displaying treasures from Wongak Temple. National Treasure No.2, Wongak Temple 10 level stone tower is on display in the park.

Opening Hours / Admission:
Open everyday year round from 06:00 – 20:00

Admission is free.

How to get to Tapgol Park:
Take line 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno 3 (sam)-ga station and leave exit 1. Head straight.
Take line 1 to Jonggak station and leave exit 3 and head straight.

Jongmyo Park is located right in front of Jongmyo Shrine. The park is full of retired old men about 3500 per day playing board games such as GO. Underneath the park there is a huge underground parking lot. Inside the park there are plenty of benches, trees, water fountains, a small pond [...]]]>

Jongmyo Park

Jongmyo Park is located right in front of Jongmyo Shrine. The park is full of retired old men about 3500 per day playing board games such as GO. Underneath the park there is a huge underground parking lot. Inside the park there are plenty of benches, trees, water fountains, a small pond and a statue of Lee Sang-Jae. Lee Sang-Jae was a South Korean patriot who was heavily involved in the resistance of the Japanese Colonial Rule. The statue was erected on April 10th, 1986 to commemorate his glorious achievements.

Currently part of the park has turned into an archeological site. The park is located in front of Jongmyo Shrine which was built over 600 years ago and recently they have discovered many artifacts buried in the park. Some of the artifacts are displayed in the park accompanied with pictures of the excavation under the tittle “Street Museum”.

The park has in the recent past been involved in scandal.  Police cracked down on a ring of elderly women who were soliciting prostitution in the park for the elderly men. Although most of the prostitutes have moved on, you can still see some elderly women looking for some customers.

How to get to Jongmyo Park:
Take line 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno 3 (sam)-ga station and leave exit 11 and follow the map below.