Recreation in Seoul

Biwon, or the Secret Garden, formerly a retreat for the Yi rulers of the Chosŏn dynasty, is now a public park occupying 32 hectares (80 acres) just north of Changdeok Palace.

Namsan Park, located on Namsan Mountain south of downtown, is topped by the Namsan Tower, which houses a restaurant and observation deck.

Sajik Park is the site of altars formerly used by the Yi kings as well as a shrine to Tangun, legendary ancestor of the Korean people.

Pagoda Park was the gathering place for a reading of the Korean Declaration of Independence on March 1, 1919, which sparked a nationwide wave of protests against Japanese colonial rule.

Seoul Children’s Park is an amusement park, and Seoul Grand Park contains the city zoo, which houses more than 4000 animals of 187 different species.

Dongdaemun Stadium in eastern Seoul hosts soccer and baseball games, as well as other sports.

However, the largest center for sports is in the Jamsil district in the southeast part of the city, site of the main sports complexes built for the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.

These include the Olympic Stadium, a gymnasium, an indoor swimming pool, a baseball stadium, and other sports facilities.

East of the Olympic sports complexes is Olympic Park, covering about 3 sq km (about 1 sq mi) with Mongch’on Fortress at its center.

The park contains facilities for sports, public gatherings, and the performing arts.