Bugaksan
Bugaksan overlooking the former royal palace Gyeongbokgung (2008)
Highest point
Elevation	342 m (1,122 ft)
Naming
Etymology	North mountain
Geography
Country	South Korea
City	Seoul
Korean name
Hangul	북악산
Hanja	北岳山
Revised Romanization	Bugaksan
McCune–Reischauer	Pugaksan
Alternate name
Hangul	백악산
Hanja	白岳山
Revised Romanization	Baegaksan
McCune–Reischauer	Paegaksan

Bugaksan^[a] (Korean: 북악산) is a mountain in the north of Seoul, South Korea. It famously overlooks the former royal palace Gyeongbokgung as well as the former presidential residence the Blue House. It, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan are the mountains that surround the Seoul Basin.^[2][3] The mountain has a bedrock of granite,^[3] and is about 342 meters (1,122 ft) high.^[2]

The mountain has historically gone by a number of other names, including Baegaksan (백악산).

Names

Until the Joseon period, the mountain went by a variety of names, including "Baegaksan", "Myeonaksan" (면악산; 面岳山), and "Gonggeuksan" (공극산; 拱極山). However, "Baegaksan" was the most popular name during the Joseon period.^[2]

The name "Bugaksan", meaning "north mountain",^[4] became popular just after the Japanese colonial period. Some government offices have made efforts to return to using the "Baegaksan" name, in order to strengthen modern South Korea's ties to the pre-Japanese past.^[2]

Description

The mountain is part of a range of mountains connected to the south of Bukhansan, the highest mountain in Seoul.^[2]

There are 208 species of plants on the mountain, including 81 species of trees.^[2]

The Cheonggyecheon stream that flows through Seoul originates from the mountain. In November 2005, the Jongno District government investigated the source of the river, and found that it was a mineral water spring about 150 metres (490 ft) from a statue of police officer Choi Gyu-sik [ko].^[2]

History

Beginning in the Joseon period, the mountain was a popular spot for the aristocracy to construct villas.^[2]

After the Blue House Raid of January 21, 1968, in which North Korean operatives attempted to assassinate the South Korean president, access to the mountain became heavily restricted. These restrictions began to be lifted on April 1, 2006, when Sukjeongmun was reopened for public access. Beginning on November 1, 2020, a section north of the Blue House was opened to the public. It is now possible to hike from the mountain Ansan, Inwangsan, Bugaksan, and Bukhansan without interruption.^[2] There is a number of guided walking courses over the mountain, including one that walks along the Fortress Wall of Seoul.^[5][1]

The mountain was designated an area of secnic beauty in 2009 by the Cultural Heritage Administration.^[2]

Gallery