A sketch of the Seodaemun (Great West Gate) around 1894.
Seodaemun-gu is a gu located in northwestern Seoul, South Korea. The name derives from Seodaemun, meaning literally "Great West Gate", which was once located in the district. Seodaemun was one of the four great gates of the city wall surrounding the Joseon capital of Hanyang (only Dongdaemun and Namdaemun survive intact, though the latter was destroyed by arson in 2008 and only recently rebuilt). Seodaemun-gu incorporates residential areas and historical areas including Bongwon Temple, Sinchon Railway Station (the oldest train station in Seoul) and Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Also it has a historic culture site "Seodaemun Independence Park." This place located at Dongnimmun station, allows people to learn about history through 3.1 independence memorial statue, Independence Gate and more. This educational park is a major tourist attraction of Seodaemun-gu that provides a comfortable place of culture and leisure. Seodaemun-gu is a Rest Place together with nature surrounded by Mt. Ansan, Mt. Baengnyeonsan and Hongjecheon stream in the city. Also known as Mt. Muaksan, Mt. Ansan has many steep slopes, but because it has an altitude of only 295.5m, it is a favorite hiking trail among locals. There are about ten climbing courses where everyone can enjoy a walk in the forests filled with wild flowers, pine trees, cherry blossom trees, etc. At the summit, there is Ansan Beacon Mound, where you can view Mt. Bukhansan, Mt. Inwangsan, Haegjusanseong Fortress and Hangang River. Mt. Ansan is a highly popular tourist attraction of Seodaemun-gu. Also, on the Mt. Ansan path, the Seodaemun Museum of Natural History, built by the local governing body, exhibits various geological and biological relics and records. Named after Hongjewon, which was where Chinese envoys were greet and entertained, Hongjecheon Stream was where the women who were forcefully taken to the Qing Dynasty cleansed their bodies upon returning home. The once dried stream was restored and today there is a musical fountain, a water mill, a man-made waterfall, hiking trails and more for locals and tourists to enjoy. Seodaemun-gu is a city of education in which prestigious educational institutions such as Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University are located. And there are shopping streets for young, "Walking street" in Sinchon and "Fashion street" near Ewha Womans University. Here, People can enjoy shopping according to their own style from head to toe and still have money left for a cup of coffee.[2]
The district covers 17.6 square kilometers, approximately 2.9% of the total area of Seoul. Seodaemun-gu is populated by middle and upper-income families.[citation needed]
[edit] Infrastructure
- Total length of roads: 308 km
- Pavement area: 2,641㎢
- Waterworks system: 589 km
- Sewerage system: 396 km
[edit] Administrative divisions
Seodaemun-gu consists of 14 "administrative dong"s (haengjeong-dong 행정동).
[edit] Facilities
- Public Institutions - total 84 (1 Seodaemun-gu Office, 21 Dong offices, 1 Korean National Police Agency, 1 police station, 16 police boxes, 4 fire stations, 10 post offices, 30 others)
- Schools - total 46 (8 universities, 6 high schools, 12 middle schools, 18 elementary schools, 2 foreign schools)
- Medical Facilities- total 402 (2 General Hospitals, 317 hospitals and clinics including dental clinics, 83 oriental clinics)
- Official Cultural Assets: total 32 (1 national treasure, 10 treasures, 6 historic sites, 4 important intangible cultural properties, 3 folklore materials, 8 tangible and intangible cultural properties
- Welfare facilities: total 308 (3 social welfare centers, 173 childcare centers, 86 facilities for the aged, 36 others including study rooms)
[edit] Government and infrastructure
The Korean National Police Agency has its headquarters in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu.[3]
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Recommended Tour Course
- One Day Course: Seodaemun Museum of Natural History -> Mt.Ansan (Bongsudae, Bongwonsa) or Hognjecheon Stream -> Seodaemun independenc Park and Seodaemun History Hall -> Sinchon
- 2-day/1-night Course
- Day One : Seodaemun Museum of Natural History -> Hognjecheon Stream -> Seodaemun independenc Park and Seodaemun History Hall
- Day Two : Mt.Ansan (Bongsudae, Bongwonsa) -> Yonsei University Museum, Ewha Womans University Museum & Nstural History museum -> Sinchon 'Walking Street', Ewha Womans University 'Fashion Street'[4]
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] References
[edit] External links
