Gems in Seoul From giant landfill to gorgeous park

Flowers in full bloom at Haneul Park

By Jung Min-ho

Everything is beautiful in its time. Fall is when Haneul Park reveals its most beautiful side.

The grassland park sits atop the highest plateau of World Cup Park in western Seoul. With abundant pampas grass billowing in the wind against a clear blue sky, this place may have the most exotic atmosphere not found anywhere else in the city.

Haneul means “sky” in Korean. Visitors may find this the perfect name for the park located 98 meters above sea level. It offers perhaps the most spectacular views of Seoul ― with a gentle breeze. The city’s landmarks, including the National Assembly building and skyscrapers of Yeouido along the Han River, can be seen in all directions.

From September to November, Haneul Park becomes a great place to take photos. In fact, many newlyweds choose the park to have their wedding pictures taken.

Those seeking a panoramic view of the park can find it at the observation platform in the middle of the park.

Pampas grass sway in the breeze at Haneul Park, western Seoul. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-ho

Few would believe that the picturesque park was a landfill holding 140 million tons of garbage only 20 years ago. The place was filled with flies, dust and bad smells, and no one ― unless they had to ― visited there.

To mark the 2002 World Cup in Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Government started to turn the garbage dump into an ecological park in 1999, as part of its project to build the World Cup Park.

After getting rid of the massive amount of trash and contaminants, workers stabilized the ground and planted pampas grass, which has now become a symbol of Haneul Park, in its north and south sections. In the east and west sections, low grass as well as a number of native species such as thistles and violets were planted.

To restore the ecosystem, 30,000 butterflies of various species have been released in the park, given they can help plants pollinate and stabilize the overall environment.

Today, it stands as one of the most successful examples of “turning trash into treasure.”

Unlike most other parks in the country, all facilities at Haneul Park are powered by natural energy such as wind and methane gas.

Visitors are recommended to visit the park in spring or fall when the sun is warm and the wind cool and mild. The best month to visit is October, when the Pampas Grass Festival is held. During the period, visitors can attend various special events such as music performances in the pampas grass field at night or make crafts out of pampas grass.

The park can be reached by subway. Go to World Cup Stadium Station and take exit 1. Walk past Homeplus and World Cup Stadium on the right before crossing at a crosswalk to a construction site. From there, a bridge to the zig-zag stairways is just a minute away. It takes many ― precisely 291 ― stairs to finally arrive at Haneul Park.