Seoul Battleship Park opens Wednesday
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An image of Seoul Battleship Park from above/Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Kim Se-jeong
Seoul Battleship Park has opened Wednesday on the River Han shore in western Seoul, showcasing two retired naval destroyers and one retired small submarine.
The park, located in Mangwon Han River Park, had an opening ceremony at the park site on Wednesday afternoon and began receiving guests.
“These old vessels could have been no use after retirement. But we added tremendous value on them by opening them up to the public and offering citizens something entertaining,” a city official said.
This is the latest addition to the city’s list of tourist attractions.
Frigate Seoul is the biggest one of all, with 1,900 tons, capable of carrying 130 people at a time. A tour inside the ship offers a glimpse into rather unknown lives of navy crew members. Visitors can see sleep cabins, a dining area, a shower room, canteen, a steering room, missiles and others.
The 170-ton Chamsuri Patrol, smaller than Frigate Seoul, is a destroyer. What’s unique about Chamsuri is that it was mobilized during the battle with North Korea in the waters off the West Coast in 1999.
The Dolgorae is the first made-by-Korea submarine. So tiny is the space inside the vessel that many can wonder how men could survive there. The city official explained it was a secret project when it was built in 1983. The fact that the Navy made it open to the public means the Korean technology in submarine building as made significant progress, the city official added.
All three were rented out by the navy to the city government for free. The park took almost two years in the making. The Chamsuri and Dolgorae sit on land, while Frigate Seoul floats in the water.
The city said the park’s location was carefully chosen.
“It is where Joseon Kingdom’s navy had its trainings and kings came to watch the trainings,” the official explained. The park is also close to Yanghwajin, one of Seoul’s old ports and a strategic spot for the defense of Seoul.
During the French invasion in 1866, vessels reached near Yanghwajin in an attempt to conquer the capital of Joseon ― but it retreated due to treacherous nature of waters in the river.
Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery also hosts Catholics killed there after the invasion for being suspected of helping the French invade Joseon.
The park is open from Tuesday through Sunday and opening hours are 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. between November and February. Between March and September, it will stay open until 6 p.m.
Entrance fee is 3,000 won and it will be waivered until Dec. 3. For more information, visit
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