The southwestern trail on Mount Baekak, also known as Mount Bugak, in Seoul opened to the public at 9 a.m. on the 17th, marking the last stretch of the mountain to be made accessible after access was restricted following the Jan. 21, 1968, raid on the Blue House. The opening is the third and final phase, following the opening of the mountain's northern side in 2020 and its southeastern slope in 2022. All sections of Mount Baekak except the Blue House grounds are now open to anyone.
The Korea Heritage Service held a ceremony on the 16th in the front yard of Changuimun Gate, part of the Hanyang City Wall, to mark the additional opening of the southwestern trail on the scenic site known as the Mount Baekak Area in Seoul. "I am very glad that we can return the entirety of Mount Baekak to our people starting tomorrow," Korea Heritage Service Administrator Heo Min said at the event. "With this third-phase opening, a new path has been added to the last remaining southern slope, and Mount Baekak can finally become whole as one."
Heo added that the agency "will continue to systematically preserve this natural scenery, ecological environment and historical and cultural heritage while creating an environment where the public can enjoy them safely and comfortably." He also said, "I ask that the public also cherish nature and preserve the trails so that we can create a safe hiking environment together."
Given the mountain's proximity to the Blue House, officials from the Presidential Security Service and the Capital Defense Command joined those from Jongno District in celebrating the occasion.
The newly opened southwestern trail, the final unopened stretch of Mount Baekak, runs 1.32 kilometers. It begins at Dolgorae Rest Area, the first rest stop on the route from Changuimun Gate toward the summit of Mount Baekak, and connects the Manse Dongbang spring with the pine tree marking the site of the Jan. 21, 1968, incident.
With the opening, the main trails on Mount Baekak are now linked as one, allowing visitors to take in views of Mount Inwang, the Blue House and Gyeongbokgung Palace while exploring both natural scenery and historical and cultural heritage. The first phase in 2020 opened a 2.2-kilometer stretch of the Hanyang City Wall trail on the northern side, followed by a 3.0-kilometer section of forest on the southeastern slope in 2022.
The opening also allows visitors to tour historical and cultural heritage sites across Mount Baekak in a single route, including the Hanyang City Wall in Seoul, a designated historic site, as well as Buaam Rock, Samtaeseong Rock, Chotdae Rock, Malbawi Rock, the Baekak Shrine, the source of Cheonggyecheon Stream and the site of Beopheungsa Temple.