{{short description|Mountain in Seoul, South Korea}} {{Infobox mountain |name = Naksan |image = 한양도성낙산구간.jpg |image_caption = View from the mountain of the {{no break|[[Fortress Wall of Seoul]]}} (2016) |coordinates = {{Coordinates|37.5805|127.0086|format=dms|region:KR|display=inline,title}} |location = [[Jongno District]], [[Seoul]], South Korea |elevation_m = 125 |module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto |child=yes |hangul = ^낙산 |hanja = 駱山 |lk=camel mountain }} }} '''Naksan''' ({{Korean|hangul=낙산|lit=Camel Mountain}}) is a mountain in [[Jongno District]], [[Seoul]], South Korea. It is {{convert|125|m|ft}} tall. It and [[Namsan]] are well known for their panoramic views of downtown Seoul.
The mountain and its surrounding area is Naksan Park, which is a [[public park]] maintained by the city government since 2002. The park was used as the filming location for some dramas.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ko:낙산공원 [MBC 더킹투하츠(2012)] |url=https://tour.jongno.go.kr/tour/tour/indvdlz/view.do?nttId=34346&viewType=BODY |website=종로엔다있다 |language=Korean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Kyung-rok |date=2020-10-01 |script-title=ko:[한양구경] '여기였어?…영화·드라마 속 서울을 찾아가다 |url=https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?newsId=01243126625928656 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=[[Edaily]] |language=ko}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
== History == Naksan derives its name from Naktasan ({{Korean|hangul=낙타산|hanja=駱駝山|labels=no}}) because the geography resembles a camel's back. As this place used to be a royal ranch that supplied milk for the palace, it was also known as Taraksan ({{Korean|hangul=타락산|hanja=駝酪山|labels=no}}).
Starting from the 1960s, public apartments and dense housing began encircling the area. In order to preserve the mountain's natural environment, the government of Seoul began a restoration plan and finally opened Naksan Park in July 2002.
== Places ==
=== Naksan Exhibition Hall === Located at the entrance of Naksan Park, this exhibition hall shows the origin and history of Naksan, as well as providing information to visitors, all free of charge.
=== Hongdeok Field === After the [[Qing invasion of Joseon]], [[Injo of Joseon|King Injo]] surrendered and sent two of his sons as hostage. Hongdeok ({{Korean|hangul=홍덕|hanja=弘德|labels=no}}), a [[Kungnyŏ|court lady]], accompanied them to [[Shenyang]]. There, she made [[kimchi]] for Crown Prince Bongrim, and he would fall in love with the taste.
He eventually ascended the throne as [[Hyojong of Joseon|King Hyojong]]. On one occasion he tasted a plate of kimchi, and he immediately recognized the taste. Immediately, he summoned Hongdeok and offered her a generous reward, but she declined. The king later gave orders to grant her a few ''[[Korean units of measurement#Area|gyeong]]'' of land at the foot of Naksan as compensation. She turned the land into a cabbage farm, and continued to make kimchi;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shin |first=Byeong-ju |date=2022-03-16 |script-title=ko:효종 입맛 사로잡은 김치, 비결은 낙산 '홍덕이 밭' |url=https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2004035 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=서울시내손안에서울 |language=ko}}</ref> until today, it is being tended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=종*구 |date=2022-10-22 |script-title=ko:<종로구> 역사속의 텃밭 '홍덕이 밭' |url=https://cityfarmer.seoul.go.kr/ctznFild/www/view.do?ctznFildSn=6245&key=1905228797467 |website=서울도시농업 |language=Korean}}</ref>
=== Fortress Wall of Seoul === A section of the 18.2 km-long fortress wall passes through Naksan. Starting from [[Hyehwamun]] and ending at [[Dongdaemun|Heunginjimun]], the whole length is 2.1 km. A path was built alongside the wall, offering visitors a leisurely stroll while admiring the cityscape. The path would connect with other paths and lead to various viewpoints across the park, including Naksanjeong Pavilion ({{Korean|hangul=낙산정|hanja=駱山亭|labels=no}}), built in [[Korean architecture|traditional Korean architecture]].
=== Biudang === This humble thatched-roof house is the former residence of Yu Gwan (유관; 柳寬, 1346–1433), a prime minister in the early [[Joseon]] period, who was known for his honesty and integrity. Despite holding a high and influential position, Yu lived a destitute life; whenever it rained, he would sit in a room where rainwater is leaking, and hold an umbrella. There, he would think of the people who cannot afford an umbrella during this time.
Later, the house was passed down to [[Yi Sugwang]], a famous scholar, who upon hearing the story of Yu, named it Biudang ({{Korean|hangul=비우당|hanja=庇雨堂|labels=no}}), meaning "a house to take shelter from the rain". This was where he would write the encyclopedia [[Chibong yusŏl|''Jibongyuseol'']], contributing greatly to the [[Silhak]] movement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shin |first=Byeong-ju |date=2021-08-04 |script-title=ko:낙산 성곽길 따라 단종비 정순왕후 눈물이 흐르네 |url=https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2002411 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916120110/https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2002411 |archive-date=2024-09-16 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=서울시내손안에서울 |language=ko |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Jajudong Spring === After [[Sejo of Joseon|King Sejo]] usurped the throne, [[Danjong of Joseon|King Danjong]] was exiled to [[Yeongwol County|Yeongwol]] in [[Gangwon Province, South Korea|Gangwon Province]] while his wife, [[Queen Jeongsun (Danjong)|Queen Jeongsun]], was stripped of her title and booted from the palace. To make ends meet, she resorted to helping the palace maid in the dyeing business. This spring is where she would dye white cloths into purple, the color of royalty and nobility, thus it received the name Jajidongcheon ({{Korean|hangul=자지동천|hanja=紫芝洞泉|labels=no}}), which would evolve into Jajudong.<ref name=":0" />
== External links ==
* [https://parks.seoul.go.kr/maps/naksan/naksan_map_KR&EN.pdf Naksan Park Tourist Leaflet (in Korean and English)] * [https://parks.seoul.go.kr/template/sub/naksan.do Naksan Park - Seoul City Government (in Korean)] * [https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/rgnContentsView.do?vcontsId=106941 Naksan Park - VisitKorea.net (in English)]
== Gallery == {{Gallery |File:Naksan Park 2.jpg |Naksan Park (2019) |File:낙산공원.jpg |Night view (2019) |File:서울 한양도성(서울 漢陽都城, Fortress Wall of Seoul) 2011년 11월 대한민국 서울특별시 명소 (Seoul best attractions) 사본 -낙산야경1-1.jpg |Fortress wall along the mountain (2011) }}
==See also== *[[List of mountains in Korea]] *[[List of parks in Seoul]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Seoul parks}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Mountains of Seoul]] [[Category:Downtown Seoul]] [[Category:Jongno District]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Seoul]] [[Category:Parks in Seoul]] {{SouthKorea-mountain-stub}}