The recently-opened Dream Forest has been on my list since it first opened, although it wasn’t until even more recently that the construction crews finished. Once the site of a theme park named ‘Dream Park’, 북서울꿈의숲 (buk-Seo-ul-ggum-ui-sup) has an appropriate English name of ‘Dream Forest’. The more developed part sits between two relatively small mountains, which have their own sets of walking trails worth checking out if you’re in the hiking mood. The Korea Herald did a report on this newly-opened area, which gives a lot of details about what to expect.
The Design Seoul Gallery above tells the story of the Dream Forest, from creation to future plans for the fourth-largest park in Seoul – unfortunately, it’s entirely in Korean and no English information was available on my multiple trips there. Enjoy the sights, but understanding will be at a premium unless you’re good at Korean.
A zig-zag path leads to a pond and a waterfall about 7 meters high. Take some steps up a few flights to the right (not pictured), and you’ll get more of a birds-eye view:
On either side of the newly-constructed area are two smaller mountains – Opaesan and Byeogosan. Neither are especially noteworthy or high, and the maps scattered throughout the trails can give you a good idea of where to go. We’ll stay on the beaten trail for now.
After exploring one side of the Dream Forest and climbing the stairs, there’s another side to the forest. A botanical garden (not pictured, since it won’t look like much considering the season) and some spotted deer were the highlights:
They’re surrounded by a fence, but a foot bridge allows the humans to feel almost like they’re in the forest with them. A nearby vending machine sells boxes of deer food for 1,000 won, although none of the deer tried to approach humans for food.
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A playground in front of another entrance, and the aforementioned observatory:
That’s either a lot of stairs or a wait for a 45-degree-slanted elevator. The 2nd floor on the way up to the top offers some gallery space:
Once at the top – a trip that involves multiple elevator rides – the view is quite nice:
Everything seems so small; it won’t replace the Seoul Tower’s excellent 360-degree view of the city, but it’s still a chance to see things from a higher ground.
It’s worth the visit if you’re already in this northeastern part of Seoul or enjoy a more authentic forest than other parks around the city. It’s already an excellent date place – with premium coffee available in multiple places, it may even work as a winter outing. If looking for a serious mountain hike through a forest you’ll be disappointed at the brevity of the trails; more casual hikers and nature lovers like myself will enjoy that you’re never too far away from the main road.
Directions to Dream Forest: take line 4 of the Seoul subway system to the Miasamgeori station. Take exit 1 to street level, then take bus 9 or 11 to Dream Forest. It’s about a 10 minute bus ride, and stops right in front of the Dream Forest. Bus 149 goes to the Dream Forest from Seoul Station, while bus 144 stops at the Dream Forest from the Gangnam station area.
