마음의 풍경을 따라 / Following the Landscapes of the Heart

마음속 풍경을 색으로 담아내듯, 글로 그려나가는 나의 이야기. 지나온 시간 속 기억의 조각들을 글로 엮어, 마음속 여행을 이어갑니다.

Seoul Walking Tour

Getting Lost to Be Found: Seoul Dulle-gil Course 4: Mangwoo & Yongmasan

happyshinfamily 2025. 4. 23. 07:22

Quiet Mornings, Wandering Feet

 

I visit Korea every year to see my parents — my father is now too old to fly to the States, so I make the journey instead.

On these visits — and likely on future ones — I’ve minimized social plans: just a little time with friends, minimal shopping, and hardly any of the typical sightseeing.

This time, I decided to spend my mornings and early afternoons hiking, returning home around 2 p.m. to spend the rest of the day with my parents. It was a balance that felt right — a way to explore while keeping my priorities close to heart.


This is the story of my first hiking path in Seoul, taken just a day after I landed.

I googled good hiking routes in the city and came across the Seoul Trail (서울둘레길, Seoul Dulle-gil) — a 157 km network of walking paths that encircle the city. It sounded fantastic. Without much deliberation, I picked Course #4 Course 4: Mangwoo (망우) & Yongmasan(용마산). The online maps made it look like a straightforward route, so I set off, expecting an easy stroll.

But the path had other plans.

The district (or gu) where Course #4 winds through wasn’t exactly generous with signage, and the area was crisscrossed with scenic trails — each one tempting me to veer off course.

To add to the adventure, my mobile internet wasn’t working due to an issue with my provider. So navigating became a game of pause, guess, ask, get a little lost... and eventually find my way again.

It was confusing, sure — but also surprisingly fun. It felt like Seoul was playfully challenging me to discover it in my own way.


Several hours later, I found myself standing at the top of Yongmabong (용마봉).

The climb wasn’t difficult, but after hours of wandering — and on my first full day in Korea — it felt like a real achievement.

The view, the crisp air, the peaceful silence... it made every twist and turn along the way feel worth it.

 

Hwarangdae Station (화랑대역)
This is a map in Hwarangdae Station (화랑대역), which is near where Course #4 of the Seoul Trail is supposed to begin. At first, though, I think I accidentally followed part of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail (경춘선 숲길) instead. It was a peaceful, tree-lined path — and honestly, I didn’t question it at the time. Later on in my trip, I walked along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail (경의선 숲길) and finally realized: these are two completely different walking trails. But on that day, fresh off the plane and just excited to walk, I had no idea.
Just outside of Hwarangdae Station (화랑대역) on a quiet Sunday early morning
Only later did I notice the sign — plain as day — reading Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail (경춘선 숲길).

 

I arrived at 육군사관학교 (Korea Military Academy), but something didn’t feel quite right. I was looking for the starting point of Course #4, where you’re supposed to get a stamp, but I wasn’t sure where to go next.

I asked a few people who were walking around, but they seemed to be strolling through the neighborhood without any particular path in mind. Their answers were vague, and no one seemed to know exactly where the trail began.

Finally, I met a couple who were familiar with the Seoul Dulle-gil. They told me that I was in the wrong place and needed to walk back to where I had started.

At that moment, I realized I had gotten off track — but it was all part of the adventure

육군사관학교 (Korea Military Academy)

 

Let the adventure actually begin!

After more than an hour of wandering... I finally found the real starting point. Now we're really doing this!
At this point, I got lost again and asked a lady for help. She didn’t know about the Seoul Dulle-gil either, but she looked it up and kindly pointed me in the right direction.

 

 

I arrived at Sinnae Station (신내역) as the lady suggested and just needed to head toward Yangwon Station (양원역). At the time, I had a feeling something was off, but I didn’t realize I was on the wrong side of Sinnae Station. Only later, while writing this blog and looking at maps, did I realize I had gone the opposite way. I did manage to get from point to point on Course #4 — just not by the path I was supposed to take.

Still, different path or not — I enjoyed every step of it.
Made it to another checkpoint — Jungnang Camping Forest (중랑캠핑숲).
Guri Dulle-gil (구리둘래길)? Where am I?
Seoul Dulle-gil meets Guri Dulle-gil — side by side on the trail.
Mangu History & Culture Park (망우역사문화공원)
Yu Gwan-sun (유관순) - Last words
I finally reached the end of Seoul Dulle-gil Course #4 — with a few detours along the way.

 

 

Yongmasan (용마산)

 

Even after finishing the path, I felt like walking a bit more — so I headed up to Yongmasan (용마산). It was totally worth it. My legs, however, had other opinions.

 

 

A Walk Back to Myself

 

It was totally worth it.

I’m usually someone who sets plans — and sticks to them. But this time, I was completely free of that. No tight schedule. No rush. Just walking.

As I wandered, I remembered how much I used to love walking when I was younger. Somewhere along the way, that habit got replaced by long hours sitting in a chair.

But out there — surrounded by nature, quietly moving through unfamiliar paths — I felt something I hadn’t in a long time.

It was more than just a walk. It was a small return to myself.