60 years after being restricted to the public, the last unopened section of Bukaksan will be fully opened to citizens starting at 9 a.m. on the 17th.
According to the Presidential Security Service, a 1.32 km section in the southwestern Cheongun-dong area will be accessible from today.
This initiative is part of the government's commitment to the principles of 'open security and low security,' which aims to respect the daily lives and convenience of citizens.
With this opening, the phased opening of Bukaksan's trails will be completed. In January 2020, the first phase opened 2.2 km of trails in the northern area, followed by the second phase in 2022, which opened 3.0 km in the southeastern area.
Since July of last year, the security service has been preparing for the establishment and maintenance of the trails and safety measures in collaboration with relevant agencies. The Cultural Heritage Administration supported the creation of a hiking environment that allows people to appreciate the value of Bukaksan, while Jongno District assisted with the trail installation project.
The newly opened section, like the existing trails, will be accessible 24 hours a day without any time restrictions. The security service plans to ensure the safety of hikers through patrols and the operation of closed-circuit television (CCTV).
On the 7th, a joint firefighting drill was conducted in the newly opened area with the participation of the Jongno Fire Station, the Korea Forest Service, Jongno District Office, and the Jongno Police Station to prepare for potential forest fires.
Bukaksan, which encompasses the Blue House, has been off-limits to the public since January 1968, following an attempted attack on the Blue House by armed infiltrators from North Korea, known as the 'Kim Shin-jo incident.'
Former President Moon Jae-in promised during his 2017 presidential campaign to fully open Bukaksan and Inwangsan to citizens.
After taking office, he oversaw the opening of the 2.2 km northern trail in 2020 and the 3.0 km southeastern trail in April 2022, gradually reducing the restricted areas. With the opening of the last unopened section in the southwestern area, the trail opening project is now complete.
Hwang In-gwon, head of the Presidential Security Service, stated, "Through the opening of this third phase of the unopened section, we can fully return Bukaksan to the people. We will continue to actively implement the principles of 'open security and low security' in the field, respecting the daily lives and spaces of citizens while evolving into a security agency that breathes with them."
According to the Presidential Security Service, a 1.32 km section in the southwestern Cheongun-dong area will be accessible from today.
This initiative is part of the government's commitment to the principles of 'open security and low security,' which aims to respect the daily lives and convenience of citizens.
With this opening, the phased opening of Bukaksan's trails will be completed. In January 2020, the first phase opened 2.2 km of trails in the northern area, followed by the second phase in 2022, which opened 3.0 km in the southeastern area.
Since July of last year, the security service has been preparing for the establishment and maintenance of the trails and safety measures in collaboration with relevant agencies. The Cultural Heritage Administration supported the creation of a hiking environment that allows people to appreciate the value of Bukaksan, while Jongno District assisted with the trail installation project.
The newly opened section, like the existing trails, will be accessible 24 hours a day without any time restrictions. The security service plans to ensure the safety of hikers through patrols and the operation of closed-circuit television (CCTV).
On the 7th, a joint firefighting drill was conducted in the newly opened area with the participation of the Jongno Fire Station, the Korea Forest Service, Jongno District Office, and the Jongno Police Station to prepare for potential forest fires.
Bukaksan, which encompasses the Blue House, has been off-limits to the public since January 1968, following an attempted attack on the Blue House by armed infiltrators from North Korea, known as the 'Kim Shin-jo incident.'
Former President Moon Jae-in promised during his 2017 presidential campaign to fully open Bukaksan and Inwangsan to citizens.
After taking office, he oversaw the opening of the 2.2 km northern trail in 2020 and the 3.0 km southeastern trail in April 2022, gradually reducing the restricted areas. With the opening of the last unopened section in the southwestern area, the trail opening project is now complete.
Hwang In-gwon, head of the Presidential Security Service, stated, "Through the opening of this third phase of the unopened section, we can fully return Bukaksan to the people. We will continue to actively implement the principles of 'open security and low security' in the field, respecting the daily lives and spaces of citizens while evolving into a security agency that breathes with them."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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