FROM PALGAKJOENG TO SEONGBUK 2nd REDEVELOP ZONE

On Saturday, May 29^th , 2009 at 13.00 KDI time, we got off from KDI main gate to go somewhere. Around one kilometer rode car we did not decide yet, where we were going to. After five minutes left Mr. Chae just persuade to go to Palgakjoeng, the small mountain that similar to Namsan (남산). The reason to choose that place is from the top of mountain we will see the great view to the surrounding areas. Trip to the Palgakjoeng took around thirty minutes from KDI. Along the way we got beyond the forest either in right and left side. Sometimes we met 아주머니 and 아저씨 were walking to get the top of mountain, so exhausted activity but good for health. In the deep of our heart ask question, are we able to do the same activity when we get old as them right now?

At 13.30 we got there and took off from car and inhaled fresh air. Mountain ambiance filled in our minds and drew us up to the upstairs of building. Parking Lot in the second level was almost full. People enjoyed the magnificent atmosphere whilst drinking coffee or tea and eating some snack, on the other hand they were looking into the panoramic of surroundings Bukak Palgakjoeng. The information about Palgakjeong that we have got is Character : Relaxation and climbing for the neighborhood, Major facility : Palgakjeong; Area : 1,667,848㎡, Address : San 6-78, Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu

According to the information of Jungno-Gu website, Bukhansan has been called Samgaksan as three peaks of Begundae(836m), Insubong(810m) and Gukmangbong (Mangyeongdae 800m) stand in triangle shape. It was also called Hwasan or Buaak.. Bukhansan is a mountain difficult to climb as it is steep and rugged, but the scenery in 40km radius to all directions from the top of Begundae, the main peak of Bukhansan, is splendid indeed.

In the middle of parking area, stand the traditional Korean Building that has two storeys. Recently such building occupied by private company restaurant. We did not ask who the owner. But the presence of building adds attractive value of Palgakjoeng. If you stand on those building at the second floor, it offers a great overlook of Seoul city and magnificent natural beauty of the surroundings. You can take a great view of the downtown at a small park in the middle of the drive course.

We took pictures along the mountain, and we saw far away from our stand position residential area for rich people and for foreigner on the south east, named Seongbuk-dong (성북구동) and Pyeongchang-dong (평창동)

Seongbuk 2^nd Redevelop Zone

The area located not far from the prestige residential area Seongbuk-dong and Pyeongchang-dong. Trip to Seongbuk 2^nd Redevelop Zone took fifteen minutes from Seongbuk-dong or twenty minutes from Palgakjoeng. Most of building in the right and left side are has high fences mean owned by rich people. But contradict condition after we get the top of Seongbuk 2^nd. We found a lot of vacant land that unprofessionally planted vegetables and small houses. Contrastly compare with the surrounding residential area.

Then we checked the data related to history and additional information of Seongbuk-dong. It had belonged to district called as Sunginbang and Inchangbang, as one outer part of the capital Seoul from 1396 (the fifth year of King Taejo, the Joseon Dynasty) until it was changed to Seungin-myeon, Goyang-gun, Gyeonggi-do by reshuffle of administrative district in 1914. Seongbuk-gu (district) was established in 1949 by incorporating Donam-dong and Anan-dong of Dongdaemun-gu and Seongbuk-dong of Jongno-gu and one part of Seungin-myeon, Goyang-gun, Gyeonggi-do.

As the ‘hub town’ of the north-eastern part of Seoul, Seongbuk-dong is the place where people can experience the beauty of tradition with its diverse historic sites and cultural assets such as Seoul Fortress, Mt. Bugak, Seonjam-danji and so on.

Seongbuk-dong has two type residential area that are high class residential villages nestling under the Bukhan Mountain located in the northern part of Seoul.The big advantages of these areas are their beautiful surroundings and pleasant downtown atmosphere along with fresh air of the wooded mountain, while each area has good access to free from traffic jam. Most houses are relatively large single dwellings with beautiful gardens. A number of foreign ambassadors and foreign business executives has their residences in these areas Seoul Foreign School bus commutes between.

- Seongbuk-dong (성북구동)

This is a residential area with many large houses and expensive villas. Many of the area has large houses are leased as embassy buildings, while its villas are preferred by executives of multinational companies. The official residence of some European ambassadors and the Japanese ambassador are in this area, which is near the Bukak Skyway and other tourist attractions. Wolse (Monthly rent): 8 million~13 million won for single family house; 3.5 million~5 million won for villas; 3 million~8 million for medium sized single family house.

- Pyeongchang-dong (평창동)

This area is known for its expensive single family house and villas. Large houses are leased as embassy offices, while villas are rented to executives of foreign corporations. The embassies of many South American and African countries are in the Pyeongchang -dong area, which has convenient access to downtown Seoul Wolse(Monthly rent): 5 million~7 million won for single family house; 7 million~9 million won for villas; 9 million~12 million for large houses

Talk about Seongbuk 2^nd Redevelop Zone, to access the site we can use subway line no.4 Sungshin Woman University station or Line no. 6 Bomun Station.