Buamdong (부암동) is a quiet yet famous area in Northern Seoul, located in a valley between the two mountains of Inwangsan and Bugaksan. It is an incredibly picturesque place and a very welcome break from the hectic atmosphere of downtown Seoul. Get in a taxi for fifteen minutes and it feels as though you have travelled to the other side of the country – it doesn’t feel at all like the Seoul we all know. There is real-life fresh air, hills, trees, beautiful autumn leaves and the tranquil feeling of an untouched area that isn’t included on the traditional tours of Seoul. Unusually, people predominantly live in two-storey houses in Buamdong, instead of the identikit apartment blocks that characterise the rest of the residential parts of Seoul.
When I was there I was on a mission exploring the coffee shops in the area, but for those of you feeling a little more adventurous and athletic you could take the opportunity to hike up the Seoul Fortress walls and reach the top of Mt. Inwangsan. The main gate entrance to Buamdong (부암동) is Changuimun (창의문) and was built in 1396 when Seoul became the capital under the Joseon Dynasty. As you can see from the photographs below, these days only peace and tranquility reign over the once violent history of the area.
To visit Buamdong you will need to get to Gyeongbokgung Station and leave through exit 5. Either walk 20mins towards Changuimun Gate, take one of the 1020, 7022 or 0212 buses or get in a taxi.
