Seoul Grand Park

Introducing Seoul Grand Park

The zoo (02-500 7114; grandpark.seoul.go.kr; adult/youth/child W3000/2000/1000; 9am-7pm Apr-Sep, 9am-6pm Oct-Mar) in the park is set among the forested hillsides south of Seoul. A river runs through the park and families picnic along its shady banks. You can hike along a number of marked trails which are 2km to 6km long. Admission is cheaper from November to March (adult/youth/child W1500/1200/700).

The zoo is home to a long list of exotic creatures including the popular African ones, and has a long history of breeding successes, including tigers and panda bears. Cage quality varies: some are lush and green (especially the aviary), others are muddy and a bit depressing. The zoo features cranes, swans, pelicans and other large birds, and an indoor botanic garden houses a forest of cacti, numerous orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants. Ants and swimming beetles are on display in a ‘miniature creature’ exhibit, plus there’s ‘Squirrel Plaza’ and other displays.

A fun dolphin-and-seal show costs W1500 and shows three to four times per day. If you still haven’t gotten your fill of animal shows, you can watch a girl dressed in pink chase flamingos around to the cheers of kids and crowds. It’s cute, and the birds probably need a little exercise, but they don’t do much more than run around.

The large and striking National Museum of Contemporary Art (02-2188 6000; www.moca.go.kr; adult/youth/child W1000/500/free; 9am-6pm Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm Nov-Feb) is spread over three floors and also has sculptures in the garden. You are unlikely to miss one exhibit: a huge pagoda-shaped video installation that is 18m high and uses 1000 flickering screens to make a comment on our increasingly electronic universe. It’s the work of Paik Nam-june, a video artist with an international reputation, and is entitled The More the Better. Free films are shown on Saturday during August, concerts are held in July and music and dance performances are put on in October. To get there, walk up to the entrance of Seoul Grand Park and bear left.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009