Instead of costly energy, use your own!

IF YOU had a busy summer and lost the chance to take a trip during the vacation, refresh your mind this weekend by spending some time around places with scenic views and serene atmospheres. You do not have to seek for exoticism, but explore places that are accessible by public transportation and on foot. So, how about renewing your tired mind by walking through some hidden havens of Seoul?
 
1. Naksan Park
- Line 4, Hyehwa Station, exit 2
Perched on Mt. Naksan, Naksan Park makes visitors constantly walk uphill, but allows them to have a full view of downtown Seoul. Walking along the remaining castle wall of Seoul, you can feel as if you are strolling into the past days of Seoul. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the central square from Hyehwa Station.
 
*Notice
- No entrance fee, but parking fee is required. (300 per 10 minutes)
- No shops in the park. Tip: vending machine at the central square.
   - At the central square: badminton rackets and shuttlecocks available, Naksan Gallery
 
   
 
  Naksan Park  
 
2. Kilsangsa (Kilsang Temple)
- Line 4, Hansung Univ. Station, Exit 6 → Take a taxi to Kilsangsa (about 1,900)
Located in the middle of a quiet street of Seongbuk-dong, Kilsangsa is a perfect place to forget about the daily routines that put pressure on you. The House of Silence at Kilsangsa is open to anyone wishing to engage in religious purification or meditation.
 
   
 
  Kilsangsa  
 
* Temple Stay
- For whom: those who are able to practice and study the Zen tradition for eight hours
- When: once a month, 4th Saturday and Sunday
- Cost: 30,000
- Contact http://www.kilsangsa.or.kr/, 02)3672-5945~6
 
3. Achasan Ecological Park
- Line 5, Achasan Station, Exit 2 → Walk along Yeonghwasagil until Dongeui Elementary School.
Achasan Ecological Park is an ideal place to enjoy the rustic charm of the countryside without going too far into the woods. The paths at the Wild Botanical Garden are covered with yellow earth, and a number of pavilions are built, creating a pastoral atmosphere. The ecological park encompasses other places, such as the Butterfly Garden, the Marshy Garden, and the Pine Tree Forest.
 
   
 
  Achasan Ecological Park  
 
Box 1: The secret of healthy walking revealed by Jung Sung-yeol
“Walking style decides one’s body shape. Most people who have abdominal obesity stand and walk with their feet wide open. Widened legs allow people to relax their upper body, and therefore increase fat in the abdomen. The distance between the feet should be equal to, or narrower than, the width of the pelvis. Simply by walking right, you can shake off the old fat that you have been living with.”
- From an interview with Jung Sung-yeol, a Guinness Book of Records title holder for walking on the treadmill for twelve consecutive hours.
저작권자 © The Yonsei Annals 무단전재 및 재배포 금지