Forest library, media waterfall and summit observatory to be linked along single trail; district expects up to 1 billion won in city funding
Baebongsan in Dongdaemun-gu is set to become a premier nighttime tourism and leisure destination for northeastern Seoul.
Dongdaemun-gu announced that its project "A Night at Baebongsan — Walk, Read and See" has been selected as one of 10 final sites under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2026 Seoul Starlight Landmark program, an initiative aimed at developing nighttime attractions across the city.
The program, launched this year to boost Seoul's nighttime economy, drew 27 applications from 21 autonomous districts. Following document reviews and on-site evaluations, 10 projects were chosen. Dongdaemun-gu is now eligible to receive up to 1 billion won ($746,000) in city funding through a subsequent assessment.
The centerpiece of the project is connecting Baebongsan's scattered nighttime attractions along a single walking route.
The mountain already has several facilities suited for nighttime use — a forest library, a waterfall feature with a media facade, and a summit observatory. The lack of connectivity between them, however, has kept nighttime visitor numbers well below daytime levels.
The district plans to first upgrade the nighttime walking trail by installing LED pedestrian lights and landscape lighting, and by adding safety infrastructure to make the forest path accessible after dark.
The trail will be directly linked to the Baebongsan Forest Library, which stays open until 10 p.m., allowing visitors to stop and read during their walk. The viewing environment around the waterfall's media facade and the night-view space at the summit observatory will also be improved.
The project also aims to channel nighttime visitors into the local economy. By extending the time visitors spend on the mountain, the district hopes to draw foot traffic to nearby dining and shopping areas, including the Jeonnong Baebongsan Restaurant Street and the Jeongok alley commercial district.
"By weaving together three pleasures — walking, reading and seeing — along a single forest trail, we will help Baebongsan grow into a nighttime landmark representing northeastern Seoul while also energizing the surrounding commercial areas," said Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min.
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