Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang (팔각당 오름광장) is a stepped plaza at the highest point of Seoul Children’s Grand Park, 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The park is open every day from 05:00 to 22:00 and entry is free, so an evening stop for night views over the park and the city is easy to fit in. The closest way in is the back gate, reached from Exit 4 of Achasan Station on Subway Line 5.
What Is Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang at Seoul Children’s Grand Park?
Palgakdang is a hanok-style building that dates back to 1973. For the park’s 50th anniversary it was remodeled into a multipurpose cultural space. During that work the steps in front of the building were redone and given a new name, Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang. “Oreum” refers to climbing up and “gwangjang” means plaza, which suits a set of steps you walk up.
The building now holds the Palgakdang café, a kids’ café, an observation deck, a seminar room and the park history hall (대공원역사관). The walls of the observation deck have an exhibition on the park’s 50-year history, and there’s a photo zone outside the front of the building.
Best Night View Spots Around Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang
Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang
The plaza is the highest point in the park. Because building heights are restricted in the surrounding area, a short climb up the steps gives you a view across both the park and the city, and after dark the skyline opens up. Once the sun sets, indirect lighting comes on and the plaza feels calmer than it does in the daytime.
Kkumnarae Jeongwon (꿈나래정원)
Walk past the Kkummaru (꿈마루) building and a little further on you’ll reach Kkumnarae Jeongwon, a barrier-free inclusive garden built so that everyone can get around easily, with or without a disability. The paths are wide and smoothly paved, and there are tables and benches for breaks. It makes for a slow evening walk among some unusual sculptures.
The Fine-Dust Reduction Forest (미세먼지 저감숲)
This picnic area was planted with 1,000 trees chosen to help reduce fine dust, a joint project with Lotte Home Shopping and the Environmental Foundation (환경재단). Its centerpiece is a globe sculpture made from upcycled plastic bottle caps. When the lights come on at night, it becomes the park’s best-known evening photo spot.
Seoul Children’s Grand Park Hours and Admission
The park is open all year with no closing days, and admission is free. It closes at 22:00, so plan to finish your night-view walk before then.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Park hours | Daily 05:00–22:00 (open year-round) |
| Zoo hours | 10:00–17:00 |
| Admission | Free |
| Address | 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul |
| Main phone | 02-450-9311 |
| Website | https://www.sisul.or.kr/open_content/childrenpark/ |
Before You Go
- Autumn festival: The park’s autumn festival, Danpung Mudeun Keullaesik (단풍 물든 클래식, roughly “classical music in autumn colors”), runs from September 19 to November 7.
- Road closures: On Sunday, November 1, roads around the park will be closed for the JTBC Seoul Marathon.
- Botanical garden closed: The botanical garden is closed for remodeling from May 27, 2026 until the second half of 2027 (planned).
Palgakdang Kids’ Café Prices
A July 2023 article listed the Palgakdang kids’ café at 3,000 KRW (~$2.20 USD) per child and 1,500 KRW (~$1.10 USD) per guardian for two hours. Check the official information for current prices before you visit.
| Visitor | Price (2 hours, as of July 2023) |
|---|---|
| Child | 3,000 KRW (~$2.20 USD) |
| Guardian | 1,500 KRW (~$1.10 USD) |
Renting the Palgakdang Exhibition Room
The Palgakdang exhibition room (211.22㎡) is used for art exhibitions and small cultural performances such as plays. Rental applications go through Seoul’s public service reservation site (yeyak.seoul.go.kr), and each application is reviewed before approval. For inquiries, call 02-450-9356.
How to Get to Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang
Palgakdang is closer to the back gate than the main gate. Exit 4 of Achasan Station (Line 5) brings you out on the back gate side, while Exit 1 of Children’s Grand Park Station (Line 7) puts you at the main gate. Walking from the main gate to the back gate takes about 20 minutes.
By Subway
| Line | Station & exit | Arrives at | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 5 | Achasan Station, Exit 4 | Back gate | Closer to Palgakdang |
| Line 7 | Children’s Grand Park Station, Exit 1 | Main gate | About a 20-minute walk to the back gate |
By Bus
Stop names are given with the Korean so you can match them to signs and announcements.
| Side | Bus numbers | Get off at |
|---|---|---|
| Back gate | 130, 370, 2311 | Eorinidaegongwon Humun Achasan Station (어린이대공원후문아차산역) |
| Back gate | 320 | Eorinidaegongwon Humun (어린이대공원후문) |
| Back gate | 2221, 9301, 9403 | Eorinidaegongwon Achasan Station (어린이대공원아차산역) |
| Main gate | 721 | Eorinidaegongwon-ap (Sejong University) (어린이대공원앞(세종대학교)) |
| Main gate | 3216, 4212 | Eorinidaegongwon-ap (어린이대공원앞) |
| Main gate | 2222, 3220 | Children’s Grand Park Station (Hwayang Catholic Church) (어린이대공원역(화양천주교회)) |
| Main gate | 302 | Geondae-ap (건대앞) |
Travel times and fares from places like Seoul Station or Incheon International Airport, as well as taxi fares, couldn’t be confirmed from official sources, so they aren’t listed here. In a map app, set your destination to Achasan Station (Line 5) or Children’s Grand Park Station (Line 7).
Parking
The park has four parking lots with 979 spaces in total, and the back gate lot is the closest to Palgakdang. The park opens at 05:00, but the parking lots only run from 09:00 to 22:00.
| Parking lot | Spaces |
|---|---|
| Main gate | 89 |
| Seoul Sangsangnara (서울상상나라) | 305 |
| Back gate | 250 |
| Guui Gate (구의문) | 335 |
| Total | 979 |
| Vehicle type | Rate (per 5 minutes) |
|---|---|
| Passenger car | 150 KRW (~$0.11 USD) |
| Mid-size vehicle | 300 KRW (~$0.22 USD) |
| Large vehicle | 450 KRW (~$0.34 USD) |
| Discount eligibility | Discount |
|---|---|
| Compact and low-emission cars | 50% |
| People with disabilities, wounded national merit recipients, etc. | 80% |
| Holders of Seoul’s Dadungi Haengbok Card (multi-child family card; driver only) | 50% |
If you qualify for more than one discount, only the highest one applies.
Tips for a Night Visit to Seoul Children’s Grand Park
- Use the back gate. Palgakdang is near the back gate (the Achasan Station side, Line 5). Walking over from the main gate takes about 20 minutes.
- Finish before 22:00. The park and the parking lots both close at 22:00. If you want to see Oreum Gwangjang, Kkumnarae Jeongwon and the fine-dust reduction forest in one evening, leave yourself enough time.
- Driving? Park at the back gate lot. It’s the closest lot to Palgakdang.
- Watch for closures on Sunday, November 1. Roads around the park will be closed for the JTBC Seoul Marathon.
- Skip the botanical garden. It’s closed for remodeling until the second half of 2027 (planned).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gate is closest to Palgakdang Oreum Gwangjang?
The back gate. Exit 4 of Achasan Station on Line 5 brings you out on the back gate side. If you come out of Exit 1 of Children’s Grand Park Station on Line 7, you’ll be at the main gate, and the walk from there to the back gate takes about 20 minutes.
Is there an admission fee for Seoul Children’s Grand Park?
No, admission is free. If you drive, you’ll pay for parking separately.
What are the opening hours of Seoul Children’s Grand Park?
The park is open daily from 05:00 to 22:00. It has no closing days, and the zoo is open from 10:00 to 17:00.
How much is parking at Seoul Children’s Grand Park, and where are the lots?
Parking costs 150 KRW (~$0.11 USD) per 5 minutes for a passenger car. There are four lots, at the main gate, Seoul Sangsangnara, the back gate and Guui Gate, with 979 spaces in total, open from 09:00 to 22:00. The back gate lot is closest to Palgakdang.
How much does the Palgakdang kids’ café cost?
According to a July 2023 article, two hours cost 3,000 KRW (~$2.20 USD) per child and 1,500 KRW (~$1.10 USD) per guardian. Check the official information for current prices before you go.
What’s inside Palgakdang?
A café, a kids’ café, an observation deck, a seminar room and the park history hall. The walls of the observation deck have an exhibition on the park’s 50-year history, and there’s a photo zone in front of the building.
Can I visit the botanical garden at Seoul Children’s Grand Park right now?
No. The botanical garden is closed for remodeling from May 27, 2026 until the second half of 2027 (planned).
Which bus stop should I get off at?
For Palgakdang, get off at a stop on the back gate side. Take buses 130, 370 or 2311 to Eorinidaegongwon Humun Achasan Station (어린이대공원후문아차산역), bus 320 to Eorinidaegongwon Humun (어린이대공원후문), or buses 2221, 9301 or 9403 to Eorinidaegongwon Achasan Station (어린이대공원아차산역).
