Worldcup Park & Sangam — Seoul's Best Sunset District

Most visitors to Seoul stick to the usual spots — Gyeongbokgung, Myeongdong, Hongdae. But head northwest to Sangam-dong and you'll find one of the city's most quietly rewarding areas: a cluster of parks with sweeping views, tree-lined trails, and a whole neighbourhood built from scratch that feels nothing like the rest of Seoul.

The metasequoia trail

What Is Worldcup Park — and Why Does It Exist?

Worldcup Park (월드컵공원) isn't one park — it's five, all sitting on land that used to be one of the world's largest landfills. From 1978 to 1993, the area known as Nanjido was where Seoul buried its garbage. Over 90 million tons of it, piled into hills nearly 100 metres high. By the time landfill operations ended, the site was essentially a toxic wasteland.

What happened next is remarkable. Over years of ecological restoration work, the city transformed those garbage heaps into green parkland in time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The result is five distinct parks: Haneul (하늘) Park, Noeul (노을) Park, Pyeonghwa (평화의) Park, Nanjicheon (난지천) Park, and Nanji Hangang Park. Each has its own character, but Haneul and Noeul are the ones most visitors come to see.

Key Info

The name Haneul (하늘) means "sky" — it's the highest point in the park. Noeul (노을) means "sunset glow." Both names tell you exactly what they're best for. Entrance to all five parks is free.

Haneul Park — Sky Views and Autumn Pampas Grass

Haneul Park sits at the top of the old landfill hill, and getting up there is half the experience. You can climb 291 steps on foot, or take the electric shuttle bus (맹꽁이차) that runs up the slope. Once you're at the top, the views open up over the Han River, Namsan Seoul Tower, and Bukhansan in the distance.

The park is beautiful year-round, but autumn is when it really pulls crowds. Every October, the pampas grass festival (서울억새축제, Seoul Eulalia Festival) draws visitors to see the vast fields of silver grass swaying in the wind. It's the kind of scene that feels cinematic in real life — and yes, it looks exactly like a K-drama establishing shot.

On the way up to Haneul Park, just before the main staircase, you'll find the metasequoia trail — a dirt path lined with tall, straight trees that create a green canopy overhead. It's only about 900 metres long but genuinely lovely, and popular with photographers in every season. In 2026, a new 1km section was added on the Noeul Park side, extending the trail to 2.3km in total.

Personal Take

I went to Noeul Park maybe ten years ago now, when the metasequoia trail was already getting a lot of attention online. I'd heard there was a more famous one somewhere else in the country, but honestly the trip felt like a lot — so we came here instead. I had the kids with me, and they were little at the time. The trail itself is calm and pretty, easy enough to walk without anyone complaining too much about their feet. The kids weren't exactly thrilled — no playground, no snacks, just trees — but for me it was exactly the kind of quiet that's hard to find in Seoul. I also visited Noeul Camping Ground once, before my youngest was born. We didn't stay the night — we went to grill meat, which is honestly one of the best ways to spend an afternoon there. I brought my older two kids along with a group of their friends, and they had the best time just running around in all that open space. It's the kind of place where children can actually stretch out properly. You do need to book in advance though — it fills up fast.

Noeul Park — Seoul's Best Sunset Spot

Noeul Park is slightly lower than Haneul, but what it offers is arguably more special: the best sunset views in Seoul. The western-facing slopes look out over the Han River and the city skyline, and on a clear evening the sky puts on a proper show. The name says it all.

The park is quieter and less visited than Haneul, which is part of its appeal. The paths are wide and flat enough for strollers, and the overall atmosphere is more of a leisurely wander than a hike. There's also a camping ground (노을캠핑장, Noeul Camping Ground) here if you want to stay into the evening for a barbecue — booking through the Seoul public reservation system is required, and spots go quickly on weekends.

Tip

For sunset, aim to arrive at Noeul Park around 30–40 minutes before the sun goes down so you can find a good spot. In autumn, combine a morning visit to Haneul Park for the pampas grass, then walk over to Noeul in the late afternoon for the golden hour light.

Sangam-dong — A Neighbourhood Built From Scratch

Most people don't realise that the neighbourhood right next to the parks — Sangam-dong — is basically a planned new town inside Seoul. It feels noticeably different from the rest of the city: wide roads, modern buildings, clean pavements, lots of open space. It was developed in the early 2000s as part of the same urban regeneration project that created the parks.

What makes Sangam interesting beyond its layout is that it's home to Digital Media City (DMC), Seoul's broadcasting and media hub. MBC, YTN, and other major Korean broadcasters are all based here. The MBC building has a glass-walled radio studio at street level — the "Garden Radio Studio" — where you can literally watch live broadcasts happening through the window. There's also Star Park outside the MBC building, where celebrity handprints are set in cement.

For K-pop fans specifically, Sangam-dong is worth a visit in its own right. Mnet's M Countdown — one of Korea's biggest weekly music chart shows — is filmed at the CJ ENM Center here every Thursday. MBC also records music broadcasts from this area. If the timing is right, you might catch performances on large outdoor screens, or spot idols heading in and out of the buildings. It's the kind of thing that makes Sangam feel like a working media district rather than just a place to pass through.

For more on getting around the city, check out our guide on First Time in Seoul and how to ride the Seoul Metro like a local.

Heads Up

Worldcup Park is not the easiest place to reach. The nearest station is World Cup Stadium Station (월드컵경기장역) on Line 6, Exit 1 — then about a 10–15 minute walk to the park entrance. There's parking available if you're driving, but on autumn festival weekends it fills up extremely fast.

How to Plan Your Visit

A half-day is enough to cover the parks comfortably. Start at the metasequoia trail near Haneul Park, take the stairs or shuttle to the top for the views, then make your way over to Noeul Park in the afternoon. After that, walk down into Sangam-dong for the DMC area — there are plenty of cafés and restaurants along the main streets if you need to refuel.

The parks are open year-round, but the best seasons are spring (April–May, for greenery and mild weather) and autumn (October, for the pampas grass festival). Summer works too if you go early in the morning before the heat sets in. Wear comfortable shoes — the paths are mostly paved but there are slopes involved.