Bugaksan

Bugaksan is a mountain in the north of Seoul, South Korea. It famously overlooks the former royal palace Gyeongbokgung as well as the former presidential residence the Blue House. It, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan are the mountains that surround the Seoul Basin. The mountain has a bedrock of granite, and is about 342 m high.

The mountain has historically gone by a number of other names, including Baegaksan.

Names
Until the Joseon period, the mountain went by a variety of names, including "Baegaksan", "Myeonaksan", and "Gonggeuksan". However, "Baegaksan" was the most popular name during the Joseon period.

The name "Bugaksan", meaning "north mountain", became popular just after the Japanese colonial period. Some government offices have made efforts to return to using the "Baegaksan" name, in order to strengthen modern South Korea's ties to the pre-Japanese past.

Description
The mountain is part of a range of mountains connected to the south of Bukhansan, the highest mountain in Seoul.

There are 208 species of plants on the mountain, including 81 species of trees.

The Cheonggyecheon stream that flows through Seoul originates from the mountain. In November 2005, the Jongno District government investigated the source of the river, and found that it was a mineral water spring about 150 m from a statue of police officer Choi Gyu-sik.

History
Beginning in the Joseon period, the mountain was a popular spot for the aristocracy to construct villas.

After the Blue House Raid of January 21, 1968, in which North Korean operatives attempted to assassinate the South Korean president, access to the mountain became heavily restricted. These restrictions began to be lifted on April 1, 2006, when Sukjeongmun was reopened for public access. Beginning on November 1, 2020, a section north of the Blue House was opened to the public. It is now possible to hike from the mountain Ansan, Inwangsan, Bugaksan, and Bukhansan without interruption. There is a number of guided walking courses over the mountain, including one that walks along the Fortress Wall of Seoul.

The mountain was designated an area of secnic beauty in 2009 by the Cultural Heritage Administration.