KICK ASS KOREA reason 7
Olympic Park is a huge sprawling area that covers 1.5 million square meters of Seoul. Built in 1986 to secure the 1988 Seoul Olympics the park boasts an incomparable amount of facilities, sculptures, and green space.
Olympic Park was built upon the historical Mongchon Fortress. A site that dates back to the Baekje Dynasty. The Mongchon Moat with it’s cute army of ducks and the Sungnae stream almost completely encircle the park. At any time of the day joggers can be found winding their way through the pathways while others simply take their time and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.
To help you picture the immense scope of the park I’ll give you a quick rundown of what you can expect to find. There’s an Olympic indoor swimming pool, Gymnastics Hal, Fencing Gymnasium, Weight lifting Gymnasium, Football Field, Tennis Court, Indoor Tennis Court, and Convention Center! And that’s just counting the athletic facilities!
Olympic Park becomes much more interesting once you discover the vast number and variety of artwork on display in the park. Both traditional sculpture and more unusual Kinetic pieces of art are able to be found throughout Olympic Park. Each comes with a placard with the artist’s name and his or her vision of the piece, but its more fun to come up with your own interpretation with your friends before seeing who comes closest to the artist’s intention.
The park facilities continue impress, offering not only the setting for World Class sporting events and a huge outdoor art experience but also several spaces for performances. There’s the two waterside stages, and a bamboo encircled stage at the meeting plaza.
Families, friends and couples can also enjoy the immense green space perfect for laying about on a bright sunny day.The 88 Garden, picnic area, and farm fields with recreations of significant events like barley cutting and treading.
The walking path around Mongchon Fortress offers the chance to walk or bike your way through wild flower gardens and near the Sungnaechun stream. Don’t be surprised to see a few ducks or even perhaps a swan or two.
You might think the exhaustive list would be the end of what Olympic Park has going for it, but you would be wrong! Also on the grounds is the National Fitness Center, the Olympic Parktel (rooms, buffet restaurant, wedding hall), the SOMA museum of art.
With all the things to do and see I wonder why you aren’t there right now!
The Good:
Everything you need is right there from coffee houses, to restaurants, to GS25
Green Space in the city is always good
Sculpture park has over 200 works on display
The Bad:
The bike and skate rental stand may not be open
The Weird:
The dugout exhibit features holes where bones and steel weapons were found
Olympic Park Station on the Pink Line
Watch the Video BELOW.
