A Walk Through Records: Seoul's Parks

Event Name: Walking through Records_Seoul's Parks

Location: Seoul Metropolitan Archives, 2nd Floor, Exhibition Hall 2 / Address: 7, Tongil-ro 62-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, Seoul Metropolitan Archives 

Period: 2023-12-01 ~ 2026-08-31 (Offline exhibition, based on the Seoul Metropolitan Archives 'Exhibitions/Programs' detail page) / 2023-12-01 ~ 2026-09-29 (Based on Seoul Culture Portal and some guides; online exhibition is listed until 2026-09-29) ※ For safety, check the latest information on the Seoul Metropolitan Archives website once before visiting to match your travel schedule. 

Opening Hours/Closed: Tue~Sun 10:00~17:00, Closed every Monday, January 1st, and the days of Seollal/Chuseok / Admission: Free 

When traveling in Seoul, 'parks' can easily be seen as just places to rest, but this exhibition allows you to re-experience those familiar landscapes through 'records'. <Walking through Records_Seoul's Parks> is an exhibition that weaves together the flow of Seoul's green space policies, the transformation of major parks, and photos of parks taken by citizens into an archive of about 90 related records. 

The exhibition consists of Part 1 'The Path Walked by Seoul's Parks' (policy changes, blueprints, documents, photos, and videos), Part 2 'Meeting Parks through Records' (stories of representative parks like Namsan Park and Hyochang Park), and Part 3 'Park Records Explored through Keywords' (keywords like children, ecology, and urban regeneration). As moments like "Oh, this is how this park was made" pile up, the Seoul you've walked through starts to look more three-dimensional. 

What I like most is the atmosphere. Thanks to the characteristic calm of the Archives, you can view the exhibition as if you're quietly 'walking' away from crowded tourist spots. It's a great course to include even on rainy days or in the middle of winter, and it's good for showing foreign friends "another speed of Seoul." 

Pros from a Foreign Visitor's Perspective

1) Local Vibe 'City History': Experience how Seoul was created and preserved to become a 'livable city' (policy/urban planning/citizens' memories) through records, not just pretty photos. You can see the city's choices and the atmosphere of the times. 

2) Accessibility: It is easily accessible on foot from Bulgwang Station (Subway Lines 3 and 6), so you can get there sufficiently using only public transportation (it is often introduced as about a 10-minute walk). 

3) Traveler-friendly Difficulty + Free: With no entrance fee, it's a place where you can just "pop in." These free exhibitions are very welcome when your travel budget gets tight. 

Traveler Tip: The exhibition closes at 17:00, so arriving by 15:30~16:00 makes it less rushed. After seeing the exhibition, if the weather is nice, you can continue with a light walk nearby (Eunpyeong-gu is a quieter, more residential neighborhood than you might think). 

Cons from a Foreign Visitor's Perspective

1) English Information is 'Helpful' Rather Than 'Sufficient': Since the exhibition itself is centered on records (documents/drawings), Korean is advantageous for deep reading. However, you can still get the gist through photos, maps, and timelines, so if you use a translation app on key panels, your satisfaction will increase significantly. 

2) Opening Hours May Feel Short: It operates from 10:00 to 17:00, making it difficult to fit into evening itineraries, and it is closed on Mondays, which could disrupt your plans. Checking the day of the week is essential if you definitely want to see it. 

3) Distance from Core Downtown Tourist Spots: It's not right next to major spots like Myeong-dong or Gyeongbokgung, so it's better to schedule this for a day when you want to step into "Seoul's daily life." On the plus side, it's quieter and more local because of it. 

Overall Review

'Walking through Records_Seoul's Parks' is an exhibition that makes you slowly fall in love with Seoul rather than being a flashy one. As policy timelines, urban desires, and citizen photos hidden behind familiar park landscapes overlap, your walk the next day might feel a bit different after seeing the exhibition. 

For your reference, this exhibition was preceded by the 'Seoul Park Archive' collection event, which leaves a clear impression that the Seoul Metropolitan Archives "creates city records together with citizens." 

Note: The offline closing date may appear differently depending on the page (listed as 2026-08-31 in the Seoul Metropolitan Archives exhibition list/details, and 2026-09-29 in the Seoul Culture Portal and some reports). If your travel schedule is around September 2026, it's safest to check the notice/exhibition page of the Seoul Metropolitan Archives the day before your visit.