Walking Along Seongjigok Reservoir in Busan Children's Grand Park, Completed in 1909
Busan Children's Grand Park is an urban park in Choeup centered on the former Seongjigok Reservoir, completed in 1909 and designated as a Registered Cultural Heritage site. Forest bathing areas, a waterfront park, and children's play spaces extend throughout the park. The reservoir loop road and 590-meter deck trail, along with free stroller and wheelchair rentals, make it easy to adjust the route when visiting with young children or people with limited mobility.
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The 112 m Dam of Seongjigok Reservoir, a Sacred Site That Safeguarded Busan's Water Supply in 1909
The heart of Busan Children's Grand Park is the former Seongjigok Reservoir in Busan, designated Registered Cultural Heritage No. 376. Construction began in April 1907 and was completed in September 1909. It was a modern water-supply facility built in anticipation of Busan's population increasing from approximately 40,000 to 55,000 at the time. After completion, it supplied water from Seomyeon to Sujeong-dong. Following completion of the Nakdonggang River water-supply project in 1971, water distribution stopped in January 1985, and today the reservoir retains its function as a lake.
This facility is described as Korea's first concrete gravity dam. The reservoir covers 74,712㎡, has a storage capacity of 610,000 tons, an embankment length of 112 m, an embankment height of 27.88 m, and a water depth of 22.5 m. Rather than viewing it merely as a walking lake, look also for the remains of the early water-supply system extending through collection channels, sedimentation basins, and filtration basins; this makes the character of the park clearer.
A Route Connecting the 74,712㎡ Lakeside and the 590 m Deck Road in One Loop
For first-time visitors, it is easy to understand the layout by entering from the Integrated Management Center near the main gate toward the reservoir and connecting the Waterside Park, deck road, and loop road. Waterside Park is a 4,025㎡ space constructed from November 1995 to January 1997 so visitors could view the reservoir up close. It has a pavilion, pergolas, benches, a statue of physician Park Jae-hyeok, and a memorial monument for the 6·25 War veterans of the 7th military medical student corps.
The deck road, installed in 2010 to supplement the steep trail between the zoo entrance and the reservoir dam, is a 590 m zigzag pedestrian route measuring 2–4 m in width. Although it also has nighttime landscape lighting, allow about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours during the day to see both the reservoir and the forest paths. If you only want a short walk, the route can be shortened to approximately 40–60 minutes by visiting Waterside Park and the rest area around Baegyanggyo Bridge.
Kiwumi Forest and the Children's Waterside Space Created in July 2022
Kiwumi Forest, where the uphill section of the loop road ends, was created in July 2022 by the Busan Infrastructure Corporation, Korea Asset Management Corporation, and ChildFund Korea to provide a children's resting area and promote carbon neutrality. Rather than turning back after seeing only the lake, walk to this section to experience both the modern facilities centered around the reservoir and the forest-centered park space.
The family waterside space was rebuilt after the old play facilities were removed, with a children's playground, waterside deck, pergolas, and outdoor tables. The park has three sales facilities offering souvenirs, coffee, beverages, and frozen desserts. If you bring a packed lunch, it is best to decide in advance on an area with seating, such as Waterside Park or a pergola, to keep the route short.
Free Stroller and Wheelchair Rentals from 09:00 to 17:30; ID Required
Admission to the park is free, and no regular closing day has been separately announced for the general park. At the tourist information center on the first floor of Dreambit Maru at the Integrated Management Center near the main gate, strollers are available free of charge for visitors accompanied by infants under 24 months, and wheelchairs are available free of charge for visitors with limited mobility. Rentals are available from 09:00 to 17:30; visitors must present identification and fill out basic personal information. For inquiries, call 051-860-7818.
The tourist information center has a nursing room and also lends locker keys free of charge. The Busan Tourism Portal provides information on wheelchair access, accessible restrooms, accessible parking spaces, rapid chargers for powered mobility devices, and elevator access. However, there are sloped sections around the reservoir, so wheelchair and stroller users should prioritize the 590 m deck road and reconfirm facility conditions and rental availability by phone before departure.
Routes 44, 54, 63, 81, and 133, Saessak-ro 295, and the Reality of 216 Parking Spaces
The park office address is 295 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, and the main management contact number is 051-860-7848. The official Busan Infrastructure Corporation website is https://www.bisco.or.kr/bschildpark/. From the Busan Children's Grand Park Entrance bus stop, visitors can take routes 44, 54, 63, 81, and 133. Routes 33 and 83-1 are also options if traveling toward the Student Education and Culture Center.
Nearby parking is listed as 32 spaces at the Busan Jayu Hall, 94 spaces at the Student Education and Culture Center, and 90 spaces at the Busan Metropolitan Citizens' Library, for a total of 216 spaces. The official information states that the park's affiliated parking lot is privately operated and has insufficient capacity, making bus access more reliable on weekends and event days. The Busan Infrastructure Corporation lists private parking at Busan Children's Grand Park at 300 won per 10 minutes on both weekdays and weekends, but rates may change, so check before traveling by car.
For the Summer Kid-Kiduk Park, Plan Around 45 Minutes of Operation and 15 Minutes of Closure
Kid-Kiduk Park is not a permanent water-play facility in the park but a seasonal summer water playground. The most recent official park page states that operations ended in 2025; at that time, hours were 10:00–17:00 and admission was free. It operated for 45 minutes followed by a 15-minute closure, with a break from 12:00 to 13:00 for safety inspections.
The regular closure days were Mondays and rainy days when the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast at least 5 mm of precipitation. The Busan Tourism Portal lists the 2026 operating period as July 17–August 16, so visitors should not come specifically for the water playground now that the season has passed. If planning a visit next summer, reconfirm the operating period, weather-related closures, and clothing rules with the management office at 051-860-7848.
How Not to Miss the 10.1 m “Expanding Dream” and the 1,100㎡ Meeting Plaza
The park's symbolic sculpture “Expanding Dream” explores the expansion of children's thinking toward reality, dreams, and the future. It was created by Kwon Dal-sul, a former professor in the Department of Fine Arts at Silla University, and is a 10.1 m high, 12.5 m wide sculpture made of stainless steel with urethane paint. It was erected in the park entrance plaza in August 2010 and moved to the Student Education and Culture Center plaza in October 2023 as part of the entrance plaza renovation project.
The Meeting Plaza at the entrance to the loop road is a 1,100㎡ space created in 2010. According to the official information, cultural performances may be held on weekends from March through November, so if you prefer a quiet lakeside walk, it is best to check the event schedule first. Visitors aged 19 or older can also use the U-Healthcare Center at the entrance to the forest recreation area. It operates from 09:30 to 17:30, with registration closing at 16:30, and is closed every Monday, during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, and on May 1.
Before You Go
- Address
- 295 Saessak-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
- Hours
- The park is listed as open 24 hours. Tourist information center stroller and wheelchair rentals: 09:00–17:30; U-Healthcare Center: 09:30–17:30.
- Closed
- No regular park closing day has been separately announced. The U-Healthcare Center is closed every Monday, during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, and on May 1.
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 051-860-7848
- Official site
- https://www.bisco.or.kr/bschildpark/
- Transport
- Bus routes 44, 54, 63, 81, and 133 stop at the Busan Children's Grand Park Entrance. Toward the Student Education and Culture Center, routes 33, 44, 54, 63, 81, 83-1, and 133 are available.
- Parking
- The park's affiliated parking lot is privately operated and is noted as having insufficient capacity. Nearby: Busan Jayu Hall, 32 spaces; Student Education and Culture Center, 94 spaces; Busan Metropolitan Citizens' Library, 90 spaces. Private parking is listed at 300 won per 10 minutes.
- Time needed
- Short walk centered on Waterside Park: 40–60 minutes; including Seongjigok Reservoir, the deck road, and Kiwumi Forest: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Accessibility
- Free stroller and wheelchair rentals at the tourist information center in the Integrated Management Center at the main gate (09:00–17:30; ID required). Nursing room, accessible restrooms, accessible parking spaces, and rapid chargers for powered mobility devices are available.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 5
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1
Samgwangsa TempleA Buddhist attraction where visitors can explore temple architecture and seasonal lotus lanterns. -
2
Busan Citizens ParkAn urban park where you can enjoy expansive lawns and walking paths. (https://www.busan.go.kr/geopark/gusang?utm_source=openai) -
3
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4
Busan MuseumA museum exhibiting Busan’s history from prehistoric times to the modern and contemporary eras. -
5
Hwangnyeongsan Mountain Observatory Rest AreaA place to enjoy daytime and nighttime views of downtown Busan and the sea.
Food & Dining 4
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6
Won Choryang GalbiA restaurant where pork ribs and fresh pork are grilled on a cast-iron plate. -
7
Maeun Myeongtae BapsangA Korean restaurant serving braised frozen pollock, grilled dried pollock, and set meals. -
8
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9
SanmaruA local Chinese restaurant serving Sichuan-style jjajang noodles and sweet-and-sour pork.
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