Reading the name of patriot Park Sang-jin along the 3.6 km waterside trail at Ulsan’s Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park

How Songjeong Reservoir Became Park Sang-jin Lake Park: Construction Began in 2010 and Completion Came in 2014

Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park is an eco-friendly waterside park created around Songjeong Reservoir in Songjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City. According to materials from Buk-gu, construction began in 2010, the walking paths were started in 2013, and the project was completed in December 2014. The development budget was 5.86 billion won, and the park covers 272,000㎡.

The name was not the current one from the beginning. The name ‘Songjeong Lake Park,’ selected through a residents’ naming contest, was finalized as ‘Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park’ in February 2014. The name reflects the intention to create a place commemorating Gohon Park Sang-jin, an independence activist from Ulsan. Since Park Sang-jin’s birthplace is located below the park, the two sites can be connected by a historical route.

Independence Movement Traces Left by Gohon Park Sang-jin and 29 Murals Along a 200 m Street

Park Sang-jin (1884–1921), the namesake of the park, was born in Jidang Village, Songjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Ulsan, and was an independence activist who served as commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Corps. Thus, this is not simply a park for walking around a reservoir; it is also a historical education site where Buk-gu sought to introduce the life of a local anti-Japanese activist in an everyday setting.

The murals along the walking path were installed along an approximately 200 m section in 2014, together with the creation of the waterside park. Four additional tile murals were added during the Cultural History Street development project in 2019. The current collection consists of 9 large and 10 small tile murals, 10 animation illustrations, and 29 works in total. Rather than quickly completing one lap of the lake, following the murals in sequence and reading about Park Sang-jin’s life may make the walk longer.

A 3.6 km Loop and a 1.4 km Deck Path: Why You Should Allow More Than an Hour

The park’s main route is a walking path with a total length of 3.6 km. Of this, the deck path accounts for 1.4 km. Even if you walk the entire route without stopping, you should allow about one hour; including the murals, pavilions, wetland area, and Jigwan Seoga, it is better to allow approximately one hour and 30 minutes. If you plan it as a 20- to 30-minute visit like a short urban park, you may easily skip the opposite side of the lake and the historical and ecological facilities.

The initial facilities included Gohonjeong and Muryongjeong, two octagonal pavilions; a 344㎡ multipurpose courtyard; a 2,800㎡ outdoor learning area; a 1,500㎡ natural play area; 10 types of exercise facilities; 123 park lights; and a three-story, 464㎡ management office. Recent information from Buk-gu also lists the deck walking path, Maze Water Garden, barefoot walking path, outdoor performance area, Park Sang-jin Plaza, and ecological wetland area as key facilities.

• Complete loop: 3.6 km
• Deck path: 1.4 km
• Recommended time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Park area: 272,000㎡

Planning a Free, Always-Open Visit Starting at 158-31 Jeosujigil

The address is 158-31 Jeosujigil, Buk-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and the park is listed as open at all times throughout the year. Admission is free, and information states that the park parking lot is also free to use. However, the park has previously been fully closed for landslide recovery and maintenance work, so it is safest to check whether the walking paths are open on the day of your visit by calling the Buk-gu Office Parks and Greenery Division at 052-241-7944.

Official tourism information is available on the Buk-gu Office Culture and Tourism page, while inquiries related to park management are handled by the Buk-gu Office Parks and Greenery Division. Although the park itself does not have fixed opening and closing hours, lighting along the lakeside and forest paths may vary by section at night. For a first visit, it is sensible to begin the 3.6 km loop before sunset.

• Operation: Open at all times, year-round
• Admission: Free
• Address: 158-31 Jeosujigil, Buk-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City
• Management inquiries: 052-241-7944
• Parking: Information indicates free use of parking lots near the park

A Lakeside Break Connecting Jigwan Seoga’s First, Second, and Third Floors with Parking Lot 3

‘Jigwan Seoga Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park’ is located in the park management office building. According to visitor reviews and space information, the first floor is a café, the second floor is a library, and the third floor is an observation space. The theme of the Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park branch is ‘Inspiration.’ Stopping by after walking the 3.6 km route, rather than before beginning your walk, makes it easy to combine the waterside and library in one itinerary.

Jigwan Seoga’s business hours are displayed differently across online services—for example, 09:00–20:30, 09:00–19:30, or 10:00–21:00 every day—so it is difficult to treat any one schedule as fixed information. In particular, a 2025 review mentioned that part of the lakeside trail was closed, so you should check café hours separately from the route around the entire park. Parking Lot 3 is mentioned in vehicle-use reviews, but it is best to follow on-site guidance regarding availability and the access route.

Wheelchairs and Strollers Should Stay Mainly on the Deck; the Red-Clay Path Requires Separate Preparation

The park has a deck walking path, making it easy to plan a route centered on the flat sections close to the lake. However, the complete 3.6 km route includes forest paths and a barefoot walking path, so it is difficult to guarantee that the entire loop can be completed by wheelchair or stroller. Visitors who need mobility assistance should first ask the management department at 052-241-7944 which sections are passable that day and what conditions apply to restroom use.

If the barefoot walking path is your destination, prepare something with which to wash your feet and a change of shoes. The park is designated as a non-smoking area, and basic rules require visitors to avoid drinking, cooking, and littering on paths with historical murals and ecological wetlands. Available tourism information lists pet access as ‘not permitted,’ so it is safest to confirm the latest policy with the management department before visiting.

Connecting the Route to Park Sang-jin’s Birthplace and Dalcheon Ironworks as a Buk-gu Historical Theme Course

Ulsan’s Buk-gu proposes the following historical theme course: Dalcheon Ironworks → Gibaksan Fortress Righteous Army History Park → Sinheungsa Temple → Park Sang-jin’s Birthplace → Sogeumpo History Museum → the Three Seated Yaksa Tathagata Images at Eomuldong. Among these sites, Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park is close to Park Sang-jin’s birthplace. After viewing the 29 murals in the park, continuing to the birthplace and History and Culture Center allows visitors to explore both the figure’s birthplace and commemorative spaces.

For a nature-focused itinerary, Buk-gu recommends the following day course: Cheonmasan Cypress Forest Bathing Area → Dalcheon Ironworks → Songjeong Park Sang-jin Lake Park → Yeompo Observation Rest Area → Gangdong Pebble Beach → Jeongja Port Gray Whale Lighthouse. For visitors interested only in the park, 3.6 km is a sufficient distance, but those traveling by car can add Park Sang-jin’s birthplace and Dalcheon Ironworks to connect Buk-gu’s heritage of the independence movement and iron production in a single day.