Tapgol Park

Tapgol Park, cradle of Korean independence

The Seoul audio-guided tour leads you to Tapgol Park, a small green space in the heart of the city centre, but a place of memory of capital importance for Koreans. It was here that one of the gravest and most significant pages of the country's history was written.

The March First Movement of 1919

Before becoming a park in 1897, the site housed a fifteenth-century Buddhist temple, of which several elements survive, such as the Wongaksa monument, dated 1471. But it was in the central pavilion that the Korean Declaration of Independence was publicly read in 1919. This reading triggered the demonstrations of 1 March, harshly repressed by the Japanese occupier, during which many Koreans lost their lives. The park remains a symbol of the struggle for national freedom.

What there is to see

The central pavilion, built in 1902, is an emblematic monument of Korean history. Behind it stands one of the finest stone pagodas from the Joseon dynasty, recognised as one of the national treasures of the country. Panels and bas-reliefs recall the events of 1919. It is a place of contemplation as much as a testimony of history, to be visited with respect.

Practical information

Tapgol Park, also called Pagoda Park, is on the great Jongno avenue, in the heart of Seoul. It is a public space freely accessible and on the level during opening hours. A place of memory, it invites a visit marked by respect.

Why is Tapgol Park a place of memory?

It was here that the Korean Declaration of Independence was read in 1919, triggering the demonstrations of 1 March, harshly repressed by the Japanese occupier.

What remains of the former temple?

Several vestiges remain, including the Wongaksa monument, dated 1471, and a remarkable stone pagoda from the Joseon dynasty, listed as a national treasure.