Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park여의도샛강생태공원

About

Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park stretches from the Saetgang stream behind the National Assembly in Yeouido to the middle of Gayangdaegyo Bridge, making the most of a natural setting where willows, reeds and silver grass grow in clusters. Groundwater from the nearby subway feeds a cascading stream and ponds, and wetland plants such as cattails, water dropwort and monochoria have been planted around them to improve water quality and suit the natural environment. Facilities include a bicycle path, walking trails, 2 parking lots, 5 bridges, 2 plazas, a visitor center, a lawn, a park golf course, an ecological waterway, an iris garden, a willow grove, a water purification garden, a silver grass colony and an enclosed wetland. The park also runs ecology programs such as nature interpretation, nature observation and nature play. The visitor center houses a learning space, a room for ecology programs and a firefly breeding room. Although the park sits among the high-rises in the heart of Seoul, it has fields where all kinds of wildflowers bloom and a stream home to Chinese minnows, killifish and crucian carp. Reeds and silver grass grow thick, a 6 km walking trail runs through the park, and signs about native plants are placed every 20–30 m. Rare plants and animals live here, including the common kestrel (a designated Natural Monument), spot-billed ducks, grey herons, violets, curly pondweed and Chinese minnows. To avoid harming nature, the park has no benches or snack shops, and there are no streetlights so that plants and animals can rest and sleep. The park is open all year, but access to some sections may be restricted during animal breeding seasons. It is 700 m from Exit 1 of Yeouido Station on Seoul Subway Line 5.