Maebongsan Mountain

Standing about 100 meters tall in Dogok-dong, this mountain was once called Dokguri-san for the abundance of stones at its base — the origin of the Dogok-dong name. Though modest in scale, its forests are remarkably lush, home to wildlife and various songbirds. The trails are so well-maintained that hiking boots aren't necessary. A ridge path runs east to west, and a circumference trail wraps around the mountainside. The Gangnam area has been a center of Korean prehistoric culture along the Han River from the Bronze Age, and Maebongsan bears traces of that heritage. Near the Dogok mineral spring on the mountain's south side lies a settlement dating to the 7th–4th century BC, identified as a Bronze Age pit dwelling site. On the western slope sits a mountain shrine where locals once offered rituals to the mountain spirit, marked with a stone inscribed 'Dokguri Mountain Shrine.' Still cherished by longtime residents, it remains a beloved neighborhood landmark. An old footpath runs between present-day Maljukgeori and Maebongsan — countless scholars once traveled this route to and from Hanyang (old Seoul), giving the mountain's walking paths a rich historical pedigree.