After COVID-19 hit our lives, college students have also been suffering from depression because of the decrease in activities and non-face-to-face classes. In addition, it has become difficult to use sports facilities around University of Seoul (UOS), such as fitness centers and pilates academies, which are causing disruptions in the sports plans of students, including foreign students. Taking a walk at night has emerged as an alternative. This is because there is a low risk of contact as compared to the daytime, and the noise of the city and traffic are reduced. Along with the UOS’s most beautiful walk in autumn, Baebong Mountain and Jungnang Stream, which are easily accessible from UOS, are increasingly being visited. Discover the attractions of Baebong Mountain and Jungnang Stream and determine how they are currently managed.

“Fall”ing in UOS

Just before the opening of the class, the COVID-19 situation worsened again, and all the lectures that were scheduled to go offline were turned into online classes. Few people are seen on campus, even this fall. Let us look around the fall campus that students picked as the best!

Jungnang Stream

If you walk out of school through the back gate and follow Mang-woo road, you will find the Jungnang Bridge. Below the Jungnang Bridge, there is a very beautiful river about 20 kilometers long and trails to walk and ride a bicycle. Starting from Uijeongbu, it passes through the neighborhood where our school is located and goes to the Han River. Passing Dobong-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, and Seongdong-gu, it is also a lot of fun to look around the neighborhood. Here is Jungnang Stream, a shelter for local residents. From the school’s back gate, students can reach here in 20 minutes and in 10 minutes via the Seoul city’s bike-share service. As it is very close, an increasing number of students are visiting Jungnang Stream.

The trails are very safe because of soft asphalt roads and are well known for their fast recovery despite heavy rain. The shiny, multi-colored safety lights on the asphalt roads create a delicate atmosphere. While there are asphalt roads, people can enjoy the feeling of nature by walking along the dirt road between the reeds. Crossing the river using stepping-stones, people sometimes sit on a larger rock and enjoy the river. The scenery and the sound of the river are very soothing. Moreover, since the Rose Festival is held every October, the flowers are particularly beautiful at that time.

You can enjoy various sports using a net at the foot volleyball court. At the basketball court, strangers team up and play games. In addition, a basketball court is also a place for skateboarders with music. In the grass on the right, dogs and their owners enjoy fun field trips. Of course, there are a few people, but you can experience the lively atmosphere you had lost due to COVID-19.

There are also some tips before going to Jungnang Stream. First, there are very few items in the store beside the trail, and the price is high. It is good to be prepared by carrying bottled water and snacks in advance. As the distance between the toilets is long, it is better to use one as soon as you spot it!

Baebong Mountain

Baebong Mountain (106m above sea level), provides a resting place for residents in Hwigyeong-dong and Jeonnong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu. The hiking trail is located next to the dormitory, making it very easy to access, and it is also close to the sunrise plaza, which is perfect for light exercise.

Baebong Mountain cannot be explained except for the Dulle-gil. It starts from the deck from the Baebongsan Forest Library, and one can walk the circular path behind UOS, Samyuk Seoul Hospital, and Hwigyeong Girls’ High School to return to the Baebongsan Forest Library, the starting point. The Dulle-gil was built as a barrier-free forest road, making it easy for citizens to use it in wheelchairs or strollers. An hour and a half is enough to walk slowly through the forest along the deck. You can also enjoy the night’s fresh air while strolling under the glow of the LED streetlights. If you walk out of the Dulle-gil and enter the hiking trail, there is an ocher path that you can walk barefoot on in the direction of Samyuk Medical Center. There are various amenities, such as rest areas, sports facilities, natural ecology experience centers, artificial rock-climbing walls, and electric wheelchairs charging stations. The Baebongsan Forest Library and outdoor music hall are located at the entrance of the Dulle-gil.

Baebong Mountain also has historic importance; it is the site of Yeonguwon, the grave of Crown Prince Sado, and Hwigyeongwon, the grave of Park Su-bin, the concubine of King Jeongjo and birth mother of King Sunjo. It is said that King Jeongjo always bowed looking at the place where his father's grave was located, so it was called Baebong(the word “bae” means “bow” in Korean) Mountain. Hwigyeongwon, the epitaph of Soobin Park, is also the origin of present-day Hwigyeong-dong.

If you visited Baebong Mountain, there is a must-visit place - Hiery Square. Hiery (Korean winter hazel, in English) is a wild plant designated as endangered by the Ministry of Environment. This unique plant that grows only in Korea is 2–3 meters tall and has yellow bell-shaped flowers from April to May. In addition, pine trees, red-bean pear trees, acacia trees, and more can be seen.

*Nowadays, because of COVID-19, Dulle-gil is a one-way street.

Before we conclude, there are a few points to be noted.

Some people are riding quick boards very dangerously near the school and the Jungnang Stream. A culture of slowing down and following the recommended boarding methods is needed. Baebong Mountain does not have many lights, so it is a little dangerous to walk around at night. Especially on the shortcut, many people slip on the dirt road due to poor visibility. Jungnang Stream has a good basic infrastructure, but it lacks convenient facilities for citizens. There should be a diversification of the store and more toilets. It seems that relevant measures should be taken by the authorities.

Photographs show the wonderful scenery surrounding the school, but various incidents have been ruining it. Recently, there were inappropriate gatherings of outsiders at school. As the fine autumn weather continues, people are coming to the university campus for drinking parties. It is important for them to recognize that the students are very anxious because of the uncertainty of daily life. These people also need to find the right place to relieve frustration.

Concerns have also been raised that foreign students who have to adapt to other countries without social links could be hit more directly by Corona Blue. Since there is a language barrier, it is difficult to actively request counseling even if one suffers from Corona Blue. Moreover, the atmosphere in the neighborhood with a large number of elderly people may be more difficult to adapt to. Jungnang Stream and Baebong Mountain, where young people and various sports exist together, is a good place to relieve one’s pent up emotions.

Students are doing a great job in such a hard situation. The present difficulties will soon lead to beneficial results. Try to look at it from a different perspective and get through this period with a positive mindset. Going for a walk in Baebong Mountain and Jungnang Stream will be very helpful!