Haneul Park is Seoul’s most celebrated autumn silver-grass field — but here’s what almost no tourist Instagram tells you: this 95-meter hill was, for 15 years, the city’s main garbage dump. While travelers snap photos among the silvery stalks, they’re standing on 92 million tons of buried trash. This guide unpacks the incredible transformation of Nanjido — from “Trash Island” to sky park — along with the incinerator still operating next door, and everything you’ll want to know for your visit.
At a Glance
- Haneul Park sits on Nanjido, Seoul's landfill from 1978 to 1993 — 92 million tons of garbage created two 95-meter mountains.
- Construction began in 2000, and World Cup Park opened in May 2002. Methane from decomposing waste is still captured and used to heat nearby buildings.
- Free entry. Reach the summit via 291 stairs or the eco-friendly tram. Silver grass peaks October–November; the annual festival in late October brings rare late-night hours.
What was Haneul Park before it was a park?
Long before it was a trash mountain, this spot was a lovely island in the Han River called Nanjido (蘭芝島). Its name came from the Chinese characters for orchid (蘭) and iris (芝) — fragrant wildflowers that once blanketed the land. Known as “Flower Island” and thick with reeds and migratory birds, it was a sandy river island where farmers grew peanuts and sorghum well into the Joseon era.
Everything changed in March 1978. As Seoul swelled with rapid industrialization, the city designated Nanjido as its official municipal landfill. For the next 15 years — until 1993 — an avalanche of household trash, construction debris, and industrial waste poured in: roughly 92 million tons in total. The once-flat island sprouted two colossal garbage mountains soaring to about 95 meters (peaking at 98 meters). Nanjido became notorious — a “Trash Island” reeking of decay, swarming with flies and leaking toxic leachate. One peculiar footnote: when the Sampoong Department Store collapsed in 1995, its debris was also buried here. Yes — there is literally a department store entombed beneath the silver grass.
How did they turn a garbage mountain into a park?
When the landfill closed in 1993, Seoul seized the momentum of the 2002 FIFA World Cup to launch an ambitious environmental reclamation project. Construction kicked off in 2000, and in May 2002, World Cup Park opened across the old Nanjido site. The park isn’t a single space — it’s a family of five parks.
| Park | Location & Character | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Haneul Park | Summit of the 2nd landfill, ~19 ha grassland | Silver-grass plains, panoramic views — the star of this guide |
| Noeul Park | 1st landfill | Sunset views, camping grounds, park golf |
| Pyeonghwa Park | Flatland below the landfills | Nanji Pond, sprawling lawns, event plaza |
| Nanjicheon Park | Old Nanji Stream waterway | Wetlands, walking trails |
| Nanjicheon Hangang Park | Along the Han River | Camping, water sports, cycling |
Here’s the crucial part: they didn’t haul the trash away — they covered and stabilized it. Workers installed thick waterproof barriers around the landfill to stop contaminated leachate from seeping into the Han River. They also built a system to capture methane gas from the decomposing waste below, which now supplies heating energy to the World Cup Park facilities and the Seoul World Cup Stadium. In short, beneath those Instagram-worthy silver-grass fields, decades of Seoul’s garbage still quietly sits — the park is essentially a miracle meadow layered over the past.
Is there still an incinerator nearby?
Yes — and you can see its smokestack from Haneul Park. The Mapo Resource Recovery Facility (a waste incinerator) has operated in Sangam-dong for decades, and Seoul’s garbage story is still very much tangled up with this neighborhood.
In 2023, Seoul City confirmed plans to build a new metropolitan resource recovery facility — a larger incinerator — right next to the existing one in Sangam-dong. The reason: the Ministry of Environment banned direct landfilling of household waste in the Seoul metropolitan area starting in 2026, forcing the city to expand incineration capacity. The plan is to build a new underground facility (1,000 tons/day) beside the current one (750 tons/day), bringing total capacity to 1,750 tons/day. Residents of Mapo-gu and neighboring Goyang City have protested fiercely — they’ve endured the existing incinerator for over 30 years and argue they shouldn’t have to shoulder even more of Seoul’s waste burden. The irony is thick: the place where Seoul turned a garbage mountain into a park is still ground zero for the city’s waste wars.
What is Haneul Park like today?
Today, Haneul Park is one of Seoul’s premier autumn silver-grass and panoramic-view destinations. Because trees struggle to take root in the capped landfill, the park was planted as grassland — vast open fields where silver grass ripples like waves in the wind. From the summit, you can take in Bukhansan, Namsan, the Han River, and Seoul World Cup Stadium all at once.
| Detail | Info (approximate — confirm before visiting) |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free |
| Getting up | 291 Haneul Stairs on foot / Maengkkongi Electric Tram / gentle slope from Nanjicheon Park |
| Electric Tram | One-way: adult 2,000 won, child 1,500 won / Round-trip: adult 3,000 won, child 2,200 won (no reservations, departs when full) |
| Highlights | Autumn silver grass, pink muhly & kochia, spring canola & summer sunflowers, Seoul panorama |
| Silver Grass Festival | Late October annually (2025: October 18–24), night hours during the festival (roughly 9 a.m.–10 p.m.) |
To reach the top, climb the 291 “Haneul Stairs” — a bit of a workout but perfectly doable — or hop on the Maengkkongi Electric Tram at the park entrance. The tram is a lifesaver if you’re with kids or older family members. During the autumn festival, the park stays open late into the night, and the illuminated silver grass against Seoul’s skyline is pure magic.
What else is worth seeing around Haneul Park?
Haneul Park is just the beginning. The old Nanjido area and Sangam DMC are packed with walkable spots that deserve your time.
Noeul Park — Seoul’s best sunset spot
The sibling hill next door (the 1st landfill), whose name literally means “Sunset Park.” The views across the Han River at dusk are breathtaking. There’s a park golf course, a family campground (Noeul Camping Ground), and wide lawns that make it a favorite for picnic-and-blanket afternoons and dog walks. 📍 Open in Naver Map
Haneul Park Metasequoia Path — “Poet’s Road”
A roughly 1-kilometer metasequoia-lined walkway stretching south from the park entrance, nicknamed “Poet’s Road.” The towering tree tunnel is a photographer’s dream and a serene approach to Haneul Park. 📍 Open in Naver Map
Nanji Hangang Park — camping and the river
Right on the Han River, this park offers campgrounds, water sports, and cycling paths. It connects seamlessly with Haneul and Noeul Parks — perfect for walking downhill all the way to the river. 📍 Open in Naver Map
Oil Tank Culture Park — industrial relics turned art
A former oil depot from the 1970s, repurposed into a striking cultural complex. Six massive oil tanks have been transformed into exhibition halls, performance spaces, and a café. Like the garbage-mountain-to-park story, it’s another remarkable example of Seoul turning abandoned industrial spaces into cultural landmarks. Exhibition halls are closed on Mondays; outdoor areas are open year-round. Admission is free. 📍 Open in Naver Map
Seoul World Cup Stadium & Sangam DMC
The iconic 2002 World Cup stadium houses a large supermarket, cinema, and shops — a solid rainy-day backup. The surrounding Sangam Digital Media City (DMC) is where Korea’s major broadcasters have their headquarters. 📍 Open in Naver Map
How to get to Haneul Park
The most common route: take subway Line 6 to World Cup Stadium Station, Exit 1. Walk through Pyeonghwa Park to reach the Haneul Park entrance. From there, climb the 291 stairs or take the electric tram to the summit. On peak autumn weekends and during the festival, tram lines get seriously long — wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk, or aim for a weekday morning. The summit has limited shade and few concessions, so bring water and a hat.
Sources
- Nanjido — Namuwiki · Wikipedia (Korean) · Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
- Nanjido ecological park transformation — Seoul Solution
- World Cup Park — Seoul Parks · Namuwiki
- “Goodbye, Trash Island” — Financial News
- 2025 Silver Grass Festival & tram info — TourToctoc
- Haneul Park 291 stairs & metasequoia path — Seoul Metropolitan Government · Seoul Media Hub
- Noeul Park & camping — Seoul Noeul Camping Ground
- Sangam-dong new incinerator controversy — Kyunghyang Shinmun · Hankooki