Named after a legend about the longevity of local men, Guro-gu is a district in south-west Seoul. It is an important greenbelt for the South Korean capital and a transportation hub, with railway lines connecting west to Incheon and south to Busan. Guro-gu is home to the largest capacity stadium in South Korea and also one of the country’s most popular arboretums.
Things to do in Guro-gu
Baseball fans can coincide their visit to Guro-gu with a game at the Gocheok Sky Dome, a domed stadium home to the Kiwoom Heroes. It opened to fans in 2015 and has the capacity to seat around 25,000 spectators during KBO games. In addition to sporting matches, the Gocheok Sky Dome also hosts K-pop concerts and awards shows.
Guro-gu is home to Seoul’s first arboretum, the Pureun Arboretum, which exhibits more than 2,000 different plant species across 10 hectares. Stroll through the fragrant Herb Garden and get lost in the Maze Garden before admiring the exotic plants and flowers on display in the French Garden. Throughout the year, the Pureun Arboretum hosts lectures, concerts and literary events.
Connecting to the Pureun Arboretum is the Hangdong Railroad Trail, with the two sites combining to form one of the Nine Scenic Views of Guro. Originally established in 1959 to transport raw materials for the Gyeonggi Chemical Industry, the 4.5-kilometre railroad is now a popular walking route. It takes in tracts of lush greenery and barley fields that transform throughout the seasons.
Getting around Guro-gu
Guro-gu is around 30 minutes by train from Seoul Station and 1.5 hours from Incheon International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Several subway lines connect to Sindorim and Daerim stations while buses travel throughout Guro-gu.