Orchards North of the Wall, Where a King Once Prayed for Silkworms

The name Seongbuk-dong simply meant "north of the fortress wall." Before it became a wealthy enclave, it was land with a royal silkworm-rite altar and orchards.

Key takeaways

The name Seongbuk-dong (城北洞) literally means "the neighborhood north of the fortress wall," referring to Seoul's old Joseon-dynasty city wall. Fact During the Joseon dynasty, this area held Seonjamdan, an altar where the king held rites praying for successful silkworm cultivation; aside from a handful of aristocratic villas and residences, most of the land was orchards and fields. Fact

Seongbuk-dong in this era looked nothing like today's wealthy-enclave image. Its quiet, mountain-ringed scenery served as a retreat for a small handful of families, with no connection to large-scale development.

What to look for on site

Relics and markers related to Seonjamdan
The scenery preserved by this mountain-ringed terrain
The simple, directional origin of the name "Seongbuk" (城北, "north of the wall")

Editorial note

It's inaccurate to describe this as "a wealthy enclave since ancient times." Keep the correct sequence: this was orchards and villa retreats until the mid-20th century.